Power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is looking at total capital expenditure of P70 billion for infrastructure hardening and smart meters over the next five years.
Meralco said it expects to spend P30 billion for infrastructure hardening/resiliency and P40 billion for the rollout of at least 4 million smart meters from 2025 to 2029.
The company is investing in infrastructure hardening as the Philippines continues to be battered by several typhoons annually.
Meralco first vice president and head of networks Froilan Savet said the capex involves storm hardening initiatives, asset renewal and system improvement projects and intensive pole relocation affected by government projects and public private partnership (PPP) projects.
Savet said they also plan to roll out at least 4 million smart meters, which allow customers to manage consumption, with a capital cost of around P40 billion in the next five years, subject to the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval.
He said that from 2025 to the first half of 2026, the allocation is of P4.56 billion for around 390,000 smart meters under its Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
Meralco is also looking at other capex spending to further improve its network operations.
“Next year, we will be deploying our first MOBILE medium-voltage switchgear for contingency purposes,” Savet said.
He said Meralco aims to expand the underground distribution network by an additional 500 ckt-km of underground facilities in the medium-term, with estimated capex of around P22 billion.
Meralco is also pursuing Advance Network Automation (ANA), which involves distribution automation initiatives with the deployment of at least 6,000 special line equipment to be installed with total capex of around P4 billion.
Meralco’s ANA aims to enhance network reliability, efficiency and power quality while improving power quality and reducing interruptions to its customers.
