The Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) and Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) for timely and complete compliance with key reportorial requirements, highlighting the growing role of high-quality data in managing the country’s power system amid rising demand.
Plaques of appreciation, signed by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra, were awarded at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City. The DOE cited both utilities’ adherence to Department Circular No. DC2023-03-0005, which sets supplemental policies for the systematic management of reportorial requirements across the electric power industry for 2025.
The circular is designed to ensure reliable and timely data flows from distribution utilities—inputs the DOE increasingly relies on to monitor grid performance and plan capacity additions. With electricity demand climbing due to industrial expansion, the energy transition, and climate-related disruptions, the agency said robust reporting helps sharpen outage prevention and policy calibration.
MORE Power, which serves Iloilo City and nearby areas, and Negros Power, the sole distributor in Central Negros, are key nodes in the Visayas grid and in the DOE’s push toward a more data-driven operating environment.
“Full compliance equips the DOE with actionable insights that can accelerate projects such as grid modernization and the rollout of renewable energy,” said Roel Z. Castro, president and chief executive officer of both firms. He added that timely submissions help streamline approvals, reduce bottlenecks, and support national electrification goals.
The recognition comes as the Philippines targets full household electrification by 2028—a goal that hinges not just on infrastructure spending but also on the quality of sector data.
The DOE has previously flagged gaps among non-compliant utilities as a constraint on long-term planning, particularly in areas where renewable integration and rural electrification depend on accurate demand and reliability metrics.
In the Visayas, where both firms operate, recent grid upgrades and a pipeline of renewable projects—from solar and geothermal developments in Negros to emerging offshore wind prospects off Panay—underscore the need for tighter data governance.
For policymakers and investors alike, better reporting is becoming as critical as new capacity in keeping the lights on.
