DOE details 72-hour backup power rule before El Niño

MANILA — Hospitals, water systems, emergency medical services, and government food hubs must prepare backup electricity capable of sustaining operations for at least 72 hours as agencies brace for El Niño-related supply risks, the Department of Energy said.

The requirement is meant to keep medical care, water, and food distribution running during outages, when a loss of electricity can quickly become a public-health emergency.

Its value, however, depends on whether facilities receive funding, maintain fuel or storage, test their systems, and meet a clear compliance deadline.

The DOE’s Task Force on Energy Resiliency is coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on the policy under NDRRMC Resolution No. 2, series of 2026.

The resolution was transmitted to health facilities through Department of Health Circular No. 2026-0114 dated March 13, 2026.

The circular is titled Reiteration of Energy Resiliency Measures for Health Facilities in Support of the Institutionalization of Energy Resiliency for Critical Infrastructures.

Covered facilities include hospitals, rural health units, emergency medical services, water supply facilities, and Department of Social Welfare and Development food hubs.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said, “Nais nating maging panatag ang loob ng mga pamilya na patuloy na makapagbibigay ng serbisyo ang mga ospital at pasilidad ng tubig sa kanilang komunidad sa gitna ng El Niño. Kaya habang maaga, tinitiyak natin na may backup power ang mga naghahatid ng serbisyong inaasahan ng ating mga kababayan.”

Covered institutions must prepare or update their Public Service Continuity Plans or Business Continuity Plans to include energy-resilience measures.

The plans are intended to help the DOE identify facilities that may need priority support during electricity shortages and reduce interruptions to essential services.

The facilities must install generators or renewable energy systems capable of operating for at least 72 hours without grid power, with priority given to high-risk and off-grid areas.

“Our strategy is simple: we secure supply, we manage demand, and we prepare backup systems to protect our people and our economy,” DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella said at an Oct. 26 press conference.

PAGASA reported in October that a strong to very strong El Niño was present and could peak before the end of 2026.

The weather bureau said the episode could persist through the first quarter of 2027, with associated effects continuing through the first half of the year.

The DOE said lower rainfall could reduce reservoir levels and constrain hydropower generation, tightening the available electricity supply.

The department said it is coordinating across the energy sector to prioritize electricity for critical facilities when supply becomes constrained.

To add generating capacity before the dry season, the DOE is fast-tracking 200 power projects under Task Force 200.

As of Oct. 26, 2026, the department said 55 projects, including battery energy storage systems, had been completed with about 2,365 megawatts of total capacity.

Another 28 projects are targeted for completion by the end of 2026.

The DOE is also asking households and businesses to reduce demand by using electricity more efficiently.

It recommends setting air conditioners at about 24 degrees Celsius, choosing properly sized and, where practical, inverter-type units, and cleaning filters regularly.

Consumers can reduce indoor heat with curtains, awnings, and plants, while maximizing natural ventilation before increasing air-conditioning use.

The department also recommends LED lighting, switching off unnecessary lights, and unplugging appliances that are not in use.

The Oras Natin sa Efficiency campaign asks Filipinos to switch off nonessential lights and unplug unused appliances every Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Energy efficiency must go beyond a scheduled hour each week. We want every Filipino to make it part of everyday life — in our homes, offices, businesses, and communities. Ang tunay na layunin natin ay gawing bahagi ng ating pang-araw-araw na gawain ang matalinong paggamit ng enerhiya,” Garin said.

As of Oct. 9, 2026, the DOE estimated that the campaign had saved about 129.25 million kilowatt-hours since its April 2026 launch.

The department said the savings equaled the reported electricity consumption of 646,230 households, but it did not state the consumption period used for that comparison.