Luzon and Visayas Grids Under Red Alert as Power Supply Deficit Hits Major Regions

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon and Visayas grids under red alert status on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as a significant supply deficit threatens to trigger rotating power interruptions across the country’s most populous regions.

The grid operator reported that peak demand in the Luzon region surged to 12,527 megawatts (MW), surpassing the available capacity of 12,447 MW. This shortfall is driven by approximately 4,681.6 MW of power that remains unavailable to the grid due to a combination of derated plant capacities and forced outages.

Regional Grid Status and Timeline

The power situation varies across the affected regions, with different alert levels in place to manage the fluctuating supply and demand:

• Luzon Grid: The region is currently under red alert status. The NGCP has announced that this status will remain in effect until 8:00 p.m., after which the grid will transition to a yellow alert through 10:00 p.m.
• Visayas Grid: The Visayas grid is under yellow alert. This status follows the forced outage of three power plants, a situation exacerbated by the region’s heavy reliance on power imports from the Luzon and Mindanao grids to satisfy surging electricity demand.

Understanding Grid Alert Levels

To help consumers and stakeholders understand the severity of the current situation, the NGCP utilizes specific alert levels to communicate the stability of the transmission grid:

Red Alert

A red alert is issued when the available power supply is insufficient to meet both consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirements. To maintain system stability during a red alert, the grid operator may implement manual load dropping, which results in controlled power cuts.

Yellow Alert

A yellow alert indicates that while the power supply is technically available, the operating margin is thin. In this state, the supply fails to meet the grid’s required contingency requirements, meaning the system has little room to absorb unexpected plant outages or sudden spikes in demand.

Mitigation Efforts

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has stated that it is actively coordinating with the NGCP and its industrial partners to mitigate the impact of the supply deficit on consumers. Efforts are focused on managing the load to prevent broader system instability.

Key Takeaways

• Current Status: Luzon is under red alert (until 8 p.m.) and Visayas is under yellow alert.
• The Deficit: Luzon demand (12,527 MW) has exceeded available capacity (12,447 MW).
• Primary Cause: Approximately 4,681.6 MW is unavailable due to forced outages and derated plant capacities.
• Potential Impact: The supply deficit may trigger rotating power interruptions to maintain grid stability.