BLACKOUT EASES: PEDC Unit 3 restores 150 MW to Visayas grid

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the restoration of Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) Unit 3 has stabilized the Visayas power supply and eased the risk of rotational brownouts following nearly two months of recurring yellow and red alerts.

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said Tuesday, July 7, that the Visayas grid has not been placed under a yellow alert since PEDC Unit 3, in Iloilo City’s La Paz district, resumed operations, restoring 150 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity.

“This ends nearly two months of recurring supply warnings that began in May and reflects a welcome improvement in the region’s operating reserves, reducing the risk of rotating power interruptions,” she said.

However, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert anew on Monday, July 6, and again on Tuesday, July 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., citing a surge in residential electricity use during the evening peak.

A yellow alert is declared when operating reserves fall below required levels.

A red alert indicates that available power is insufficient to meet consumer demand, increasing the likelihood of rotational brownouts.

The supply crunch began on May 13, 2026, when NGCP first placed the Visayas grid under a red alert after forced outages at Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2 and PEDC Unit 3 coincided with a seasonal surge in electricity demand, according to the Philippine News Agency.

With PEDC Unit 3 back online, dependable generating capacity in the Visayas, including imported power, now stands at 2,502 MW during daytime operations and 2,483 MW during the evening peak, according to Garin.

The generating unit, part of PEDC’s 278.4-MW coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City, returned to service on July 2, ahead of schedule after an equipment failure forced it offline in May.

PEDC said the restoration followed an engineering and recovery program that included technical assessments, forensic investigations, equipment repairs, testing, and coordination with NGCP, original equipment manufacturers, independent technical experts, and contractors.

The company said the unit synchronized with the grid after meeting stringent technical and operational requirements.

PEDC said the unit will continue to undergo close monitoring while the remaining engineering enhancements are completed.

PEDC operates a 278.4-MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City that supplies electricity to Panay Island and other parts of the Visayas.

Garin said the restoration benefits millions of consumers who depend on a reliable electricity supply.

“Behind every megawatt restored are Filipino families who depend on electricity for their daily lives — students who need light to study, workers who rely on power to earn a living and businesses that keep our economy growing,” she said.

While welcoming the improved power situation, Garin emphasized that maintaining a stable electricity supply requires sustained preparation and investment.

“Looking forward, the DOE is in close coordination with [the] restoration of major power plants that will inject more capacity to the grid and further stabilize the power situation in Visayas,” Garin said.

The DOE chief said Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, along with Kepco SPC Unit 1 in Cebu, remain offline for scheduled maintenance.

Garin said each Therma Visayas unit has a generating capacity of 169 MW.

Both units are expected to return to service by the end of August 2026.

In the meantime, the Visayas continues to receive about 700 MW of imported electricity from Luzon and Mindanao to help offset the temporary loss of local generating capacity.

The DOE has repeatedly urged power generators to complete maintenance activities on schedule and improve plant reliability to strengthen the region’s power reserves and minimize the risk of supply disruptions, particularly during periods of high electricity demand.