The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has restored electricity service to nearly all customers affected by power outages caused by heavy rains from Super Typhoon Nando, with only around 1,700 customers still awaiting reconnection as of Wednesday morning.

“We are now conducting mopping up operations and our crews will not stop until we restore service to the affected customers,” said Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications.

Meralco said the remaining customers without electricity are located in parts of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Batangas, and Cavite. The company’s crews have been working round-the-clock since outages were triggered by intensified southwest monsoon rains brought by Nando.

The distribution utility also remains on heightened alert for possible impacts of Tropical Storm Opong and continuing monsoon rains. Part of its precautionary measures includes reminding billboard operators to temporarily roll up billboards to prevent them from being toppled by strong winds.

“We continue to closely monitor weather developments to ensure the readiness of our crews and facilities. We also remind everyone to observe electrical safety, especially those in flood-prone areas,” Zaldarriaga added.

Meralco reminded the public of safety practices, such as turning off the main power switch, unplugging appliances, cleaning and drying equipment before use, and consulting licensed electricians before operating flood-damaged appliances or wiring systems.

Customers may report power outages and other service concerns through Meralco’s social media pages, hotlines, or text channels.

How do you think power distributors like Meralco can further strengthen their systems to respond faster and more effectively to extreme weather events?

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