NGCP invests P438B to increase power transmission

CEBU, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has invested P438 billion in the country’s transmission network since taking over grid operations in 2009, reflecting an increase in power delivery and generation capacity.

The development comes while the company continues to be evaluated under performance standards set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

During the Power 101 media briefing on Tuesday, Engr. Walter Bayron, Operations and Maintenance Transmission Line Manager for the Cebu-Bohol Area of NGCP, said the company now serves a total of 486 power customers directly connected to its transmission system.

These include 274 power generators, 99 electric cooperatives, 69 industrial customers, 20 private utilities, 22 ecozones and other customers, and one government utility.

Among the electric cooperatives connected to the grid are Cebeco 1, Cebeco 2, and electric cooperatives in Bohol, while private utilities include Visayan Electric and Mactan Electric Company.

Bayron said the company's investments have increased the country’s power delivery capacity by 182 percent, from 24,240 megavolt-amperes (MVA) before privatization in 2008 to 44,145 MVA as of Dec. 31, 2025.

He also reported a 102.8-percent increase in accommodated generation capacity, noting that all power plants constructed from 2009 to 2025 have been connected to the national transmission grid.

According to Bayron, these investments have contributed to improved transmission services and lower transmission rates.

The company also outlined how its performance is monitored by the ERC through several key indicators focused on grid reliability, outage frequency, and system stability.

For grid reliability, the ERC evaluates NGCP’s system availability, which measures the ability of the transmission network to remain operational and continuously deliver electricity.

Officials said maintaining high system availability helps improve the company’s performance rating.

The regulator also monitors the Severity Interruption Index, which measures the amount of unserved energy during transmission outages.

Bayron explained that prolonged outages affecting customers increase unserved energy and negatively impact the company's performance.

Another indicator is the Congestion Availability Indicator, which measures whether transmission facilities have sufficient capacity to deliver available electricity.

He said congestion occurs when there is enough power supply but limited transmission capacity prevents electricity from reaching consumers, underscoring the need for the continued expansion of transmission lines.

He explained that the Philippine power grid operates at a standard frequency of 60 hertz (Hz) and that the system is maintained within an allowable operating range of approximately 59.7 Hz to 60.3 Hz.

If the frequency falls outside these limits, protection systems may activate while ancillary services and power plants work to restore normal operating conditions.

NGCP also said transmission voltages, such as 69 kilovolts (kV) supplied to many distribution utilities and electric cooperatives, are maintained within prescribed limits.

When voltage falls below or exceeds the allowable range, the company deploys corrective measures, including the operation of capacitor banks and other voltage-control equipment, to stabilize the grid.

The presentation formed part of NGCP’s briefing on the company’s operational performance, infrastructure investments, and efforts to ensure the reliable and stable delivery of electricity across the country’s transmission network.