Energy Sources and Electricity Statistics in the Philippines
With its abundance in natural resources, the Philippines is ideally situated for the development of renewable energy compared to its neighbors. The country continues to harness its significant geothermal energy potential with its strategic location along the Pacific Ring of Fire while its tropical environment provides a wealth of solar and wind resources. The electrification of its cities originated from multiple sources of renewable energy since the 1900s, beginning with hydroelectric power facilities built in 1913, followed by the discovery of vast geothermal energy sources in the 1970s.
Today, over 26.4 million households depend on the variety of power sources in the country. The electrification of the National Capital Region alone significantly depends on the greater Luzon energy grid, coming from a rich mix of coal, natural gas, and renewable energy. Although the country’s Visayas and Mindanao Island only accounts for over 20% of accumulated electricity consumption, the same energy mix constitutes a primary source alongside hydropower.
Access to Electricity:
Who has access and how much does it cost?
Percentage of Population with Electricity Access
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Vianca Anglo
Globally, electricity access has increased significantly as more energy resources are found in each country. However, a significant percentage of the world population still lacks access, particularly in developing countries. In the Philippines, the proportion of the population with access to electricity has been increasing but there are still areas where access remains limited. These numbers continue to improve brought about by the rise of more renewable energy resources discovered and taken advantage of local communities across regions.
Proportion of Population in Rural Areas with Access to Electricity
Access to electricity in rural areas has also significantly improved, with 96.6% of rural households across regions with electricity. The high rates of electrification in recent years is the result of persistent efforts under the Philippine Rural Electrification Program (REP) – which has connected fifteen million households to electricity and helped over forty-five million Filipinos in a range of frequently difficult-to-reach places.
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
Data from the Department of Energy (2023) also indicates a general rising trend with the majority of regions achieving 85% access while a few fall behind due to infrastructure and geographic issues. 2.7 million rural households in far-flung and disaster-prone areas still lack electricity, requiring the government to continue funding and support for National Electrification Administration initiatives to bridge existing gaps and promote inclusive economic growth through dependable power access.
Costs of kWh, commercial vs residential
Electricity costs in the Philippines vary depending on consumer type, with residential rates averaging from Php 12.64 to Php 13.27 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In comparison to its neighboring countries, the Philippines has one of the highest residential electricity costs. Other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam have relatively lower prices due to existing energy mixes and government subsidies.
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Vianca Anglo
However, commercial electricity rates in the Philippines tend to be lower, averaging from Php 6.75 to Php 13.22 per kilowatt-hour. This reflects the consumption of electricity by businesses in greater quantities and such lower rates allows economies of scale and a more stable management of electricity demand in the country.
Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), alongside three economic powerhouses in Mindanao – X (Northern Mindanao), XI (Davao Region, and XII (SOCCSKSARGEN), have the highest electricity rates for both commercial and residential, indicating diverse economic activities and consistently growing populations in these areas.
Our Local Numbers and Sources:
What it takes to Electrify the Philippines
Gross Electricity Production (MWh)
The nation's gross electricity generation hit a new record of over 118 million megawatt-hour in 2023. The stability and energy security of the national grid heavily depends on the contributions of its major regions, sustaining the increased power distribution across the country.
Regional Gross Electricity Production
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
All regions produced a substantial amount of gross electricity in 2023, with Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), III (Central Luzon), and X (Northern Mindanao) leading the list. Due to their significant industrial bases and infrastructure investments, these regions generated the greatest percentages of electricity in megawatt-hours (MWh). In addition to Central Luzon's diverse energy mix and Northern Mindanao's expanding renewable energy projects, CALABARZON's strong power generation maintains its status as a thriving industrial and economic center.
Electricity Production per capita (kWh)
Narrowing down electricity production to the individual level, the Philippine Energy Situationer (2023) shows that the country’s per capita electricity generation significantly varies across regions, showing contrasts due to population density, economic activity, and existing energy infrastructures. The national average for the amount of power produced per person was recorded at 1,054.4 kWh. Given their substantial energy producing capabilities to serve both residential and commercial consumers, regions like CALABARZON (IV-A) and Central Luzon (Region III) show higher per capita electricity production rates. The various developed industrial bases and higher levels of urbanization in these regions substantiate why they are leading in terms of electricity generation per individual.
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Vianca Anglo
On the other hand, less industrialized regions dominantly consisting of rural areas typically produce less electricity per person. Data ranges reflect both lower demand and minimal electricity production. Such disparities further highlights perennial regional development issues and the apparent need for more investments in these regions to enhance energy access and improve generation capabilities among its local communities.
Electricity Production by Source (%)
Being rich in natural and renewable resources, the country’s energy mix shows an accumulation of diverse sources. However, the country’s reliance on coal has remarkably increased in the last decade, accounting for over 61% of the total electricity generation. In the same 2023 report by DOE, coal is followed by natural gas contributing approximately 16% to the country’s energy mix, and renewable sources also playing a significant role through hydroelectric power and geothermal energy contributing over 9% each. Although it remains as a minimal source in the past years, oil has contributed 2.4% alongside biofuel with 1.2% to our electricity production.
