The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved Prime Solar Solutions Corp.’s application to develop and own a dedicated 115-kV point-to-point facility connecting its 48.118-MWAC Maragondon Solar Power Plant to the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Prime Solar is part of Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra), which holds a controlling interest in Manila Water Co. Inc. and nearly 50% ownership of the Malampaya gas project.

In a decision promulgated November 26, 2025, the ERC authorized the construction, ownership, and operation of the facility, a 60-MVA substation and a single-circuit 115-kV line spanning more than 20 kilometers, subject to strict conditions on use, operation, and potential transfer to the distribution utility.

Prime Solar reported that the interconnection assets were completed in February 2025 at a total cost of over PHP 1.6 billion with a provisional authority to operate the solar plant issued the following month. The Commission assessed a permit fee of around PHP 12 million.

Under the ruling, the assets may only serve the Maragondon plant and must comply with the approved Distribution Impact Study (DIS) and Distribution Asset Study (DAS). Meralco is required to operate and maintain the facilities, with corresponding charges to the developer.

The ERC also ordered that any part of the connection line or substation that later becomes necessary for other users must be turned over to Meralco as a Contribution-in-Aid-of-Construction (CIAC), pursuant to rules on dedicated point-to-point lines.

Technical assessments submitted by Meralco and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) found that the solar project’s output could be absorbed by Meralco’s TMC-2 substation without requiring system upgrades. 

“The thermal assessment results show that the generation dispatch of the project will be fully consumed by MERALCO loads at TMC 2 115 kV Substation with a total demand of 69.45 MW during peak condition and that there is no backflow of power to the Dasmariñas 115 kV facility,” NGCP stated.

The Commission reiterated that a distribution utility is obligated to provide connection within its franchise area and reminded Prime Solar that prior ERC approval for such facilities is “indispensable and non-negotiable.” The company must submit compliance documents within 30 days and pay the assessed fee within 15 days of receiving the order.

How do you think ERC’s conditions will shape future private interconnection builds? Let’s discuss.

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