THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it is moving forward with plans to stage the country’s first auction dedicated to natural gas, with contracts targeted to be awarded by the fourth quarter this year.

With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, consumer advocacy group ILAW Pilipinas is urging the administration to put electricity affordability, power reliability, and stronger accountability in the power sector at the centre of its agenda.

More than 32,000 member-consumer-owners of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) voted to support a proposed joint venture agreement with IGNITE Power during the co-op’s 43rd annual general membership assembly Saturday.

IBA, Zambales — Government officials in Zambales have expressed optimism over natural hydrogen gas reserves found in the province and urged immediate preparations to explore and manage the two hydrogen seeps that could provide abundant clean energy and reshape the local economy.

Filinvest Group’s FDC Misamis Power Corp. (FDC Misamis) has secured a two-year, 20-megawatt (MW) power supply agreement with Vivant Energy’s retail electricity supplier COREnergy, expanding supply available to contestable customers as competition in the retail electricity market continues to grow.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has shortened processing times for several key regulatory approvals under the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS), as the government pushes to speed up the development of energy infrastructure through streamlined permitting.

MANILA – Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has encouraged the private sector to further increase investments in the energy sector, citing gains such as the 99-megawatt-peak (MWp) Tantangan Solar Project, eyed to benefit around 68,000 households in Sultan Kudarat.

Nearly 50 distribution utilities recorded residential electricity rates above the national average of P12.43 per kilowatt-hour in June, according to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

The Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday that a supply shortage in the national power grid and higher fuel costs from the Middle East conflict have driven up electricity prices.

The Department of Energy, together with Apolaki Seven Inc., German parent company ib vogt, and other government partners, has energized Phase 1 of the 99-megawatt-peak Tantangan Solar Power Project, a facility capable of supplying clean electricity to about 68,000 households.