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Brix Lelis - The Philippine Star
May 29, 2025 | 12:00am
This picture shows Meralco's electric meter.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Industry giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) intends to deploy at least 11 million smart meters within the next decade, a move expected to benefit power users within its franchise area.
Meralco executive vice president and COO Ronnie Aperocho said the smart meters would enable real-time tracking of electricity usage, helping customers manage their consumption more efficiently.
These advanced digital devices, he said, will also allow Meralco to quickly detect power outages and anomalies, enabling the distribution utility to respond promptly.
“Smart metering technology is a game-changer in how we serve and empower our customers,” Aperocho said.
Last year, Meralco completed its preparatory activities for the massive rollout of smart meters, targeting its entire customer base.
Aperocho, however, noted that the deployment of smart meters hinges on the Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of Meralco’s rate reset application.
“We hope they can make the decision soon, but it looks like there might be some delay,” he said.
The smart metering program is a component of Meralco’s proposed P215-billion capital expenditure for the fifth regulatory period, covering 2025 to 2029.
The rate reset process sets the rules and parameters for the investment, operations and pricing mechanisms of highly regulated entities like Meralco to determine how much should be charged to consumers.
For the rollout, Aperocho estimates an investment of close to $100 per smart meter.
“We’re exploring ways to lower the cost of smart meters. Ideally, we’d like to reduce that to about half (of the current cost),” he said.
Last November, Meralco partnered with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), the largest electric utility in South Korea, to promote wider adoption of smart metering technologies.
The agreement between Meralco and KEPCO facilitated knowledge sharing on the use of digital technology and emerging business trends in both the Philippines and South Korea.
It likewise opened opportunities for collaboration in securing local partners and networks for both countries.
Since 2011, Meralco has pursued aggressive integration of smart metering technologies into its distribution network to enhance operational efficiency and grid resiliency.
