Nearly 50 Distribution Utilities Charge Residential Electricity Rates Above Already-High National Average
Nearly 50 distribution utilities (DUs) recorded residential electricity rates above the national average of ₱12.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in June 2026, indicating that consumers in many parts of the Philippines continue to pay significantly more than the national benchmark, according to an analysis by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). The findings underscore how differences in distribution utilities’ power supply can influence electricity costs across the country, underscoring the importance of building a more diversified and resilient power mix. The analysis comes after the Department of Energy's (DOE) announcement that the Philippines has the highest average residential [...]
Offshore wind could transform Philippines’ energy security – ICSC [PowerPhilippines.com]
by Power Philippines News | March 13, 2026| Published by Power Philippines| READ THE STORY HERE The Philippines could significantly strengthen its energy security—and potentially become a regional power exporter—by developing its vast offshore wind resources, an energy expert said during a regional media briefing on how geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are exposing Asia's vulnerability to imported fossil fuels. Gaspar Escobar Jr., grid modernization advisor at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), said harnessing indigenous renewable energy resources, including offshore wind, would reduce the country's dependence on imported fuels. The media briefing [...]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Renewable energy for the sake of energy security
January 30, 2026| Published by The Manila Times| READ THE STORY HERE 28 January 2026 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Renewable energy for the sake of energy security Dear Editor, This is in response to the column titled “The Reliability Double Standard” written by Mr. Ben Kritz, published on January 27, 2026. While Mr. Kritz raises legitimate concerns about energy security, the piece conflates reliability with baseload capacity and misrepresents how the Philippine power system actually operates. More importantly, it overlooks the structural causes of today’s reliability challenges—baseload overcapacity, inflexible contracts, and poor risk allocation—while unfairly placing blame on [...]
Low-hanging fruit: Quick ways to generate clean, reliable power [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | December 29, 2025| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines cannot seem to graduate from its long history of power outages. From the crippling brownouts of the 1990s to today’s recurring alerts of thin reserves, energy insecurity remains a persistent reality. Every dry season brings the same headlines: soaring demand, unplanned shutdowns, and looming threats of rotational blackouts. The challenge before us is twofold — meeting rapidly rising electricity demand while accelerating the shift to renewable energy. While long-term, large-scale projects are vital, there are low-hanging [...]
The smarter energy path for Filipinos [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | December 12, 2025| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE The renewed pitch for nuclear power is seductive: one massive facility promising enormous output, low operating emissions, and the prestige of innovative technology. But beneath this polished promise lies a harder truth. For the Philippines—with our existing grid conditions, oversupplies, ambitious renewable energy goals, and abundant indigenous resources—nuclear is not just unnecessary. It may, in fact, derail the very progress we urgently need. Excess capacity—not scarcity—defines our grid. Contrary to claims that our grid is on the verge of collapse, [...]