Philippines counting on 14.2-GW new power supply by 2030

Over 14,200 megawatts (MW) of new capacity are set to come online by 2030 to strengthen the country’s power supply, according to the Department of Energy.

Latest DOE data showed that renewable energy accounted for the bulk of committed projects between 2025 and 2030, totaling 11,625.32 MW.

Some 2,620.74 MW of new capacity, meanwhile, will come from conventional sources like coal, oil and natural gas.

Committed projects refer to those that have secured firm financial closure, are already under construction or have been awarded through the government’s green energy auction rounds.

For renewables, solar projects dominated the list with an aggregate capacity of 8,431.19 MW, followed by wind (2,233.24 MW), hydropower (836.38 MW), geothermal (74.22 MW) and biomass (50.28 MW).

These projects are aligned with the Marcos administration’s target of expanding the share of renewables in the energy pie to 35 percent by 2030 from the current 22 percent.

Among conventional sources, coal projects remained at the forefront, with a total capacity of 1,570 MW. Natural gas and oil-based projects are poised to contribute 880 MW and 170.74 MW of new capacity, respectively.

The Philippines is still heavily dependent on coal for power generation despite the government’s moratorium on new Greenfield facilities.

In fact, coal accounted for 62 percent of the country’s power generation mix last year, according to a 2024 report by the International Energy Agency.

While there is a strong push to deploy more renewables, the IEA noted that coal’s share in the energy mix is likely to only marginally decrease to 60 percent by 2027.

Aside from power generation assets, the government is also expecting reinforcements from committed battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 594 MW.

A BESS facility stores electricity from power plants or the grid for various applications such as grid stability, energy efficiency and renewable power integration.

The DOE is counting on these projects to augment the country’s power supply amid rising energy demand.

Under the Philippine energy scenario, peak demand is expected to grow by around 5.3 percent annually until 2028.

Source: Philstar

Liability of Consumers for Unregistered Electricity Consumption

In a world powered by electricity, the relationship between power providers and consumers hinges on accurate metering. But what happens when electricity consumption goes unregistered—whether due to defective meters or other causes? Can utility companies charge consumers for electricity that was not recorded by the meter? More importantly, are consumers legally liable for such unregistered usage?

In the Philippines, this issue was addressed head-on in the landmark Supreme Court case Ridjo Tape & Chemical Corp. v. Manila Electric Co. (G.R. No. 126074, February 24, 1998). This case set important guidelines on the rights and obligations of both utility providers and consumers when it comes to electricity billing.

Understanding Unregistered Electricity Consumption

Unregistered electricity consumption typically occurs when:

• The electric meter is defective, and fails to record usage accurately.

• There is meter tampering or bypassing (an illegal act).

• There are technical malfunctions in the provider’s system that affect reading accuracy.

This often leads to disputes, especially when consumers receive back-billed charges for months—or even years—of previously unregistered usage.

The Ridjo Case: Setting the Legal Framework

In Ridjo Tape & Chemical Corp. v. MERALCO, the petitioners were industrial consumers who received a massive bill from Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO) for “unregistered consumption” after the utility discovered their meters were not accurately recording electricity use. The consumers challenged the charges, claiming they should not be made to pay for electricity not recorded by the meter.

Supreme Court Ruling: Key Takeaways

• Consumers are liable for electricity actually consumed, even if the meter failed to register it, as long as consumption can be proven or reasonably estimated.

• MERALCO was found negligent for failing to detect the defective meters in a timely manner, despite regular inspections.

• The Court ruled that both parties share responsibility: the consumer for using the electricity, and MERALCO for poor equipment oversight.

• Billing must be based on a fair estimate, not arbitrary amounts. The Court allowed MERALCO to collect payments based on a three-month average consumption prior to the period of defective metering.

  
  

What the Law Says

Consumer Act of the Philippines (R.A. 7394)

This law protects consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. However, it also requires consumers to pay for the goods and services they use—including utilities like electricity.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Guidelines

The ERC allows utility companies to conduct “billing adjustments” in cases of defective meters, subject to rules:

• Back-billing is generally limited to a maximum of 6 months unless fraud is involved.

• The consumer must be notified and given a chance to contest the charges.

• The adjustment should be based on historical consumption data.

  
  

Practical Guidelines for Consumers

1. Monitor Your Monthly Consumption

   • Unusual dips or spikes may signal meter issues.

2. Report Suspected Meter Defects Immediately

   • Notify your utility provider in writing and request an inspection.

