The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is waiting for the Department of Energy (DOE) to issue certificates of conformity (COCs) for two planned competitive selection processes (CSPs) totaling 800 megawatts (MW) of electricity, a key step required before the bidding can proceed.
Speaking during the company’s annual stockholders meeting on Tuesday, Meralco vice president and head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez emphasized the regulatory importance of the COC, saying, “According to the DOE’s CSP policy, a COC should be issued by the DOE before a CSP can commence. Meralco has yet to receive this for two proposed CSPs.”
The two CSPs include a 600 MW baseload supply contract running from February 2028 to February 2043, and a separate 200 MW baseload renewable energy contract from January 2026 to January 2030.
CSPs are a government-mandated competitive bidding process requiring distribution utilities to seek at least two qualified offers before signing power supply agreements. Direct negotiations are permitted only after two failed bidding rounds.
The upcoming CSPs are part of Meralco’s broader procurement plan covering nearly 3,000 MW of future power needs. The utility, which serves about 8.1 million customers and supplies nearly half of the country’s power demand, plays a central role in shaping energy procurement in the Philippines.
The DOE’s timely issuance of COCs will be crucial for Meralco to advance procurement and secure long-term supply contracts, amid rising demand and policy pressure for transparent, competitive energy sourcing.
