0 Comments
Table of Contents
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has launched a competitive selection process (CSP) for up to 900 megawatts (MW) of additional baseload power capacity beginning in 2031, as the country’s largest power distributor prepares for rising electricity demand.
The utility said the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Certificate of Conformity for the Terms of Reference covering the planned 15-year power supply agreement (PSA).
Under the procurement, the winning generation company or companies will supply 600 MW starting Feb. 26, 2031, followed by another 300 MW a year later. The resulting PSA will require approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Power generation companies interested in joining the auction must submit their Expressions of Interest through Meralco’s Bids and Awards Committee by Oct. 15, 2026.
The pre-bid conference is scheduled for Nov. 6, with the deadline for bid submissions set on Dec. 9.
“Through the CSP, Meralco continues to secure sufficient and reliable power supply to meet the growing electricity needs of its customers,” Meralco said.
The latest procurement forms part of Meralco’s longer-term effort to secure additional supply for its expanding customer base, which includes Metro Manila and portions of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.
Recent 600-MW Auction
The new procurement follows Meralco’s recent auction for another 600 MW of baseload capacity, where units of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and AboitizPower emerged as the selected suppliers.
Mariveles Power Gen Corp. (MPGC), under SMC’s power arm San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., submitted the lowest bid at ₱5.3573 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 200 MW.
SMC affiliate Sual Power Inc. secured another 200 MW at ₱5.4357 per kWh, while AboitizPower-owned GNPower Mariveles Energy Center (GMEC) took the remaining 200 MW at ₱5.5789 per kWh.
The companies are expected to provide the 600 MW in stages, with the initial supply scheduled for Feb. 26, 2028, and the remaining capacity for Feb. 26, 2029. The agreements remain subject to regulatory review and approval.
The earlier auction was also structured around 15-year supply agreements, giving Meralco additional contracted capacity ahead of the requirements covered by its latest procurement.
Long-Term Procurement Plan
Meralco’s power procurement program calls for a series of CSPs to secure a total of 3,100 MW of baseload and intermediate capacity for its requirements from 2028 through 2049.
The staggered procurement is intended to align new supply with projected demand growth across the distribution utility’s franchise area. The 900-MW requirement being auctioned now represents another tranche of the utility’s planned long-term supply acquisitions.
For the latest CSP, the first 600 MW will come into service in 2031, while the additional 300 MW will follow in 2032. The 15-year contract structure would provide a long-term supply arrangement, subject to the regulatory process.
The procurement comes as Meralco continues to manage the electricity requirements of millions of customers while preparing for future demand. The outcome of the bidding will determine which generation companies will provide the additional baseload capacity, with the proposed supply agreements still requiring regulatory scrutiny before they can take effect.
Source:
https://business.inquirer.net/613433/meralco-to-bid-out-900-mw-baseload-supply-deal
https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/29/meralco-seeks-900-mw-of-new-baseload-supply-starting-2031