3. Never Tamper With Electric Meters

   • Meter tampering is illegal and can result in disconnection, fines, or even criminal charges.

4. Keep Billing Records

   • Past billing statements are essential for estimating usage in case of disputes.

5. Know Your Rights

   • You are entitled to due process. The utility company must present proof of under-registration and apply a fair billing adjustment.

     
     

Conclusion

In the Philippines, consumers can be held liable for unregistered electricity use if it is proven they actually consumed the power, even if the utility meter failed. However, utility companies also bear the responsibility of maintaining accurate and functioning metering systems. The law aims to strike a balance: consumers must pay for what they use, but utility companies must act with competence, diligence, and fairness.

The Ridjo Doctrine, as established by the Supreme Court, affirms that while no one should get electricity for free, back-billing must be reasonable, based on actual data, and never the result of the provider’s own negligence.

Source: Ziggurat Real Estate

Climate crisis ‘wreaking havoc’ on Earth’s water cycle

Global heating is supercharging storms, floods and droughts, affecting entire ecosystems and billions of people

The climate crisis is “wreaking havoc” on the planet’s water cycle, with ferocious floods and crippling droughts affecting billions of people, a report has found.

Water is people’s most vital natural resource but global heating is changing the way water moves around the Earth. The analysis of water disasters in 2024, which was the hottest year on record, found they had killed at least 8,700 people, driven 40 million from their homes and caused economic damage of more than $550bn (£445bn).

Rising temperatures, caused by continued burning of fossil fuels, disrupt the water cycle in multiple ways. Warmer air can hold more water vapour, leading to more intense downpours. Warmer seas provide more energy to hurricanes and typhoons,

supercharging their destructive power. Global heating can also increase drought by causing more evaporation from soil, as well as shifting rainfall patterns.

Deadly flash floods hit Nepal and Brazil in 2024, while river flooding caused devastation in central Europe, China and Bangladesh. Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck south-east Asia in September, was intensified by the climate crisis, as was Storm Boris which hit Europe the same month.

Droughts also caused major damage, with crop production in southern Africa halving, causing more than 30 million people to face food shortages. Farmers were also forced to cull livestock as their pastures dried up, and falling output from hydropower dams led to widespread blackouts.

“In 2024, Earth experienced its hottest year on record and water systems across the globe bore the brunt, wreaking havoc on the water cycle,” said the report’s leader, Prof Albert van Dijk.

He said 2024 was a year of extremes but that was not an isolated occurrence. “It is part of a worsening trend of more intense floods, prolonged droughts, and record-breaking extremes.” The report warned of even greater dangers in 2025 as carbon emissions continued to rise .

The 2024 Global Water Monitor Report was produced by an international team of researchers from universities in Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany and elsewhere. The team used data from thousands of ground stations and satellites orbiting the Earth to assess critical water variables such as rainfall, soil moisture, river flows, and flooding.

They found rainfall records are being broken with increasing regularity.

For example, record highs for monthly rainfall were set 27% more often in 2024 than in the year 2000 and daily rainfall records were set 52% more frequently. Record lows were set 38% more often. “So we are seeing worse extremes on both sides,” said Van Dijk.

In southern China from May to July, the Yangtze and Pearl rivers flooded cities and towns, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to crops. The river floods in Bangladesh in August after heavy monsoon rains affected almost 6 million people and destroyed at least a million tonnes of rice.

Meanwhile, in Spain in October more than 500mm of rain fell in eight hours, causing deadly flash floods. The city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, was inundated with two months’ worth of rain in just three days in May, transforming roads into rivers.

“Heavy rainfall events also caused widespread flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing more than 1,000 people,” Van Dijk said. The flooding also displaced 1.5 million people.

In the Amazon, drought struck. “Wildfires driven by the hot and dry weather burned through more than 52,000 sq km in September alone, releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases,” Van Dijk said. “From historic droughts to catastrophic floods, these extreme events impact lives, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems.”

The researchers said seasonal climate forecasts for 2025 and current conditions suggested droughts could worsen in northern South America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia. Wetter regions such as the Sahel and Europe may face elevated flood risks.

“We need to prepare and adapt to inevitably more severe extreme events,” said Van Dijk. “That can mean stronger flood defences, developing more drought-resilient food production and water supplies, and better early warning systems. Water is our most critical resource, and its extremes – both floods and droughts – are among the greatest threats we face.”

Source: The Guardian