CEBU, Philippines — Cebu is once again facing the threat of rotational brownouts as the Visayas power grid remains under severe strain, with several major generating units still offline and electricity imports from Mindanao limited.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, followed by a nine-hour red alert from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Another yellow alert was scheduled from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The latest warning comes despite the recent return of some generating capacity, raising fresh concerns about whether Cebu and the wider Visayas can avoid more power interruptions while demand remains high.
The numbers show just how tight the supply is
NGCP estimated that the Visayas grid would have only about 2,187 megawatts (MW) of available capacity against projected peak demand of 2,575 MW.
That represents a potential shortfall of about 388 MW before accounting for the grid’s required reserves.
The grid operator said around 579.1 MW of capacity was unavailable because of forced outages, while another 212.9 MW was unavailable because some generating plants were operating below their full capacity.
Together, those outages and reduced operations represent approximately 792 MW of unavailable capacity.
Major power plants remain offline
Among the facilities continuing to affect the Visayas supply situation are Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) Unit 1 and Panay Energy Development Corp. Unit 3, both of which remain on forced outage.
NGCP also said more than 20 other generating units have been unavailable since 2021, while 16 plants are operating at derated capacity.
There was some relief earlier this week.
The KEPCO-SPC Power Corp. facility in Naga City restored its full 103-MW capacity on September 1, while one 169-MW unit at the TVI plant in Toledo also returned to service.
But the recovery has not been enough to eliminate the supply problem.
TVI’s other 169-MW unit remains offline, meaning the Toledo plant is still operating below its potential full capacity.
Mindanao can no longer provide as much backup
Another major problem is the reduced availability of electricity that can be imported from Mindanao.
Power from Mindanao has traditionally helped supplement the Visayas when local generation is insufficient. But several Mindanao plants are also experiencing outages, limiting the amount of electricity that can be sent north.
NGCP said the constrained imports are adding pressure to an already-tight Visayas system.
Mindanao itself was also placed under a nine-hour red alert on September 3, from noon to 9 p.m., with available capacity estimated at 2,480 MW against projected peak demand of 2,546 MW.
Cebu households could feel the impact
For consumers in Metro Cebu, the biggest immediate concern is the possibility of rotational brownouts.
Visayan Electric said tight grid conditions could result in manual load dropping if ordered by NGCP.
The utility stressed that the problem is being caused by generation and transmission constraints rather than a failure in its own local distribution network.
Its franchise area includes Cebu City, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga, as well as Minglanilla, San Fernando, Consolacion and Liloan.
Customers have been urged to conserve electricity, particularly during periods of peak demand, to help reduce pressure on the system.
Cebu governor calls for energy summit
The continuing power problems have also prompted action from Cebu provincial officials.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro called for a meeting with the Department of Energy, NGCP, Visayan Electric, Cebu electric cooperatives and private energy providers to assess the worsening supply situation.
She also announced a Cebu Energy Summit scheduled for October 7, bringing together government, energy companies, businesses and investors to discuss both immediate measures and Cebu’s longer-term energy requirements.
Baricuatro said Cebu needs a broader discussion about how to secure a more reliable and sustainable power supply as the province’s economy continues to grow.
There is some relief on the horizon
The situation is not entirely without solutions.
Energy officials have been counting on additional generating capacity returning to service, while new renewable-energy and battery-storage projects are being developed.
One example is the Toledo Battery Energy Storage System, which has already been energized and is designed to provide additional support to the Visayas grid.
The first phase has a capacity of 25 MW and 56.44 megawatt-hours (MWh), with a second 25-MW phase targeted for completion in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
The technology can respond quickly when demand rises or supply suddenly drops, potentially giving grid operators another tool for maintaining stability.
Meanwhile, authorities are also looking at additional solar, wind and other energy projects in Cebu.
But the immediate problem remains
Earlier projections had suggested that the Visayas grid could return to more normal supply conditions by September 11, provided major generating units returned to service as scheduled and electricity imports remained available.
The latest red alert, however, shows that the grid remains vulnerable.
For Cebu residents and businesses, the concern is no longer simply whether power plants will eventually return.
The more urgent question is whether enough generation will be available at the exact moment demand peaks — and whether the Visayas can maintain a sufficient reserve to prevent another round of widespread interruptions.
With both the Visayas and Mindanao grids under red alert on September 3, the pressure on the country’s power system is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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