Businesses urged to tap retail power market, rooftop solar

Aboitiz Power Corp. is encouraging businesses to explore retail electricity suppliers and rooftop solar installations to reduce power costs amid tight supply conditions and geopolitical tensions.

Carlos Aboitiz, AboitizPower chief corporate services officer, outlined the options during a panel discussion at the 52nd Philippine Business Conference and Expo organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at The Manila Hotel.

“There are a couple of things that businesses can think to do today to try to seek relief on the power rates side and lower their cost structures. The [Energy Regulatory Commission] is increasingly lowering the threshold for when businesses can source their power directly from retail electricity suppliers,” he said.

Effective 26 June 2026, the eligibility threshold for the Retail Competition and Open Access program was reduced from 500 kilowatts to 100 kW, allowing more businesses to choose their electricity suppliers. AboitizPower participates in the retail electricity market through its wholly owned subsidiary, AdventEnergy.

Retail electricity market

Aboitiz said smaller businesses previously limited to distribution utilities could now consider sourcing electricity directly from suppliers that may offer lower rates.

He also recommended rooftop solar, noting that equipment costs have declined and installations have become more competitive.

AboitizPower-backed Solviva Energy provides solutions in the distributed energy sector.

Rooftop solar power

“Rooftop solar and batteries are increasingly proliferating in the distributed energy space and costs are coming down. They’re very competitive. Your payback periods are somewhere in the range of 3-5 years at the moment, depending on what you’re investing in,” he said.

Beyond immediate cost-saving measures, Aboitiz urged businesses to remain open to nuclear power as a long-term option for the country’s energy mix.

“I think we need to dare to be bold, especially in a time of challenge like we’re in today. An example of this in the energy sector is the idea of nuclear energy,” he said.

Exploring nuclear technologies

In July, AboitizPower signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. to explore nuclear technologies through studies, information sharing and capacity-building activities.

Aboitiz said cooperation among industry players and government would be essential to lowering electricity costs, strengthening grid reliability and reducing emissions.