DOE opens direct green energy contracting to more consumers

February 25, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has lowered the minimum eligibility threshold for the green energy option program (GEOP), allowing more consumers to directly source clean power.

Under the revised GEOP rules and guidelines, end-users with an average monthly peak demand of at least 50 kilowatts (kW) can now negotiate their renewable energy (RE) supply.

This privilege was previously available only to consumers with an average demand of 100 kW and above over the past 12 months.

Similarly, the DOE now allows multiple end-users within a contiguous area to consolidate their demand, making it easier to meet the minimum eligibility requirement.

“The reduction to 50 kW and (the option to) aggregate are part of our consumer choice expansion and RE development,” Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol told The STAR.

For GEOP aggregation, there is no limit to the number of end-users that can form a group, as long as they are all located within the same franchise area.

The RE supplier, meanwhile, will act as the aggregator, facilitating the switch of the grouped end-users to clean power sources.

This development, the DOE said, supports the goals of the RE Act by empowering more consumers to choose renewables and contribute to achieving the country’s energy targets.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the government aims to increase the share of renewables in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 from the current 25 percent.

The lowering of GEOP eligibility comes ahead of the scheduled reduction of the minimum threshold under the retail competition and open access program.

Starting June 26, consumers with an average monthly peak demand of at least 100 kW will be eligible to contract with any authorized energy supplier, a sharp reduction from the current 500 kW minimum.

The reform will also apply to the retail aggregation program, which allows multiple power end-users to pool their demand and gain direct access to choosing their electricity provider.

“By expanding retail access to more end-users, we are promoting genuine consumer choice and driving competition that can lead to better prices, improved service quality and innovation in the power sector,” ERC chairman and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan earlier said.

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