Meralco has yet to receive CoCs for two proposed CSPs: 200-MW renewable energy (RE) baseload, for supply starting Jan. 26, 2026 and 600-MW baseload, for supply starting Feb. 26, 2028. —Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez
Power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it is awaiting a certificate of conformity (CoC) from the Department of Energy (DOE) to begin a competitive selection process (CSP) for 600 megawatts (MW) of baseload capacity this year.
The CoC will ensure the CSP aligns with Meralco’s DOE-approved Power Supply Procurement Plan (PSPP), Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said on the sidelines of the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.
“In accordance with the DOE’s CSP policy, a certificate of conformity should be issued by the DOE before a CSP can commence,” Fernandez said.
“Meralco has yet to receive CoCs for two proposed CSPs: 200-MW renewable energy (RE) baseload, for supply starting Jan. 26, 2026 and 600-MW baseload, for supply starting Feb. 26, 2028,” he said.
Once the certificate is issued, Meralco plans to hold the CSP for 200 MW of renewable baseload, covering Jan. 26, 2026, to Jan. 25, 2030 and the 600 MW baseload capacity for Feb. 26, 2028, to Feb. 25, 2043.
“To enable DUs [distribution utilities] like Meralco to comply with their mandate to supply their respective markets in the least cost manner, the DOE requires that DUs obtain power supply agreements through a competitive selection process,” Fernandez said.
“Even after the conduct of a CSP, the resulting PSAs [power supply agreements] will still need to be submitted to the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] for public hearings and regulatory evaluation,” he said.
The DOE approved in April 2025 Meralco’s PSPP, which totals nearly 3,000 MW of generation capacity for delivery from 2026 to 2032. The CSPs will cover RE baseload, baseload, mid-merit and RE mid-merit supply.
