Meralco to install 100,000 prepaid electricity meters

MANILA, Philippines – Although 40,000 prepaid electricity meters are still pending for approval with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), utility firm Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has applied anew for approval to install 100,000 more prepaid electricity meters.

“We already applied it for a one year implementation,” said Meralco senior vice president Alfredo Panlilio.

Meralco’s prepaid service offering will enable customers to budget their electricity consumption and inform them if they need to reload immediately to avoid disconnection.

Prepaid electricity is also being used in other countries such as Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, Meralco said. 

The prepaid metering will initially be offered to 40,000 households within its grid area. But its application with the ERC, however, has yet to be approved. 

Panlilio said the implementation of the service involving 40,000 meters is already delayed, but Meralco opted to file another application.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) already expressed interest in the prepaid electricity meters. “NHA alone wants to have it installed in 30,000 to 40,000 houses,” said Panlilio.

ERC Executive Director Saturnino Juan said hearings on Meralco’s application are ongoing. A decision will be out soon, he added.

“Assuming the application is approved, Meralco can rollout the service on a commercial basis thereafter,” Juan said.

The Meralco official said the installation of 40,000 meters, if and when approved by the ERC, will be in June or by the end of the year at the latest.

“I’m pushing my team to sell all 40,000 meters so that once the approval is out, we can immediately do the commercial operation,” said Panlilio.

Meralco is allotting $7 million budget for the system. – Rappler.com