DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Mindanao power grid has restored normal operating conditions, maintaining sufficient power generation capacity to cover regional demand and uphold necessary reserves through the rest of 2026.
Speaking at a media forum in Davao City, Dr. Erick George Uy, head of the DOE-Mindanao Field Office’s Energy Utilization Management Division, noted that the grid officially stabilized on September 13. Barring major unplanned outages at primary generation plants, energy officials do not anticipate any red or yellow grid alerts for the remainder of the year.
Data for September indicates Mindanao maintained an average generation capacity of approximately 3,226 megawatts (MW) against an average usage of 2,451 MW, leaving a gross average reserve of roughly 755 MW.
According to Darwin Galang, chief of the DOE-Mindanao Electric Power Industry Management Division, the grid logged a peak demand of 2,464 MW on September 15 against an available supply of 2,807 MW.
“The year-to-date peak demand reached 2,775 MW on May 12, 2026,” Galang said.
The stabilization follows a period between August 10 and September 12 when the region experienced several system alerts. These alerts stemmed from a combination of scheduled preventive maintenance and unexpected equipment failures at key baseload plants, which temporarily compressed available grid reserves.
Grid reliability improved significantly after key plants resumed operations, notably GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co. Unit 3 and Therma South Inc. Unit 2 in mid-September. Remaining facilities currently undergoing maintenance are expected to be back online by early October.
To secure long-term stability, energy authorities are fast-tracking new power projects across the region. The DOE has designated 30 committed power projects and 37 indicative projects, which together represent over 4,500 MW of prospective generation capacity—more than 90% of which will originate from renewable energy sources.
”To help prevent a repeat of recent power supply problems, the DOE is issuing Certificates of Energy Projects of National Significance to qualified projects,” Uy said.
He explained that these certificates aim to streamline permit processes and government clearances for vital developments.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) corroborated the region’s improved power standing. Milfrance Capulong, NGCP regional corporate communications officer, stated during a separate media briefing that grid stability returned as synchronized coal-fired units rejoined the system alongside easing electrical demand.
“Mindanao had stabilized by the previous week after the affected generating units returned from forced outage,” Capulong said.
Although electricity consumption typically rises during the final months of the year, both the DOE and NGCP expressed confidence that current capacity will sustain regional demands through 2026, with initial simulations showing potential operational stability extending into 2027 under standard operating conditions.