Meralco draws 15 bidders for 200-MW renewable energy supply contract
Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest power distributor, received expressions of interest from 15 generation companies for a contract to supply 200 megawatts of baseload renewable energy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 7, Meralco said the prospective bidders represent a total potential capacity of 725 megawatts, exceeding the required volume.
The auction is part of a competitive selection process designed to meet Meralco’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, a government mandate requiring utilities to source a portion of their supply from clean energy.
Meralco has yet to identify the specific companies participating in the auction. The high turnout suggests a robust appetite among private power producers to secure long-term agreements despite the tightening regulatory environment for fossil fuels in the Southeast Asian nation.
The utility’s Bids and Awards Committee for Power Supply Agreements has scheduled a pre-bid conference for Jan. 15 to brief interested parties on technical and financial requirements. Final bids are due by Feb. 16.
“The strong interest we received reflects confidence in Meralco’s procurement process,” Lawrence S. Fernandez, chairman of the bidding committee, said in the statement.
He added that the company is seeking “least-cost” electricity to shield consumers from price volatility in the spot market.
The winner of the auction will sign a four-year supply agreement scheduled to begin on Jan. 26, 2026. As the Philippines seeks to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 35% by 2030, such auctions have become a primary mechanism for distribution utilities to lock in stable prices.
As a regulated entity, Meralco is “fully committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and regulatory compliance throughout the CSP,” Fernandez said.
The procurement plan has already received the necessary certificate of conformity from the Department of Energy. However, the final contract remains subject to the review and approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees power rates in the country.
The 200-megawatt requirement is intended to bolster Meralco’s baseload capacity—the minimum amount of power needed to meet continuous demand. By focusing this specific auction on renewable sources, the utility aims to balance grid reliability with its broader sustainability targets. (Gabriell Christel Galang)