Grid outlook: Slight improvement in Visayas power situation

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Visayas grid welcomes the second week of July with a slight improvement in its supply situation, data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed.

This comes after energy stakeholders successfully reactivated Unit 3 of the Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), one of the largest coal-fired plants in the Visayas with the capacity to generate 150 megawatts (MW) of power.

From July 6 to 10, 2026, the Visayas grid will have adequate reserves that can cover peak demand throughout the five-day period, based on the grid operator’s latest outlook.

READ MORE: Visayas grid gets relief – for now

According to NGCP, total available supply in the Visayas grid will range from 2,647 megawatts (MW) to 2,709 MW next week, comfortably outpacing forecast peak demand, which is expected to hold between 2,415 MW and 2,475 MW.

The week’s highest supply level, 2,709 MW, is expected on Friday, July 10, which also coincides with the highest projected peak demand of 2,475 MW for the period.

Despite the higher demand, the grid is still expected to maintain a reserve margin of about 234 MW, or roughly 9.5 percent of demand.

Thursday, July 9, is projected to see the lowest demand of the week at 2,415 MW, against a supply of 2,647 MW, yielding the smallest reserve in absolute terms at 232 MW but still translating to a healthy reserve ratio of 9.6 percent.

Daily reserve margins for the outlook period are projected as follows:

Monday, July 6, at 234 MW (9.48 percent)

Tuesday, July 7, at 233 MW (9.48 percent)

Wednesday, July 8, at 233 MW (9.56 percent)

Thursday, July 9, at 232 MW (9.61 percent), and

Friday, July 10, at 234 MW (9.45 percent).

No more yellow alerts

The figures suggest no further yellow or red alerts for the Visayas grid next week, as reserves consistently remain above the roughly 4- to 6-percent threshold typically associated with thin supply conditions.

A yellow alert is typically raised when operating reserves fall below required levels but supply can still meet demand.

Meanwhile, a red alert signals an anticipated supply shortfall requiring emergency measures such as rotational power interruptions.

Compared with the tail end of June, when supply hovered between 2,634 MW and 2,661 MW against demand of 2,415 MW to 2,475 MW, next week’s outlook shows a modest improvement in available capacity, with supply climbing to as high as 2,709 MW.

READ MORE: EXPLAINER: Color-coded grid alert statuses and what they mean

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