NGCP

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is a privately owned corporation that was established on January 15, 2009, through RA 9511. It is a consortium of three corporations, namely Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, Calaca High Power Corporation, and the State Grid Corporation of China.^[1]

2001–2009: Power grid operations, maintenance, and expansion under Philippine government (NAPOCOR/NPC and TransCo)

On June 8, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed RA 9136 (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), which introduced market competition in the energy sector and mandated the creation of National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) 18 days after the law was approved on June 26, 2001, originally as a child agency of another government-owned corporation National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR/NPC), with the latter operated, maintained and owned the country's power grid during that time therefore continuing to use its name as owner, before the transfer of the grid to the former on March 1, 2003, where TransCo then operated, maintained, constructed, expanded, and made eminent domain to the grid from March 2003 to January 15, 2009, independent from NAPOCOR/NPC.^[1]

2009–present: Power grid operations, maintenance, and expansion under private sector

As a result of the privatization of operations, maintenance, management, expansion, construction, and eminent domain of the country's power grid upon their turnover from TransCo to NGCP on January 15, 2009, NGCP revised and made its own plans for the unfinished parts of Projects Under Construction (PUC) that former power grid operator TransCo had not yet acquired and designated, with components and portions under it are under NGCP ownership temporarily, while those that are within the original plan remain with TransCo in accordance with the concession agreement between parties, creating temporary dual ownership over the grid where TransCo retains the pre-privatization while NGCP during its operational period.^[1]

2009–present: Projects relating to Hermosa-Duhat-Balintawak transmission line

Due to the turnover of power grid operations, maintenance, expansion, and eminent domain from National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) to NGCP on January 15, 2009, only four lands and structures, and two ROWs for the lattice towers were acquired and designated, and under the original TransCo plan and component of the relocation project that are currently in use (towers 255, 256, 266, and 267 (with the last two are using National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR/NPC)-era and original TransCo designation towers 264 and 265)) as stated on the fieldwork report of Hermosa-Balintawak Transmission Line Relocation as part of their permission granted from NLEX Corporation, and San Simon, Apalit, Calumpit, and Pulilan local government units (LGUs) to run parallel with San Simon-Pulilan section of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).^[1]

2011–2024: Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection

In January 2024, the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) completed and became fully operational which finally uniting the Philippine power grid. It was made on a simultaneous ceremonial switch-on in Manila, Cebu, and Lanao del Norte. President Bongbong Marcos led the ceremony in Malacañang Palace.^[1]

2012–present: Projects relating to Sucat-Paco-Araneta-Balintawak transmission line

Two new steel poles were added between poles 143 and 144 of the Sucat–Araneta segment of the line for its cut-in connection to Meralco Paco Substation in 2012. This cut-in connection to the said substation also made the transmission line from being a two-part to three-part power line.^[1]

2018–present: Expansion of the Philippine 500kV transmission network

In 2018, NGCP started building 500kV lattice towers of Balsik-Marilao-San Jose segment of Balsik-Marilao-San Jose-Tayabas-Pagbilao and Castillejos-Hermosa 500kV transmission lines, marking the construction of 500kV lines not seen since the completion of Kadampat-San Manuel-San Jose line in 1999 when the government-owned National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR/NPC) still owned, operated, maintained, and expanded the Philippine power grid and its related assets and facilities. It then followed by the construction of Mariveles-Hermosa transmission line in 2019.^[1]

Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone project

On April 8, 2024, Marcos Jr. inaugurated the 230 kV Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone project with its simultaneous ceremonial energization at the NGCP Bacolod Substation in Negros Occidental. The Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone, which includes the Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2, was built in three stages, the last completed on March 27, 2024. It complements the Amlan-Samboan submarine cable, which is connects Cebu and Negros islands.^[1]

2021–present: Cebu-Bohol Interconnection project

On 2022, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) cleared the proposed 230kV Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project of the NGCP. The ERC also approved Option 1 among the two options of NGCP's proposed Cebu-Bohol Interconnection project in a 47-page decision. The approved option involves an outright double circuit 230kV submarine cable with a 600 MW capacity with a provision of a third circuit between Cebu, a 230kV overhead transmission line, and a 230kV switchyard in the existing Corella substation, and it will have an estimated cost of ₱19.61 billion.^[1]

Franchise law and concession agreement

Unlike outright sale, the concession agreement allowed the Philippine government to continue ownership of the existing power grid assets, components, and portions through TransCo where NGCP only covers the operations, maintenance, and expansion for them. NGCP temporarily owns those that were acquired and designated since the said date of January 2009 and they will be transferred to TransCo once its franchise ends or is revoked. Assuming it secures a renewal, it has a 50-year concession period from its creation on January 15, 2009, to December 1, 2058.^[1]