ERC checks Negros biomass plants amid outages

The Energy Regulatory Commission inspected three Negros Occidental biomass power plants that have been offline since Nov. 25, 2025, as regulators monitor risks to power supply reliability in the Visayas Grid.

The ERC, through its Market Operations Service, conducted onsite inspections of the generation facilities of North Negros BioPower Inc., South Negros BioPower Inc., and San Carlos BioPower Inc. on June 16–17, 2026.

The three biomass plants have a combined installed capacity of 72.51 megawatts, according to the ERC.

The inspections were led by Market Operations Service Director Sharon O. Montañer and focused on the plants’ prolonged unplanned outages, the measures being taken to restore operations, and the projected timelines for their return to commercial operations.

ERC representatives verified the actual condition of the facilities, reviewed operational and maintenance records, examined the companies’ return-to-service plans, and met with plant management to discuss actions needed to bring the plants back online.

The commission said transparency, accountability, and prompt action by generation companies are critical to maintaining a stable, reliable, and secure power supply.

To support the timely restoration of the facilities, the ERC said it will continue to closely monitor the companies’ funding initiatives, fuel procurement activities, and progress against their target return-to-service schedules.

The plants form part of Negros Occidental’s biomass power portfolio, which uses agricultural residues and other biomass feedstock tied to the province’s sugar industry.

North Negros BioPower is a 25-MW biomass plant in Manapla, while South Negros BioPower is a 25-MW plant in La Carlota City, according to project information from ThomasLloyd. San Carlos BioPower is a 20-MW biomass plant in San Carlos City.

The three projects were developed as sister biomass plants in Negros Occidental, including the 25-MW South Negros BioPower plant in La Carlota City and the 20-MW San Carlos BioPower plant in San Carlos City.

North Negros BioPower Inc. said the BioPower Group’s biomass plants are fueled by sugarcane field residues sourced within Negros Island. The company said cane tops and leaves, also called cane trash, are typically left in fields and burned, and can be used as biomass fuel.

The ERC said it remains committed to proactive regulatory oversight and continuous monitoring of generation facilities to help ensure the reliability and adequacy of the country’s electricity supply.

The commission said it will continue to engage with concerned generation companies and require regular updates on restoration efforts, particularly when prolonged outages may affect power supply conditions in the Visayas Grid.

Under ERC rules on reliability performance, generation companies are subject to monitoring of actual planned and unplanned outage days of generating units.