The Visayas power grid was placed under a yellow alert again on Tuesday, signaling a tight supply situation as demand continues to outpace available generation. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the alert from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., warning that the system's operating margin was insufficient to cover a sudden loss of a major power plant.
According to NGCP data, the peak demand reached 2,567 megawatts (MW), while available capacity stood at 2,611 MW, leaving a slim contingency reserve of only 44 MW. A yellow alert is raised when the operating margin is less than the largest generating unit's capacity, indicating a potential for rotating brownouts if a plant trips.
The alert comes amid a series of power interruptions in the region, triggered by the decommissioning of old plants and delays in new capacity additions. Energy officials have urged consumers to practice energy conservation during peak hours to help ease the strain on the grid.
This marks the third yellow alert in the Visayas this month, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in the country's power infrastructure.