Panay Island’s Power Outage Crisis: A Call for Enhanced Energy Infrastructure

On January 2, 2024, Panay Island experienced a significant power outage, primarily due to the unexpected shutdowns of major power plants. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has been working diligently to restore electricity. The ERC acknowledged the inconvenience caused to consumers and stressed efforts to expedite power restoration. As of the afternoon, Panay power plants were supplying 198.1 MW of electricity, with an additional 50.9 MW sourced from the Visayas. However, an estimated 300 MW was still needed for grid stabilization, with 135MW expected from Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC).

The NGCP identified unscheduled maintenance shutdowns as the primary cause of the disruption. This incident was compounded by the tripping of three major power generating units and the scheduled maintenance of PEDC Unit 3. The NGCP also noted the impact of maintenance shutdowns and deration of plants outside the DOE’s approved Grid Operating and Maintenance Program. Emphasizing the necessity for improved planning, the NGCP called for sufficient generation per island, advocating for a balanced mix of fuels and technology to prevent similar crises in the future​​.