NGCP targets 7 projects in 2026

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to energize major transmission projects in 2026 following the completion of several critical project components, including facility upgrades, expansions, and improvements intended to support grid stability and reliability.

In a press statement, NGCP said the following projects are targeted for completion within the year: the Amlan–Dumaguete 138-kV transmission line with an ERC-approved cost of PHP 1.9 billion, the Tuguegarao–Lal-lo (Magapit) 230-kV transmission line with an ERC-approved cost of PHP 2.4 billion, the Tuy 500/230-kV Substation Stage 1 (Tuy–Dasmariñas 500-kV transmission line component) with an ERC-approved cost of PHP 8.1 billion, the Nabas–Caticlan–Boracay 138-kV transmission line with an ERC-approved cost of PHP 4.2 billion, and the Tacurong–Kalamansig 69-kV transmission line with a cost of PHP 757.98 million.

The company also said it is set to finish Stage 2 of its Visayas Substation Reliability project, as well as the relocation of steel poles along the Hermosa–Duhat 230-kV transmission line within 2026.

NGCP said the targeted works are meant to address economic drivers such as load growth, system reliability and security, power quality and technology, the entry of new generating plants (both renewable and non-renewable), and to complement major projects such as power grid backbones and island interconnections.

NGCP also cited its 2025 project milestones, saying it completed the upgrading and expansion of 14 substations to enhance grid reliability and stability.

In 2025, NGCP said it completed significant transformer installations and capacity upgrades across multiple substations to strengthen grid reliability. The Castillejos Substation was installed with 1,000 MVA transformer capacity, while the Calaca and Concepcion substations were each equipped with new 300 MVA transformers.

The Corella, Toril, Pitogo, Maramag, Dingle, Calbayog, and Paranas substations were fitted with 100 MVA transformers, NGCP said. The Davao Substation received a 150 MVA transformer, and the San Jose and Mabinay substations were each installed with 50 MVA transformers.

NGCP added that a 100 MVA expansion at its Iloilo Substation—described as a component of the Panay–Guimaras Interconnection project—was completed in April 2025.

The company also said voltage improvement initiatives were completed in its Tigaon, Malvar, Baybay Load-end Station, Sta. Barbara, and Zamboanga substations.

“These accomplishments are a testament to NGCP’s commitment to its mandate of delivering safe, secure, and reliable power transmission services to our customers. “We take our obligations under our franchise and concession agreement seriously. Despite continuing challenges in right-of-way and permitting, we remain committed to the work ahead, and are optimistic in completing these projects within the year,” NGCP stated.”

NGCP renewed its appeal for support from the Department of Energy and other related government agencies, as well as local government units, for the swift approval and release of permits needed to implement critical transmission projects.

“We continue to seek the support of government agencies and LGUs by ensuring the expedited release of permits related to our projects. Their assistance is vital to ensuring unhampered project implementation,” NGCP said.

RATES UP FOR FEBRUARY 2026 BILLS

Meanwhile, power consumers may see an increase in transmission charges reflected in their February 2026 electric bills, NGCP said.

NGCP reported that the overall average transmission rate for the January 2026 billing period—expressed in PHP/kWh equivalent and billed this month—rose by 13.55%, increasing to PHP 1.5279/kWh from PHP 1.3455/kWh.

NGCP said the Ancillary Services (AS) rate stands at PHP 0.6736/kWh, adding that AS charges cover the cost of services sourced from the AS Reserve Market as well as from providers with bilateral contracts with NGCP.

NGCP also said its transmission wheeling rate—the fee for delivering electricity through the transmission grid—is PHP 0.6921/kWh.

“For the February 2026 electric bill of power consumers, NGCP charges only around 69 centavos per kWh for the delivery of its services,” NGCP said, noting that its revenues are regulated and revenue-capped by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

NGCP said transmission charges for the January billing period are passed on to end-users through distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.