Visayas Grid Placed Under Yellow Alert as Coal Plants Stay Offline
The Visayas power grid was placed under a Yellow Alert from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on September 23, 2026, as several large coal-fired power plants remained unavailable, tightening the region's power supply during peak hours.
According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the grid had an available capacity of 2,607 megawatts (MW) against a peak demand of 2,418 MW during the alert window. NGCP attributed the shortfall in part to the unavailability of three major coal-fired plants: TVI 1, PEDC 3, and KSPC 2.
As of the 8 a.m. update on the same day, 12 power plants were on forced outage, while another 16 were operating at derated (reduced) capacities. Combined, these accounted for 886.5 MW of capacity unavailable to the grid.
Of the plants on forced outage, three have been offline since August 2026, two since June, and six since May, according to the NGCP update. Others have reportedly been out of commission since 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2021.
What a Yellow Alert Means for Visayas Households
For everyday Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Leyteños, a Yellow Alert doesn't necessarily mean rotating brownouts are imminent — it's an early-warning signal. NGCP declares this alert level when the grid's operating margin isn't enough to cover its required contingency reserve, meaning there's less of a buffer if a plant unexpectedly trips or demand spikes beyond forecast.
Why This Matters Locally
The Visayas grid directly serves Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Panay, and Leyte, so any tightening of supply here affects businesses, hospitals, and homes across these provinces. The alert period coincided with peak evening demand, when many households are using lights, appliances, and air conditioning after work and school hours.
What Readers Can Do
NGCP is encouraging consumers to continue practicing energy conservation, particularly during peak demand hours. Simple measures — turning off unused appliances, maximizing natural light, and staggering high-wattage appliance use — can help ease demand during alert periods.
📌 Quick Summary
What: Visayas Grid placed under Yellow Alert due to tight power supply margins
Where: Visayas Grid (covering Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Panay)
When: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., September 23, 2026
Impact on Visayas: Available capacity (2,607 MW) exceeded peak demand (2,418 MW) by a narrow margin; 886.5 MW of capacity was unavailable due to outages and derated plants, some down since as early as 2021
Source: National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), via Cebu City PIO