One Grid Philippines
For the government, total electrification does not only involve ensuring that rural and far-off places have access to electricity through the ECs. As part of its policy for total electrification, the DOE also envisions the interconnection of the three major grids in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a unified national grid or the “One Grid Philippines”.[1] At the moment, only the Luzon and Visayas grid are interconnected through submarine cables. The Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) is therefore of the highest priority in order to share system reserves between Visayas and Mindanao and to reduce operating costs due to the economic dispatch of generators. By connecting these two major grids through the western seaboard (Zamboanga del Norte-Cebu interconnection), lesser investments in power generation will also be needed to maintain the one-day Loss of Load Probability (LLOP). According to the PEP, it will further help optimize the use of available energy resources and additional generation capacities in the country.[2]
Smart Grid Policy
In 2013, the DOE issued Department Circular No. 2013-03-003 creating an Inter-Agency Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive and holistic smart grid policy framework and roadmap.[3] This comes after the United States-Department of Energy stated that a smart grid can reduce the frequency and duration of power outages, limit storm impacts, and restore service faster when outages occur. The delivery of electricity can be performed more efficiently and reliably with the use of cutting-edge technologies, equipment and controls.[4]
[1,2,3,4] Philippine Energy Plan 2020