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
Despite the significant increase in reliance on coal due to growing demand and infrastructure expansion, the national government, through its established agencies, continues to shift its goals through boosting renewable energy shares to 35% by 2030 and beyond. As depicted in the country’s rich energy mix in the last ten years, the Philippines’ power industry demonstrates the consistent transition towards striking a balance between sustainability, energy security and economic growth.
Electricity Consumption:
Are we on a consumption overload?
Regional Gross Electricity Consumption (MWh)
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
Three regions in Luzon continue to lead in gross electricity consumption and this best highlights the consistent industrialization and urbanization in these areas. The National Capital Region, CALABARZON (Region IV-A), and Central Luzon (Region III) contributed the biggest consumption shares in 2023, while CARAGA (Region XIII) and Central Visayas (Region VII) follow forth and fifth with substantial shares of gross electricity consumption. The consistent increase in power consumption in Visayas and Mindanao reflects the growing commercial activity and rising household electrification, with more rural households having access to electricity every year.
Electricity Consumption per capita (kWh) by Region
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Vianca Anglo
CARAGA (Region XIII), National Capital Region, and CALABARZON (Region IV-A) have the highest electricity consumption per capita, reflecting increased commercial and residential usage. Based on the 2023 Philippine Energy Situationer, the annual average electricity consumption per capita in the country is at 828 kWh, with an individual’s daily average consumption of 2.28 kWh. In comparison to the annual average per capita consumption of its neighboring ASEAN countries, this figure is relatively lower and continues to fluctuate due to many variables including grid access and appliance consumption.
Total Final Energy Consumption Percentage by Sector
With an exception of non-energy use, total final energy consumption (TFEC) equates to the total amount of energy consumed by end users from various sectors such as households, businesses, industries, etc. In 2023, the country’s economic expansion hinged on strong domestic consumption, as it recorded a 2.9% increase in TFEC compared to the past year. The total final energy consumption was recorded at 36.9 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE).
The transport and household sectors significantly contributed to TFEC growth in 2023, having 34.8% and 28.5% respectively. An expansion in aggregate energy consumption from all transport modalities was identified in 2023, brought by multiple factors including the modernization of public transportation and the stability of gasoline and diesel rates. On the other hand, the increase of household percentage shares in TFEC was brought by the extended energy access across regions.
Data Source: Department of Energy, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
The industry sector follows transport and households with the highest percentage shares, accounting for 18.9% of the 2023 TFEC. Energy use in services and agriculture sectors also increased in the same year, with services accounting for 12.8% and agriculture having 1.1%. The aggregated shares of these three sectors also supported the robust economic growth in their respective value-added areas for 2023.
Are we using clean energy?
Proportion of Population with Primary Reliance on Clean Fuels (%)
In pursuit of the advancement of sustainable energy access across the globe, the use of clean energy is a crucial step for countries to cope with the adverse effects of rapid urbanization and climate change. The proportion of the population with primary reliance on clean fuels is a vital metric in such advancement, representing the proportion of individuals relying on clean energy sources. In the Philippines, household activities done on a daily basis by Filipinos such as cooking, heating, and lighting, depend on clean energy sources such as electricity, natural gas, and solar power.
Data Source: World Health Organization, 2023
Visuals by: Juan Miguel De Veyra
Data from the World Health Organization shows that the percentage of population in the Philippines with reliance on clean fuels continuously increased in the last decade, with over half of its total population dependent on clean and renewable energy sources back in 2023.
79.3% of the urban population depended on clean fuels in 2023, incrementally increasing every year. This is substantial growth compared to its 61.9% in 2010. Such increase reflects better expanded infrastructure in the area and better access to electricity, LPG, and other clean energy sources.
In addition, the same report shows that 39.9% of the rural population have access to more clean fuels, demonstrating a gradual increase in rural electrification. This 17% increase since 2010 reflects the continued full access programs of the government allowing communities in remote locations to gain more entry points for clean energy consumption.
The Philippines’ Transition to Clean Energy:
Shaping More Liveable Cities
Cities across the Philippines are becoming more sustainable and liveable as a result of the country’s rapid shift to clean energy. Today, we continue to witness more renewable energy projects such as solar and wind farms expanding in regions like CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and Central Luzon (Region III) – two of the major contributors to the production and consumption of power in the country. Such extensive projects not only boosts energy access of communities in their respective and neighboring regions, but also strengthens local energy resilience.
However, while the country embraces the future of energy powered by clean, renewable, and resilient energy sources, a growing demand for environmental sustainability requires necessary attention and action. The adherence to SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, also calls for governments, both local and national, to draft a comprehensive strategy sustaining measures that concretize programs for energy efficiency, infrastructure modernization, renewable energy investments, and the mass decarbonization of the transport sector.
The transition to clean energy not only enhances air quality and energy security, but also leads to a significant increase in economic growth. Inclusive development, job creation, and substantial progress in metropolitan areas where energy demands are the greatest. The energy shift remains necessary in the creation of more liveable cities with strong socioeconomic development, while global climate goals are met and significantly prioritized.