Cebu may keep facing power supply problems for more than a year because major new power plants won’t come online until 2028, The Freeman reported.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin made the admission during the Cebu Energy Summit at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Monday, October 12.
“Parating yung solusyon, pero late na siya. It will be in 2028,” Garin said, meaning the solution is coming, but late.
How Short Is Cebu’s Supply?
Engr. Neil Martin Modina of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said Cebu has about 863 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity against demand of around 1,229 MW, according to The Freeman. That leaves a gap of about 366 MW that has to come from outside the province.
The day before the summit, Cebu imported 445 MW from Mindanao. Modina said the return of KEPCO could lift Cebu’s capacity to about 963 MW, but demand would still be nearly 400 MW higher.
The last rotational brownout was on September 23, according to Modina’s presentation. He warned that the Visayas has an operating reserve of only about 270 MW, so losing one big plant could bring back yellow alerts, or grid warnings.
The Stopgap Plan
Garin said the DOE is working on immediate, medium-term, and long-term fixes:
- Battery storage (BESS): about 250 MW across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Iloilo, storing extra power from renewables for use at night. “We need the batteries now. People cannot wait,” Garin said, urging NGCP to speed up the projects.
- Power barges: floating diesel plants totaling nearly 300 MW, targeted for the first quarter of 2027, for three to five years of temporary support. Garin said these won’t stop all red alerts.
- Transmission review: an assessment of the Luzon–Leyte–Cebu link, since the Leyte-to-Cebu line limits how much power can be sent in.
The Long-Term Fix
According to The Freeman, the DOE plans to auction 500 MW of gas-fired power for Cebu and another 500 MW for Panay, with delivery expected between 2028 and 2030. Garin also cited a 150 MW TVI coal plant in Cebu targeted for 2028, a 107 MW plant in 2029, and about 470 MW of renewable energy projects that could come online in 2028.
El Niño Adds Pressure
Garin warned that Super El Niño could cut hydropower output by 40 percent and solar by 20 percent. “We do expect an increase in price and reduction on supply,” she said.
On Christmas, she said the DOE is committed to preventing blackouts but could not guarantee it. “I can’t give you 100%, but just 100% effort,” she said.
What You Can Do
Garin urged households and businesses to switch off unneeded lights, unplug unused appliances, and set air-conditioners to 24°C. She said this setting, instead of 18°C, could save about 15 percent on electricity bills. Cutting demand by 10 to 20 percent could ease pressure on the grid.
What’s Next
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said brownouts mean “lost income for small businesses, disrupted work or another difficult night for a family.” Government, energy firms, and business groups signed on to a new Cebu Energy Alliance at the summit to keep talks going.
