DOE clears Meralco to bid out 200-MW green supply contract
Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan
The Department of Energy (DOE) has cleared Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to bid out a 200-megawatt (MW) renewable energy (RE) supply contract as way to expand its clean energy portfolio.
The DOE approved the competitive selection process (CSP) for the 200 MW, which allows Meralco to invite power generators to bid for the supply contract, Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan shared in an interview last week.
“We received the comments of the PCC (Philippine Competition Commission) and the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission)… In that sense, we deemed it okay to release the certificate of conformity [COC] for the 200 MW,” Marasigan told reporters.
A COC is a required document that ensures Meralco’s CSP terms align with the mandates of the ERC and the PCC before the utility can proceed with the auction.
“If Meralco feels that they have already complied with the comments of PCC and ERC, then they can proceed,” Marasigan added.
Meralco Head of Utility Economics Larry Fernandez said in an interview last May that the 200 MW RE supply auction is expected to begin on Jan. 26, 2026.
The DOE has also received comments from the commission and the PCC for Meralco’s applications for 600 MW of baseload and 450 MW of mid-merit supply.
According to Fernandez, the 600 MW baseload CSP is scheduled to begin on Feb. 26, 2028.
Once granted the go-signal to proceed, these CSPs will secure Meralco’s energy supply, which could translate into more reliable and affordable power for consumers.
The distribution utility is procuring a mix of renewables, baseload (for 24/7 energy), and mid-merit supply (for flexible demand).
This procurement aligns with Meralco’s goal to secure over 2,100 MW worth of capacity under its long-term supply procurement plan, which stretches from 2026 to 2046.