MANILA ELECTRIC CO. (Meralco) plans to put in a 1,500-circuit-kilometer (km) underground cable system inside its franchise area as a part of its capital expenditure (capex) program through 2030 to enhance power reliability and protect lines from weather-related disruptions.
The project will probably be implemented in the course of the first regulatory period under the corporate’s multi-year capex program, Meralco First Vice-President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet told reporters last week.
The project will cover key areas corresponding to financial districts, business centers, heritage sites, tourist destinations, and typhoon-prone zones.
At present, about 97% of Meralco’s cable network continues to be composed of overhead lines.
Existing underground lines are positioned in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, Rockwell Center in Makati, City Bridgetown on the Pasig-Quezon City border, Vertis North in Quezon City, and a few parts of Pasay and Manila.
Mr. Savet noted that installing underground cables in brownfield areas is more complex as a result of existing structures and utilities.
“It might probably be done. It’s not inconceivable. Nevertheless it’s a posh project. Doing it as a greenfield would really be higher,” he said.
Underground lines are less vulnerable to outages, although repairs can take longer when faults occur, he added.
Meralco is about to file its application for the primary regulatory period covering 2027 to 2030 with the Energy Regulatory Commission by January next 12 months.
The filing will include its forecast expenditures and proposed projects, which could lead to rate adjustments.
Meralco’s controlling shareholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Helpful Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera