The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are encouraging businesses to adopt energy-saving practices to help manage electricity costs and maintain grid stability, especially during the dry season and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
At a recent webinar, both groups highlighted the importance of demand-side measures, such as energy efficiency and participation in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), as electricity demand is expected to rise in the coming months.
The DOE said the Luzon power grid is expected to have enough supply, with no alert levels anticipated, as existing and new power plants come online as planned. However, officials warned that global tensions could still push fuel prices higher, which may affect electricity rates.
To address this, the DOE and Meralco are promoting smarter energy use, including regular energy audits, efficient use of cooling systems, and adopting energy-efficient technologies.
They also urged large businesses to join the ILP, a voluntary program where participants temporarily reduce electricity use during supply shortages to help stabilize the grid.
As of February 2026, 105 companies are enrolled in the ILP, providing a total of 513 megawatts of load reduction capacity. Since 2014, the program has helped prevent power interruptions for around 3 million households.
Meralco said it will continue to expand participation in the program and work with partners to promote energy efficiency, helping cushion consumers from rising demand and global fuel price fluctuations.
