Visayas Grid Braces for Ongoing Yellow Alerts in 2026 as Power Demand Surges
BACOLOD. The Visayas region, encompassing Negros Island, is likely to encounter recurrent yellow alert situations throughout the year 2026, according to a prominent consumer advocacy group. This forecast highlights growing concerns over the stability of the power supply in the area.
Increasing Pressure on the Visayas Power Grid
Wennie Sancho, president of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (Access), has emphasized that the Visayas power grid is under mounting strain in 2026. He explained that electricity consumption is climbing at a faster rate than the available supply, which raises significant worries about potential instability in the region's energy resources.
Sancho pointed out that the Department of Energy (DOE) had previously issued warnings about this issue. The agency noted that heightened electricity usage, coupled with delays in the completion of new power plant projects, could render Cebu and other Visayas islands susceptible to power shortages.
Critical Power Reserves and Grid Alerts
These concerns were reinforced by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which declared an alert status for the Visayas grid on January 21, 2026. Sancho detailed that NGCP had earlier reported a sharp decline in available power reserves in the region. This drop followed the unplanned shutdowns of two major coal-fired power plants, driving the grid to its lowest resource levels in recent memory.
While NGCP has assured that widespread blackouts are not anticipated, Sancho described the situation as alarming. He stressed that the frequency of these yellow alerts will largely depend on two key factors: the pace at which electricity demand increases and the speed with which new power capacity becomes operational.
Research Highlights Tight Power Supply
Based on research conducted by Power Watch Negros Advocates, Access believes that the Visayas is confronting a tight power supply scenario in 2026. The analysis indicates that demand continues to outstrip capacity, creating a precarious balance that could lead to more frequent alerts.
Sancho warned that failing to address this imbalance could precipitate a full-blown power crisis. Such a crisis might result in higher supply-related charges, negatively impacting the local economy, employment rates, and the daily lives of consumers across the region.
Economic Growth and Energy Challenges
As the Visayas region delves deeper into 2026, it faces a looming energy challenge that could reshape the economic and social landscape of the Negros Island Region. Sancho noted that Western Visayas has been enjoying sustained economic growth since the establishment of the Negros Island Region (NIR). This growth has further amplified the demand for a stable and reliable power supply to support ongoing development.
Frequent yellow alerts signal underlying vulnerabilities in the grid that affect both households and businesses. Thin power reserves often lead to higher electricity prices in the spot market, increasing operating costs for energy-intensive industries and potentially stifling economic progress.
Call for Action and Preventive Measures
Access has urged all stakeholders to take immediate steps to address the projected supply-demand imbalance. In light of the projections and warnings from the DOE and NGCP, Sancho emphasized the urgent need for timely additions to power capacity and stronger grid reliability measures. These actions are crucial to prevent prolonged supply instability in the Visayas and ensure a reliable and efficient electricity supply, which is vital for sustaining the economic development of the Negros Island Region.
