Power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) plans to develop an additional 1,500 circuit kilometers of underground cables to enhance reliability, safety and visual appeal, a top company executive said over the weekend.
Meralco first vice president and head of networks Froilan Savet told reporters that the project is part of the company’s planned First Regulatory Period (1RP) capital expenditure (capex) application, set to be filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in January.
“In our case, we have a plan for the 1RP in our capex of an additional 1,500 circuit km of cables, including the greenfield in coordination with real estate developers plus the sites we have identified that we can underground,” Savet said.
The underground cables will be strategically located in high-value areas including financial districts, commercial centers, heritage sites, tourist spots and areas frequently impacted by storms, which require improved resiliency, he said.
Savet noted that undergrounding power lines is also pursued upon request by local government units (LGUs) or real estate developers.
“It works best where it makes technical and economic sense which is typically in dense or high-value areas such as financial districts, business centers, tourist zones and heritage sites where space is limited and aesthetics are important,” he said.
While underground systems are more expensive upfront, they offer long-term benefits such as improved reliability, resiliency, public safety and a cleaner cityscape, Savet said.
The implementation of the additional underground cables is being eyed up to 2030, subject to permitting, right of way and other issues.
Meralco has 567 circuit km. of underground cables in areas like Bonifacio Global City, Rockwell, Makati, Entertainment City, Mall of Asia, Bridgetowne, Vertis North and parts of Pasay and Manila.
These existing cables were easier to implement as they were “greenfield” areas, meaning Meralco worked closely with the real estate developers from the start.
Savet acknowledged the complexity of the new endeavor, especially in “brownfield” areas where existing utilities, including power and telecommunications and limited right-of-way present challenges.
He noted that challenges also include managing traffic, which requires coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and addressing flooding by coordinating civil works with the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“It should be a joint project among LGUs, utilities and national government agencies,” Savet said.
Among LGUs, Mandaluyong has already issued an ordinance for the underground cable of Maysilo Circle, which will be installed in phases.
