Davao Light and Power Co. has activated measures to manage available electricity supply after the Mindanao power grid came under another round of red and yellow alerts, raising fresh concerns about the region’s power stability.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Mindanao grid under red alert from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 11, with yellow alerts issued from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The alerts were triggered as available generation fell short of the level needed to comfortably meet electricity demand and maintain the required reserves.
Several generating units were unavailable at the time, while electricity consumption remained high.
Davao Light prepares for possible supply shortages
Davao Light said it had activated measures to manage the available power supply and minimise the impact on customers.
The utility is continuing to monitor conditions across the grid and adjust its response depending on how much electricity is available.
It also warned customers that a red alert does not automatically mean power interruptions will occur.
However, if available generation remains insufficient to meet demand and required reserves, distribution utilities may have to take measures to manage the shortage.
Davao Light said it would issue announcements through its official communication channels if interruptions become necessary.
The company has also continued urging customers to conserve electricity, particularly during periods of high demand, to help reduce pressure on the grid.
Therma Marine unit among unavailable generators
NGCP identified the unavailability of Therma Marine Inc. Unit 2 in Agusan del Norte as one of the factors contributing to the latest red alert.
The latest warning follows a series of similar supply problems across Mindanao this month, highlighting how quickly the region’s reserve margin can narrow when several generating units are unavailable at the same time.
On September 3, the Mindanao grid was placed under red alert as generation capacity became insufficient to meet projected demand.
The following day, available capacity stood at 2,549 megawatts against a projected peak demand of 2,592 MW.
At that time, eight generating plants were on forced outage while six others were operating at reduced capacity, leaving about 784.5 MW of capacity unavailable.
Grid conditions improved — then came under pressure again
Mindanao’s power situation briefly improved on September 6.
The grid recorded 2,674 MW of available capacity against peak demand of 2,410 MW, giving it a gross reserve of 264 MW.
That was a significant improvement from the 98-MW reserve recorded on August 31.
But the margin narrowed again as generating units remained unavailable and demand increased.
On September 9, NGCP reported 2,641 MW of available capacity against a peak demand of 2,591 MW. Fifteen generating plants were on forced outage, while another eight were operating below full capacity.
The unavailable capacity reached about 827.7 MW.
NGCP subsequently placed Mindanao under another red alert on September 10, although the warning was later lifted after supply conditions improved.
Consumers urged to conserve electricity
The repeated alerts have renewed concerns about the resilience of Mindanao’s electricity system as demand continues to grow.
For Davao Light customers, the immediate concern is whether the tightening supply margin could eventually lead to scheduled or emergency power interruptions.
The utility has therefore urged consumers to reduce unnecessary electricity use, particularly during peak periods when demand places the greatest pressure on available generation.
The latest developments also underscore the importance of maintaining sufficient generating capacity and reserve margins as Mindanao’s economy, businesses and households continue to consume more electricity.
For now, Davao Light said it will continue monitoring the grid and implementing measures to manage available supply while keeping customers informed of any developments that could affect electricity service.
Leave a Reply