Negros Power Leads Visayas Power Forum to Strengthen Public Understanding of Electricity Prices and Grid Reliability
Electricity is essential for homes, businesses, schools, and industries. Still, many people are unsure why their electricity rates change each month. To help explain these changes, Negros Electric and Power Corporation, or Negros Power, held the Visayas Power Forum: Grid Reliability and Electricity Price Outlook on July 13, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod.
The event showed the company’s dedication to transparency, consumer education, and open communication. Along with other distribution utilities under PrimElectric Holdings, Inc., such as MORE Power and Bohol Light Company, Negros Power brought together government agencies, industry experts, business leaders, media, and consumer groups to discuss the current state of the Visayas power sector.
Negros Power Promotes Transparency Through Consumer Education
Electricity pricing can be hard to understand because many factors affect what people pay each month. The Visayas Power Forum aimed to make these topics easier by offering clear explanations from energy industry experts.
The event gave consumers and stakeholders a chance to hear directly from groups responsible for energy planning, regulation, and market operations. Instead of guessing, participants got reliable information about how the power industry works and why electricity prices can go up.
This educational approach shows Negros Power’s ongoing effort to build trust with customers by encouraging open discussions about the country’s energy situation.
Energy Experts Explain the Current Power Supply Situation
A key topic at the forum was the state of the Visayas power grid. Experts explained that electricity prices depend on the balance between supply and demand.
Some major power plants have had long outages, which reduced the electricity available to the grid. At the same time, transmission limits and lower reserves have made it harder to keep the power supply stable across the Visayas.
These problems have led to repeated Yellow Alert and Red Alert warnings. When electricity is limited, prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market go up. These higher costs eventually show up in the generation charge on consumers’ monthly bills.
The forum helped attendees understand that these increases are driven primarily by market conditions rather than decisions made by local distribution utilities.
Why Generation Charges Continue to Change
Many people think their whole electric bill comes from the local distribution utility. At the forum, speakers explained that the generation charge is just one part of the total bill.
Electricity producers and the current market price set the generation charges. When supply is low due to plant outages or transmission problems, competition for electricity makes prices go up.
Distribution utilities like Negros Power deliver electricity safely and reliably to homes and businesses. However, they do not control the prices set by power generation companies or the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
This explanation helped participants see how different parts of the electric power industry affect the final cost of electricity.
Industry Leaders Share Valuable Insights
The Visayas Power Forum included talks from respected experts from different parts of the energy industry.
Niel V. Parcon, Vice President for Corporate Energy Sourcing and Commercial Affairs at PrimElectric Holdings, opened the event by stressing the importance of transparency and timely communication. He called for ongoing teamwork among government agencies, regulators, industry stakeholders, and consumers to tackle current energy challenges and get ready for future needs.
Several keynote speakers also shared important insights.
Joseph Ladrido from the Institute of Contemporary Economics talked about how changes in market prices and marginal losses affect electricity costs.
Engr. Robinson Descanzo, President of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, gave updates on the current state of the Visayas Grid and shared what to expect for future electricity supply.
Director Luningning Baltazar from the Department of Energy explained how the government is working to make the power supply more reliable through different projects aimed at strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure.
Antonette Badillo from the Energy Regulatory Commission discussed regulatory measures intended to reduce the effects of volatile electricity prices on consumers while ensuring a fair and competitive electricity market.
Together, these presentations provided attendees with a broader understanding of how multiple organizations work together to maintain a stable and reliable power system.
Open Forum Encourages Meaningful Conversations
One of the main highlights of the event was the interactive open forum, where participants asked questions and engaged with the panel of experts.
People from the media, local government, business groups, and consumer groups asked questions about electricity pricing, future supply, and current government projects.
This open exchange allowed concerns to be addressed directly while promoting greater public awareness of the realities affecting the power industry. The discussion also demonstrated the importance of cooperation between regulators, industry leaders, and consumers in finding practical solutions to energy challenges.
Building a More Reliable Energy Future for the Visayas
Reliable electricity is vital for economic growth, investment, education, healthcare, and daily life. As electricity demand grows, it is even more important for all sectors to work together.
With educational events like the Visayas Power Forum, Negros Power helps consumers better understand how the electric power industry works. By sharing accurate information and encouraging open discussion, the company supports more informed conversations about electricity pricing, power supply reliability, and long-term energy sustainability.
Events like this also show the importance of transparency in the energy sector. When consumers know what affects their electricity bills, they can make better decisions and join discussions about the future of the country’s energy system.
Negros Power Continues Its Commitment to Consumer Awareness
The Visayas Power Forum showed Negros Power’s commitment to keeping consumers informed about important changes in the electric power industry. By bringing together government agencies, regulators, economists, energy experts, business leaders, and consumer representatives, the company made sure facts and practical insights were the focus.
As the Visayas faces new energy challenges, efforts that support education, transparency, and teamwork will stay important. Negros Power’s work to raise public awareness helps consumers understand electricity pricing and also supports building a more reliable, sustainable, and resilient power sector for communities in the region.