Manila Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to allow the implementation of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project that will pave the way for postpaid subscribers to avail of its Kuryente Load program starting June 1.
Meralco, in a published petition, said it would install smart meters in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, portions of Rizal and followed by San Juan, Quezon City, Taguig, Marikina, P{assay, Caloocan and Pateros.
“Considering the needed preparations and requirements, Meralco requires sufficient preparation period prior to the target initial commercial offering date,” the company said.
The company said it would continue until the whole franchise is covered by AMI-meters by 2020.
The AIM-meters will allow the rollout of an additional 235,000 smart meters that will not only serve prepaid customers but also also allow post-paid electricity users to manage their consumption.
Meralco offers prepaid electricity currently to prepaid customers under its Kuryente Load brand via smart meters. These smart meters allow customers to manage consumption similar to mobile phones where users can “top up” or load electricity using credits.
Meralco asked ERC to consider as compliance to the AIM rules its implementation of the prepaid retail electricity service, net metering program, advanced outage management, distribution automation and smart streetlights.
Meralco also asked ERC to allow it to offer AIM supplemental services, such as demand response, home area network and management of distributed energy resources.
Meralco vice president and head of marketing and customer solutions and product development Jose Antonio Valdez said the company late last year would file with the ERC the business rules for AIM within the first quarter.
