The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has formally set the 2025 national and regional power capacity limits, reaffirming its regulatory oversight of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. This annual determination dictates that no company or related group may control more than 30 percent of the installed generating capacity (IGC) of a grid, nor exceed 25 percent of the national IGC.
Based on this, the IGC for the national grid is set at 27,096,046 kilowatts (kW), with a market share limit (MSL) of 25 percent, or 6,774,012 kW. The breakdown by regions includes Luzon with an IGC of 19,419,592 kW (MSL of 30 percent or 5,828,878 kW), Visayas with 3,383,868 kW (MSL of 30 percent or 1,015,160 kW), and Mindanao with 4,292,586 kW (MSL of 30 percent or 1,287,776 kW).
A significant shift in market dynamics was observed as San Miguel Corp. (SMC) surpassed Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) to claim the top spot in terms of installed generating capacity. By the end of 2024, SMC reported an IGC of 6,079,606 kW, equivalent to 22.44 percent of the national capacity. In comparison, AEV’s capacity stood at 5,894,514 kW, or 21.75 percent of the national share.
In terms of regional shares, SMC leads in Luzon with 5,519,046 kW (28.42 percent), while AEV holds 4,797,884 kW (24.71 percent). AEV, however, continues to be a key player in Visayas and Mindanao with 457,800 kW (13.53 percent) and 638,830 kW (14.88 percent), respectively.
First Gen Corp. secured the third spot with a national capacity of 3,582,990 kW, representing 13.22 percent, followed by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) with 1,467,339 kW (5.42 percent) and Ayala Corp. at 1,431,332 kW (5.28 percent).
The ERC’s yearly setting of these caps ensures balanced power market competition and prevents any single entity from gaining excessive control over the nation’s energy infrastructure. As these limits are critical for maintaining market fairness, the new data emphasizes both the rising influence of SMC and the ongoing regulatory importance of capacity caps across the grid.
