Power retail market generates P19 billion savings

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January 12, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Consumers who contracted electricity directly from eligible power suppliers saved roughly P19.25 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, according to the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

Latest PEMC data show that retail market savings from January to September 2025 have already exceeded the full-year total of P16.76 billion recorded in 2024.

In the third quarter alone, estimated savings for contestable end-users soared to a record high of P9.93 billion.

PEMC reported that average generation rates in the retail market remained stable at P5.68 to P5.75 per kilowatt-hour, consistently lower than the P6.12 to P6.66 per kWh charged by distribution utilities (DUs).

Unlike captive customers served by DUs, contestable customers in the retail market can select their preferred power suppliers.

“Market participation continued to expand in the third quarter of 2025, with total registered contestable end-users increasing to 2,412, up from 2,290 in the previous quarter,” PEMC said.

The latest figure accounts for more than 63 percent of all eligible end-users or consumers with an average monthly peak demand of at least 500 kW over the past 12 months.

Geographically, 86 percent of all contestable end-users are in Luzon, while the rest are in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Mindanao showed the highest relative quarter-on-quarter increase, though overall participation remains low compared with its eligible population,” PEMC said.

In terms of market share, the Meralco Group of tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan continued to dominate, serving 33 to 35 percent of total contestable customers in the third quarter.

Notably, within the Meralco franchise area—which accounts for two-thirds of retail market consumption—estimated savings reached P1.7 billion during the period.

PEMC’s full-year 2025 retail market assessment report is expected to be released within this quarter.