The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has marked key milestones in its ongoing PHP 272-billion grid modernization program, including the energization of new substations and transmission lines, and the rollout of advanced smart meters across Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. The projects aim to improve electricity reliability amid growing residential, commercial, and industrial demand, with peak load in its network now exceeding 9,000 megawatts (MW).

The upgrades come ahead of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) rate reset, which will determine how the company recovers the cost of its investments. 

“This rate reset will enable Meralco to pour in massive investments for storm-hardening, upgrading, and expansion of our facilities, as well as technological advancements necessary to future-proof our distribution network,” Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Management Office, Jose Ronald V. Valles. “These go alongside our efforts to ensure fewer interruptions and faster service restoration, promote consumer empowerment, and support government-mandated customer choice programs.”

Recent milestones include the energization of the Cruz-Na-Daan–Alagao 69-kilovolt Line 2 in Bulacan, strengthening power supply for residential and industrial customers in San Ildefonso. 

The Camarin Substation was also upgraded to boost reliability for North Caloocan and parts of San Jose del Monte, serving commercial centers, water facilities, and industrial loads. 

In Cavite, the Island Cove Gas-Insulated Switchgear Substation and San Pedro Substation upgrade enhanced stability for communities and industrial hubs in the southern corridor, while the Sta. Rosa II and Laguna International Industrial Park substations were modernized to support major residential, commercial, and industrial electricity users in Laguna. Underground cabling initiatives are also underway in select areas to further strengthen resilience, Meralco reported.

The program is also advancing Meralco’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Program, which targets roughly 12 million smart meters over the next decade. More than three million meters are slated for installation during the next regulatory period, allowing real-time monitoring of electricity usage and faster outage detection.

“These technologies are designed to enhance secondary network visibility, particularly as distributed energy resources, residential batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations continue to expand across the grid,” said Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet. 

The smart meter rollout will support the planned Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center, complementing the existing system control center and enabling more coordinated management of distributed energy resources, demand response programs, and emerging grid services.

The modernization program also supports renewable energy integration, solar installations for households and remote communities, and the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, alongside IT and cybersecurity upgrades to secure the increasingly digital and automated grid.

“These investments are critical to Meralco’s mandate to deliver high-quality, reliable, and stable electricity service, enabling us to meet growing and evolving power requirements and support the country’s economic progress,” Valles said.

How will these upgrades affect electricity reliability, renewable energy integration, and digital energy management in the Philippines? 

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