Visayas power grid remains unstable despite unit returns

CEBU CITY — The power crisis gripping the Visayas shows little sign of abating, with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placing the region's electrical grid under red alert status multiple times Wednesday as demand outpaced available supply.

The NGCP activated red alert protocols from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. as the Visayas grid operated with critically low reserve margins, leaving minimal buffer against unexpected outages or equipment failures. Red alert status indicates reserve capacity has dropped below critical thresholds, requiring aggressive demand management measures.

The continued instability underscores the challenges facing the region's power infrastructure even as generation capacity gradually returns online. Industry officials attribute the ongoing strain to a combination of scheduled maintenance at key generating facilities and seasonal demand fluctuations that have strained supply-demand balance across the interconnected grid.

Energy officials have advised consumers to observe voluntary conservation measures to help ease pressure on the system during peak demand periods. The NGCP has indicated that grid stability should improve as additional generation capacity comes back into service in the coming weeks.