Manila Electric Co. is committed to put up the distribution system of New Clark City in time for the 30th Southeast Asian Games late this year.
Meralco, along with Japan’s Marubeni Corp., submitted the lowest power distribution rate for the New Clark City at P0.6188 per kilowatt-hour.
“We’re forming a team but officially they have not yet awarded it, but we’re getting ready. We are working ahead because we know the timelines are very tight,” Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communication Al Panlilio said.
Panlilio said Meralco must start construction by June to support the SEA Games.
He said Meralco’s offer was low because “our partners really wanted to win it.”
“It’s a good franchise to have… we know the development will happen, not immediately but in time. Like BGC (Bonifacio Global City),” Panlilio said.
The Meralco-Marubeni consortium is composed of Meralco, Marubeni, Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.
The New Clark City managed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority is envisioned to be the first smart, green and sustainable metropolis in the country where locators and residents will enjoy low utility rates.
BCDA earlier said New Clark City will have the first completely smart power grid in the country. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities comparable with other smart cities throughout the world. The New Clark City smart grid also has better reliability standards.
Locators can enjoy access to real-time information from the distribution utility, allowing them to manage their electricity consumption more effectively.
Phase 1 of the New Clark City development includes the construction of the National Government Administrative Center and world-class sports facilities to be used for the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA Games.
Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, has been on the lookout for other opportunities in the distribution sector both locally and internationally. Meralco and partner ComsTech took over Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (Pelco II) in 2014.
