ERC Pushes Renewable Energy, Cites Major Sector Gains

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines’ renewable energy transition during the Solar and Storage Live 2025 forum, citing strong growth in clean energy programs and regulatory reform as part of a push for “energy democracy.”

Speaking at the May 19 event held at the SMX Convention Center, ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta described the renewable energy (RE) agenda as a roadmap to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and to increase consumer participation in the power sector.

“This is energy democracy in action,” Dimalanta said. “A blueprint to liberate our power system from high dependence on imported fuel… a covenant to energy democracy that will empower our stakeholders and consumers to make better energy decisions.”

Dimalanta outlined three major transitions reshaping the energy landscape: the Green Shift, which promotes clean generation sources; the Network Shift, focused on infrastructure upgrades; and the Source/Supply Shift, which promotes diversified and distributed energy models.

She noted that net-metering registrations have surged by 121% between 2002 and 2023, reflecting a growing number of “prosumers” — consumers who also generate and supply electricity back to the grid.

The Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) program, she added, is expanding steadily, giving large electricity consumers the ability to choose their power suppliers and benefit from lower generation charges compared to standard distribution utility rates.

Dimalanta also reported a nearly 90% rise in customers opting for 100% renewable energy through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) by the end of 2024, reinforcing market appetite for cleaner electricity.

The Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP), the ERC’s flagship initiative to boost renewable capacity, has already awarded more than 13 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity over three rounds.

A fourth round (GEA-4), slated for later this year, is expected to award an additional 9,000 megawatts (MW), equivalent to the output of more than nine large coal-fired power plants.

“These transitions can only be sustained if we push forward with what we call the ‘transition enablers,’” Dimalanta said, referring to regulatory initiatives like the Omnibus Rules on Consumer Choice Programs and upcoming rules on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).

AMI technology, which allows for real-time energy consumption tracking, is seen as a critical tool in helping consumers optimize usage, participate in demand-side programs, and reduce costs.

The ERC’s reform agenda aligns with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Program, which aims to increase the RE share in the power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

According to DOE data, renewable energy accounted for approximately 22% of the total generation mix in 2023, led by geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind.

Dimalanta emphasized that stakeholder empowerment — through transparent policies, smart grids, and consumer choice — will be essential in ensuring a just and equitable energy transition.

The Philippine renewable energy sector is also expected to attract increased investment in the coming years, with foreign and domestic companies responding to regulatory clarity and auction-backed project development.

As of 2025, the estimated market value of the Philippine RE sector stands at over PHP 800 billion, according to industry analysts, with solar and wind leading investment interest.

The ERC continues to position itself not only as a regulator but as a reform driver supporting innovation, competition, and clean energy equity in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing power markets.