Residents in Dagupan City are preparing for possible power interruptions after the Luzon grid was again placed under Red Alert status on Friday, May 15, 2026 due to thinning electricity reserves and power supply issues.

Consumers said recent outages have become more difficult to endure, especially amid extreme heat conditions affecting several parts of Luzon.

Mark Kevin Espino, a resident of Dagupan, said he installed solar-powered lights at home and bought a rechargeable fan to help his family cope with power interruptions.

“Mahirap masyadong mainit lalo na sa akin tatlo ang anak ko,” Espino said.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that the Luzon grid was placed under Red Alert from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, signaling that available power supply was insufficient to meet demand and reserve requirements.

The grid was also placed under Yellow Alert from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to midnight, indicating thin power reserves that could worsen if further disruptions occur.

Officials said several power plants and transmission lines experienced outages, contributing to the strained supply situation.

Atty. Randy Castilan, chief operating officer of DECORP, said high temperatures may also be putting additional pressure on power facilities.

“Sa init kasi ng panahon talagang siyempre makina lang ‘yang mga ‘yan talagang bibigay at bibigay ang planta kahit pa may maintenance sila,” Castilan said.

Power distributors urged consumers to conserve electricity as the supply situation remains unstable.

Alfredo De Guzman said his family has adjusted electricity use to reduce consumption.

“Ako gusto ko talaga makatipid kaya gumagamit din kami ng mga solar at pinapatay mga appliance na hindi kailangan,” De Guzman said.

According to a Department of Energy (DOE) grid status update on May 15, Luzon had an available capacity of 13,508 megawatts against a peak demand of 13,881 megawatts, underscoring the tight power situation.

Authorities advised the public to prepare for possible rotational brownouts and practice energy-saving measures while power conditions continue to be monitored.