BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
Meralco, DOE Urge Power Saving As Tensions Push Costs Up
Photo credit: Meralco
As global tensions in the Middle East continue to put pressure on fuel prices, energy officials in the Philippines are urging businesses to take a more active role in managing their electricity use—especially as the dry season drives up demand.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, together with the Department of Energy (DOE), is doubling down on demand-side solutions like energy efficiency and the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to help stabilize the power grid and control electricity costs.
During Meralco’s recent “Powering Through Uncertainty” webinar for enterprise customers, officials emphasized that while power supply in the Luzon Grid remains stable, external factors—particularly rising global fuel prices—are still a concern.
“We can see that there are no expected alert levels in the Luzon Grid considering that all of the capacities will be available as expected and new power project investments will come online as expected or targeted,” said Noriel Christopher R. Reyes, Officer-in-Charge of the DOE Power Planning and Development Division-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau.
Still, authorities are encouraging businesses to focus on what they can control: how they use energy.
“How we consume energy is what we can control. Supply is outside of us. For businesses, there are opportunities for you to do an energy audit or a spot check. Get a professional and go around to see the opportunities you have. Think of energy efficiency as an opportunity not as an obligation,” DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director IV Patrick Aquino said.
Part of this push includes wider participation in the Interruptible Load Program, a voluntary initiative where large electricity users temporarily reduce their consumption during peak demand periods to help prevent outages.
“We continue to encourage enrolment because the program becomes more effective the more we have customers that can participate. For the benefit of the participants, the frequency of de-loading may be reduced if we can call on more customers. Within the ILP participant pool, we can also rotate who will be called to de-load,” Meralco Generation and Transmission Economics Lead Specialist Ma. Leticia L. Sapina said.
As of February 2026, 105 companies are enrolled in the ILP, contributing a combined de-loading capacity of 513 megawatts. Since its launch in 2014, the program has helped spare around 3 million households from rotating brownouts.
With electricity demand expected to rise further in the coming months, Meralco and the DOE continue to highlight the importance of smarter energy use—from efficient cooling systems to adopting energy-saving technologies—as a practical way for both businesses and consumers to cope with rising costs and ensure a stable power supply.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, together with the Department of Energy (DOE), is doubling down on demand-side solutions like energy efficiency and the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to help stabilize the power grid and control electricity costs.
During Meralco’s recent “Powering Through Uncertainty” webinar for enterprise customers, officials emphasized that while power supply in the Luzon Grid remains stable, external factors—particularly rising global fuel prices—are still a concern.
“We can see that there are no expected alert levels in the Luzon Grid considering that all of the capacities will be available as expected and new power project investments will come online as expected or targeted,” said Noriel Christopher R. Reyes, Officer-in-Charge of the DOE Power Planning and Development Division-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau.
Still, authorities are encouraging businesses to focus on what they can control: how they use energy.
“How we consume energy is what we can control. Supply is outside of us. For businesses, there are opportunities for you to do an energy audit or a spot check. Get a professional and go around to see the opportunities you have. Think of energy efficiency as an opportunity not as an obligation,” DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director IV Patrick Aquino said.
Part of this push includes wider participation in the Interruptible Load Program, a voluntary initiative where large electricity users temporarily reduce their consumption during peak demand periods to help prevent outages.
“We continue to encourage enrolment because the program becomes more effective the more we have customers that can participate. For the benefit of the participants, the frequency of de-loading may be reduced if we can call on more customers. Within the ILP participant pool, we can also rotate who will be called to de-load,” Meralco Generation and Transmission Economics Lead Specialist Ma. Leticia L. Sapina said.
As of February 2026, 105 companies are enrolled in the ILP, contributing a combined de-loading capacity of 513 megawatts. Since its launch in 2014, the program has helped spare around 3 million households from rotating brownouts.
With electricity demand expected to rise further in the coming months, Meralco and the DOE continue to highlight the importance of smarter energy use—from efficient cooling systems to adopting energy-saving technologies—as a practical way for both businesses and consumers to cope with rising costs and ensure a stable power supply.
Mar 26, 2026
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