The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has placed its crews on full alert to respond to power service issues as Typhoon Paolo brings heavy rains across Luzon.

With parts of its franchise area under Wind Signal No. 1, the country’s largest distribution utility assured customers of rapid response to outages or line disturbances caused by the storm.

“Meralco crews are ready to immediately respond to power concerns that may result from the impact of Typhoon Paolo,” said Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications.

The company also reiterated its safety reminders, particularly for households in flood-prone communities. “We advise our customers to exercise extra caution to ensure their safety, as the threat of flooding heightens the risk of electrical accidents,” Zaldarriaga stressed.

Meralco advised residents to switch off the main power switch or circuit breaker if flooding occurs, unplug appliances and permanently connected equipment including light bulbs, and avoid handling wirings or devices with wet hands or while standing on damp surfaces. Customers were also urged to keep away from exposed or dangling wires and to have a licensed electrician inspect electrical systems before restoring power once floodwaters subside.

Outages and service concerns may be reported through Meralco’s official Facebook and X accounts, its text hotlines at 0920-9716211 and 0917-5516211, or the Meralco Hotline at 16211.

With stronger and more frequent storms expected, how can utilities and regulators further enhance grid resilience and disaster response? Join the discussion.

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