The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has elevated the alert status for the Luzon and Visayas power grids to red and yellow on Friday, indicating critically low power reserves that may lead to rotating brownouts.
As of the latest advisory, the red alert for the Luzon grid is in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., while a yellow alert will be observed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to midnight. The NGCP revised the initial schedule following the unexpected tripping of GNPD Unit 1, which caused a loss of 668 megawatts (MW) and worsened the supply gap.
The grid operator warned that manual load dropping (MLD) — a controlled form of brownout — may be implemented from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in several areas, including parts of La Union (LUELCO), Santiago City (ISELCO I), City of Ilagan (ISELCO II), Cabanatuan City (CELCOR), Angeles City (AEC), Olongapo City (OEDC), Batangas (IEC), Albay (ALECO), and Metro Manila (MERALCO).
Available capacity for the Luzon grid was estimated at 12,075 MW against a peak demand of 12,000 MW, leaving a razor-thin margin. The NGCP continues to monitor the situation and urges consumers to conserve energy to help ease the strain on the grid.