Philippines ERC Issues 2026 Grid Capacity and Market Share Limits to Strengthen Competition and Energy Sector Transparency

Energy Regulatory Commission has issued Resolution No. 17, Series of 2026, establishing the Installed Generating Capacity (IGC) and Market Share Limitation (MSL) for the Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and national grids as part of efforts to strengthen competition and consumer protection in the Philippine power sector.

The updated limits were issued in accordance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, which prohibits any single company or related group from owning, operating, or controlling more than 30% of a regional grid’s installed generating capacity and more than 25% of the national installed generating capacity.

Under the 2026 Resolution, the ERC set the Luzon Grid’s installed generating capacity at 20,422,806 kW, with a corresponding 30% market share limit of 6,126,842 kW. The Visayas Grid was set at 3,478,324 kW, with a market share cap of 1,043,497 kW, while the Mindanao Grid was established at 4,295,915 kW with a corresponding limit of 1,288,775 kW.

For the national grid, the ERC set the installed generating capacity at 28,197,045 kW, with a 25% market share limitation equivalent to 7,049,261 kW.

According to the Commission, the updated figures were calculated using the Maximum Stable Load (Pmax) of generation facilities, representing the maximum dependable output power plants can consistently sustain based on operational capability tests.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan stated that the Resolution aims to enhance transparency, maintain fair competition, and support long-term energy security within the country’s evolving electricity sector.

He noted that regular updates to installed generating capacity and market share limits are essential in preventing market concentration while promoting a level playing field among power industry participants.

The ERC also highlighted that the revised figures would support improved monitoring and planning across the Philippine energy sector, particularly as renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, and emerging energy technologies continue to expand nationwide.

The Commission added that the complete list of generation facilities and installed generating capacities for each grid is included in Appendix “A” of the Resolution.