Meralco completes P4B worth of upgrading projects

Manila Electric Co., the country’s biggest power distributor, said it had completed P4 billion worth of key electric capital projects in the first half of the year. These projects, it said, were all aimed at strengthening further its system and improving power delivery to customers.

Most of these projects involved the upgrading of Meralco’s distribution network, which consisted of power substations and transformers, distribution lines and related equipment, said company executive vice president and networks head Ricardo V. Buencamino.

In a statement, Buencamino said the impetus gained in strengthening Meralco’s distribution network was also expected to result in lower system loss levels, translating to savings for customers. Latest data showed that the company’s system loss stood at 7.48 percent, way below the 8.5 percent system loss cap set by the Energy Regulatory Commission, he added.

As of the first half, the completed projects included the rehabilitation of the Taguig substation; construction of back-up line for the Ternate substation; unloading circuits of Ayala-Alabang substation; construction of new circuit from Tabang substation; and partial conversion of the Forbes Park and Tanza circuits.

Meralco was also able to expand its BF-Parañaque substation through the construction of a new distribution line, which helped augment the power requirements in BF-Parañaque area.

Other completed projects were the construction of two new distribution lines from Meralco’s Central Business Park (CBP) and Batangas substations; conversion of odd voltage circuits at the Forbes Park and Parañaque substations to the standard primary distribution voltage; and installation of two new power transformers at Tegen and Novaliches substations to replace old and deteriorating units.

The aggressive upgrading of Meralco’s distribution network is expected to be carried over in the second half of the year, when the utility is expected to spend as much as P5 billion more for electrical projects.

Major projects for the second half of 2011 are on stream and will be completed as scheduled, according to Buencamino.—Amy R. Remo