THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Monday said that it was looking to implement reforms to upgrade electricity grid standards, strengthen system reliability, and enable the integration of renewable energy.
Proposed reforms under a 2026 update of the Philippine Grid Code aim to modernize the country’s transmission system through updated technical standards, stronger reliability mechanisms and provisions for emerging technologies.
“This is not just a technical update; it is a strategic reform that prepares our power system for the future,” ERC Chairman and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said.
“The Philippine Grid Code 2026 Edition is designed to ensure that as we bring in more renewable energy and advanced technologies, our grid remains stable, reliable and secure,” he added.
The ERC said that the reforms will enable the grid to accommodate variable renewable energy and a wide range of emerging technologies.
It also aims to incorporate new technical requirements for solar photovoltaic plants integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS) using grid-forming inverters as well as standards applicable to other BESS installations.
It will also include enhanced cybersecurity requirements, updated grid planning standards, expanded reserve and reliability mechanisms and new technical requirements for integrating renewable energy and energy storage systems.
Innovations such as Fast Frequency Reserve (a grid stabilization service), grid-forming inverter standards and advanced provisions for energy storage integration.
Public consultations started on Monday and will be held up to Friday to provide stakeholders a platform to raise concerns, offer recommendations and contribute to the finalization of the grid code updates.
