Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP)

The Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP) is a mandatory annual planning and transparency mechanism established by Department Circular No. DC2020-02-0004 (6 February 2020) requiring the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to submit a rolling three-year schedule of planned maintenance outages for power generation facilities and transmission infrastructure to the DOE for approval [PDP 2023-2050, Section 1.5, p.19, 2023].

Objectives

DC2020-02-0004 frames GOMP around five operational goals [PDP 2023-2050, p.19, 2023]:

1. Energy security — ensure continuous energy security at all times
2. Transparency and accountability — enhance transparency and fairness in the operation of generation, transmission, and distribution
3. Open competition — promote open competition among electric power industry participants
4. EPIRA alignment — attain the quality, reliability, security, and affordability mandates under RA 9136
5. Reliable maintenance — foster reliable operation and efficient conduct of planned maintenance of power plants

Mechanism

NGCP prepares the GOMP in consultation with generating companies and the Market Operator (MO), then submits it to the DOE by October 31 of each year for review and approval [DC2020-02-0004, §3.3, 2020-02-06]. The submission includes [PDP 2023-2050, p.19, 2023]:

• Proposed 3-year schedule for planned maintenance outages of all grid-connected and embedded generation facilities
• Maintenance schedule per power plant and per generating unit
• Overall weekly reserve profile per year per grid (Luzon / Visayas / Mindanao)
• NGCP’s own 3-year maintenance program for transmission facilities, aligned with the power plant outage schedule

The DOE reviews the reserve profile and may direct adjustments; NGCP, the MO, and affected generating companies are notified of any changes [DC2020-02-0004, §3.4, 2020-02-06].

Binding vs. indicative: The first year of the approved GOMP schedule is binding. Shutdown schedules may be adjusted in quarterly revisions but must not result in low operating margins; emergency changes require SO approval and DOE notification. The second- and third-year schedules are indicative, serving as reference for medium-term supply-demand outlook [DC2020-02-0004, §§3.5–3.6, 2020-02-06].

Hydro exception: Only hydroelectric power plants are permitted to conduct maintenance during the peak quarter [DC2020-02-0004, §3.2, 2020-02-06].

Public posting: NGCP must post the approved GOMP and any amendments on its website immediately after DOE approval; the DOE, ERC, and MO websites must mirror the posting upon notification [DC2020-02-0004, §4, 2020-02-06].

ERC follow-on: ERC was directed to issue implementing rules within 60 calendar days of the circular’s effectivity [DC2020-02-0004, §5, 2020-02-06].

Submission History

[PDP 2023-2050, Table 3, p.19, 2023]

The GOMP is a key oversight instrument in the DOE’s toolkit for monitoring NGCP’s operational conduct, complementing the PAAT-TNPSO (Performance Assessment and Audit Team) and the ERC ’s CAPEX review process. See National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Transmission Development Plan (TDP) .