The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced the successful completion of four major grid projects in 2024, significantly enhancing the reliability of the country’s power infrastructure.
Among the completed projects are the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt (kV) backbone, the Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose 500kV line, and the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project (CBIP). These initiatives have helped improve transmission services and ensure grid stability, especially in Central Visayas.
The CBIP, in particular, has been crucial in developing the transmission network in Cebu, the region’s primary load center, by establishing a new line that facilitates the flow of power in and out of the province.
“These accomplishments reflect our strong commitment to improving the grid infrastructure, ensuring a more stable and resilient power supply for households, businesses, and industries across the country,” NGCP stated.
The company also reported a reduction in transmission costs, with a decrease to P0.55 per kilowatt hour from P0.74 when the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) was in charge. This represents only 3.39% of the total electricity bill, while generation and distribution charges account for 53.17% and 21.81%, respectively.
Since NGCP took over transmission operations from TransCo in 2009, the frequency of outages has decreased by 82%, demonstrating significant improvements in the efficiency and reliability of the grid.
Looking ahead, NGCP has more projects in the pipeline, including the New Antipolo 230kV Substation in Rizal, the Laguindingan 230kV Substation in Misamis Oriental, and various substation upgrades and reliability projects across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Other planned projects include the Tuguegarao-Lal-lo (Magapit) 230kV Transmission Line, the Western Luzon 500kV Backbone Stage 2, and several other key transmission upgrades, all scheduled for completion barring any delays in right-of-way acquisition or permitting.
“We remain optimistic that, with the support of relevant government agencies, we are on track to finish these projects as planned,” NGCP said.
The company also called for the swift resolution and approval of applications filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which play a critical role in the approval and recovery of costs related to new transmission projects.
“As a highly regulated entity, we rely on the ERC’s approval to implement our projects and recover the costs incurred in building these facilities,” NGCP added. “We hope the ERC will continue to support our efforts to ensure a timely and fair recovery for our capital expenditures, which is essential for further strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure.” (Press Release)
