ACEN cements 65% market share in green energy retail
Ayala-led renewable energy (RE) firm ACEN Corp. remains the largest retail electricity supplier (RES) in the market, having taken over the majority of the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
According to Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), ACEN’s RES arm captured 71 percent of Meralco’s franchise area in 2025 and now accounts for 65 percent of the overall energy consumption in the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).
GEOP is a government policy wherein qualified end-users can source their own power directly from a licensed RES unit. Typically, customers with a 50-kilowatt (kW) average monthly demand threshold are eligible to select their preferred supplier.
“Over the four-year period, the Ayala Group demonstrates the most significant expansion, increasing its share from 36 percent in 2022 to 48 percent in 2023, and further to about 64 to 65 percent in 2024 to 2025,” PEMC stated.
In 2025, ACEN’s full-year RE output remained steady at 1,866 gigawatt-hours (GWh), supported by repairs in its wind project in Ilocos Norte province. Its customer base grew to 753 as it secured fresh deals with San Beda College Alabang, Avida Towers Asten, and Eastwood Excelsior Condominium.
According to PEMC, ACEN’s aggressive expansion has led to significant market consolidation, affecting the shares of other major players. First Gen Corp.’s market share retraced to 20 percent from an initial 38 percent, while the collective share of smaller retail suppliers fell from 20 percent to 12 percent over the same period.
Meanwhile, the RES industry grew over the past four years, as licensed suppliers’ share increased from 44 percent to 57 percent in 2025. PEMC noted that “this growth indicates sustained interest among market participants in entering and actively engaging in CREM [competitive retail electricity market].”
“This suggests a gradual increase in active market participation among registered suppliers... [It] suggests a more competitive and dynamic market environment, where suppliers are not only entering the market but also successfully acquiring and serving customers,” PEMC added.