Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) plans to roll out more than 72,000 smart meters across its franchise area starting this year after signing a partnership with Aclara Meters Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Hubbell Inc.
The agreement, signed recently at the Meralco Operating Center, is part of the distribution utility’s push to modernize operations and transition toward a more digital, customer-centric grid.
Aclara smart meters enable real-time monitoring, remote reading and grid intelligence by transmitting usage data and detecting outages. The devices support the company’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program, which aims to deploy about 12 million smart meters over the next decade. Meralco has about 196,000 smart meters deployed throughout its service area.
Meralco chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said the agreement cements the company’s commitment to innovation.
“This partnership strengthens our ongoing journey toward digital transformation, one that places smart metering at the center of how we deliver reliable service and provide our consumers with better tools to manage their energy use. For us in Meralco, smart meters are not simply electronic devices; they are enablers of transparency, efficiency and innovation,” Aperocho said.
