Leyte braces for blackouts as Visayas grid faces supply crunch

Electricity consumers in Tacloban City and the municipalities of Palo and Babatngon face the prospect of temporary power cuts as the Visayas grid contends with tight supply margins, authorities said Tuesday. The Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II) issued the warning after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the region under red and yellow alert status, indicating elevated demand relative to available generating capacity.

Red alerts signal that reserve power margins have fallen below critical thresholds, leaving little buffer against unexpected generator outages or surges in consumption. The yellow alert status indicates marginally adequate supply conditions. Such alerts typically precede rolling blackouts if supply constraints persist or worsen.

The timing of the alerts coincides with seasonal factors that typically strain regional grids, including weather patterns and industrial activity. Leyeco II advised consumers to prepare for potential interruptions and to exercise conservation measures where possible. The cooperative said it would coordinate with the grid operator to minimize disruption to essential services.