MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a stern warning on Thursday, May 14, 2026, regarding potential power interruptions across the country. Extreme heat and the breakdown of several major power plants have pushed the Luzon and Visayas grids into critical status, triggering Red and Yellow Alerts.
This marks the most severe power supply strain of the 2026 dry season, occurring simultaneously with a “double whammy” of record-high fuel prices and a weakening peso.
Luzon Grid: RED ALERT
- Timeframe: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
- Definition: A Red Alert is issued when the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.
- Impact: Manual Load Dropping (MLD) or rotational brownouts are likely in parts of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to prevent a total system collapse.
Visayas Grid: YELLOW ALERT
- Timeframe: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Definition: A Yellow Alert means the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement, though brownouts are not yet certain.
The NGCP cited three primary factors for the sudden supply thinning:
- Forced Outages: A total of 16 power plants across both grids are on “forced outage” (unscheduled breakdown), while several others are running at derated (reduced) capacities.
- Peak Demand: The “feels-like” temperatures in many areas have exceeded 45°C, leading to a surge in air conditioning usage that has pushed demand beyond the 2026 forecast.
- Hydroelectric Decline: Low water levels due to the lack of rainfall have significantly reduced the output of major hydroelectric plants in Northern Luzon.
If the MLD is implemented, Meralco and other distribution utilities may carry out 1-hour to 2-hour rotational power interruptions in the following areas:
- Metro Manila: Parts of Quezon City, Manila, and Pasig.
- Luzon: Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
- Visayas: Parts of Cebu, Iloilo, and Negros.
- Interruptible Load Program (ILP): Meralco has activated the ILP, asking large commercial and industrial customers to use their own generator sets to ease the load on the common grid.
- Department of Energy (DOE): Secretary Raphael Lotilla (or the current secretary) urged the public to practice extreme energy conservation, such as setting air conditioners to 25°C and unplugging non-essential appliances during peak hours.
- Rate Impact: While Meralco rates slightly dipped this month due to ERC refunds, the reliance on expensive Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) power during these alerts may lead to a significant price spike in the June billing cycle.
“We are doing our best to manage the situation and avoid actual power interruptions. However, the cooperation of the public in reducing demand during the peak hours is vital to maintaining grid stability.” — NGCP Statement