Japanese, Korean and Singaporean power conglomerates are racing with Meralco Group in installing power generation facilities nationwide.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that the Meralco group led by sister company, FirstGen Corp.’s hand over fist acquisition of gencos makes it the leader.

First Gen has total installed capacity of 2,813 megawatts well within the limitation set under the power reform law but its getting near the ceiling.

All power generation companies cannot have more than 30 percent of the installed generating capacity of a grid and or 25 percent of the national installed generating capacity.

At 2.8 GW capacity, First Gen accounts for 23 percent of the Luzon grid and 19 percent of the national installed generating capacity.

FirstGen also won the key 60 percent government stake in PNOC-Energy Development Corp. giving it access to the cleanest and cheapest source of power in the Philippines.

The Aboitiz Group is also one of the growing giants in the power industry.

The Metrobank conglomerate’s Global Group is likewise flexing its muscles in the Visayan region.

The group of Marubeni and Tokyo Electric which bought Mirant’s Philippine assets, Pagbilao and Sual power plants has 2,022 MW, while Kepco which owns Malaya I & II and Ilijan has 1,921 MW.

FirstGen claims that it has only 1,663 megawatts attributable to the group or about 12 percent of the country’s total installed capacity.

First Gen said attributable ownership will depend on how many partners it has in a genco venture.

The company further explained that of the total PNOC-EDC total installed capacity only the 49 MW Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field (NNGPF) can be accredited to them.

FirstGen added that the other power plant, including the 112.5 MW Tongonan production field, 132 MW upper Mahiao power plant, 232 MW Malitbog power plant, 180 MW Mahanagdong A and B power plant etc., will only be added to their generation portfolio after the supply contract with National Power Corp., lapse by 2022.

According to the Energy Regulatory Commission guidelines on the limitations and determinations of ownership and control of installed generating capacity that. " in case of NPC and its IPPs it is the control of the power plants and not ownership that determines crediting of the total capacity. "

However a FirstGen official added that they are still keen on bidding for more gencos .

FirstGen aims to double its generating capacity in less than five years.

It will bid for the Angat hydro power plant, the Tongonan hydroelectric power plant, and the Tiwi-Makban geothermal Power plant.

The country’s second largest Filipino power generator was Aboitiz Power Corp., (AP) which has 758 MW total installed. Aboitiz likewise claims only 578 MW can be attributable to the company.

Aboitiz will also bid for Palinpinon, Tongonan, Angat and Tiwi-Makban.

The Philippine new power generator, which ranked in third, was the global power firm AES Transpower Pte. Ltd. which won the 600 MW Masinloc coal fired power plant last July after offering a $930 million, the highest NPC sale..

In an earlier interview Mattew L. Bartley AES president said the company plans to double the coal facility to 1200 MW by next year.

Meanwhile the Calaca Holdo Inc. (CHI) Led by Belguim top utility firm Suez Tractebel (formerly Tractebel) won the 600-megawatt Calaca coal fired Thermal power plant after offering a highest bid of $786.53 million.

The ERC has been keeping close watch on ownership. Under the Energy Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), "no company or related groups can own operate, or control more than 30 percent of the installed generating capacity of a grid and or 25 percent of the National installed generating capacity. " Related groups" includes a person’s business interest, including its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors or officers or any of their relatives"

As of as 2006, according to the Department of Energy (DOE) the country has total installed capacity of 15,941 megawatts while the Luzon has 12,174 megawatts.