Line men check electric meters in Divisoria

Line men from an electrical contractor check electric meters at the Divisoria area in Manila on September 12, 2022.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Benise Balaoing

Alvin Elchico

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171678323894120220912-electric-meter-divisoria-JC1194.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Line men from an electrical contractor check electric meters at the Divisoria area in Manila on September 12, 2022.  <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (2nd UPDATE) -- The Luzon grid has been put on red alert on Monday, May 27 and rotating brownouts may be expected in different places throughout the day, including the Meralco franchise area.</p><p>A red alert means there is not enough power to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.</p><p>The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the grid will be on red alert from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.</p><p>It will also be on yellow alert from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight.</p><p>Rotating brownouts or manual load dropping may be implemented in certain areas today to maintain the integrity of the power system.</p><p>The schedule may be canceled if system conditions improve, such as if actual demand falls below projections, NGCP said.</p><p>According to the NGCP, several hydroelectric power plants are on forced outage because of low water levels, while several other plants that burn fossil fuels are also on forced outage due to maintenance issues.</p><p>The Philippines has been experiencing power shortages since April. The head of the Department of Energy has even called the situation a &quot;calamity.&quot;</p><p>The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has suspended the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) for Luzon because of insufficient generation capacity in the grid.</p><p> The Department of Energy (DOE) has also called on industrial and commercial clients to consider joining the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) of distribution utilities like Meralco.</p><p>Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla meanwhile pointed to natural disasters like El Niño and typhoon Aghon as the main causes for the ongoing power shortage.</p><p>Lotilla once again called on consumers to conserve energy and practice efficient ways of using electricity in order to be shielded from higher electricity rates.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ERC TO APPEAL SC DECISION<br/></strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta says the ERC will appeal the Supreme Court&#x27;s decision on the San Miguel case.</p><p>Despite the resolution issued by the SC on the issue where no substantive issues were discussed or written in the decision, Dimalanta says the ERC together with the Office of the Solicitor General will appeal the decision.</p><p>When asked if the decision will have a rate impact on consumers, Dimalanta said it depends on whether SMC will still ask for a reimbursement for the months that it paid for higher coal prices. </p><p>&quot;Meron, kung hahabulin nila, yun nga ang takot namin sa desisyon na ito di ba na it&#x27;s practically giving  a blank check to San Miguel for the claims of losses na wala nga silang napatunayan sa amin..&quot; says dimalanta.</p><p>Last year, 2 power plants of San Miguel asked the ERC to withdraw from its contract with Meralco when coal prices soared in the world market.</p><p>SMC claimed there was a change in circumstances to warrant a withdrawal from contract but ERC thumbed down the decision, forcing SMC to elevate the issue to the CA where it won.</p><p>The ERC appealed the decision to the SC.</p><div><br/></div><div><span id="isPasted"><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></span></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_7-MLfIe5LI?&amp;t=161sautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

Rotating brownouts expected as Luzon grid on red alert on Monday, May 27 | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Business

Rotating brownouts expected as Luzon grid on red alert on Monday, May 27

Rotating brownouts expected as Luzon grid on red alert on Monday, May 27

Benise Balaoing,

Alvin Elchico,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2024 12:25 PM PHT

|

Updated May 27, 2024 06:24 PM PHT

Read More:

NGCP

red alert

yellow alert

power supply crisis

kuryente

brownout

blackout

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.