Meralco ups electricity supply for booming Laguna

MANILA  -Power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is set to boost electricity supply in Calamba City and meet growing demand after a new substation was brought online in Laguna province.

The 115-kilovolt (kV) gas-insulated switchgear substation, which was developed in partnership with European design firm STMicroelectronics Inc. (STMI), is expected to accommodate STMI’s projected demand increase from 14 megawatts (MW) to 20 MW by 2027.

STMI’s current electric service is only at 34.5 kV, Meralco said in a statement.

The substation located inside the Light Industry Science Park II houses one gas-insulated switchgear, as well as two MVA power transformers and capacitor banks that would ensure that equipment were protected and durable, according to the power distributor.

Meralco also recently commissioned the La Mesa 115-kV switching station that is set to improve system reliability and power quality within the area.

“These projects are expected to address not only the limited power supply of Calamba, which is one of our highest operational risks, but also our future power supply demand, our power quality, our carbon neutrality strategy, and will definitely improve our site power resilience,” said STMI vice president and general manager Yong Suk Kwon.

For its part, Meralco said the development of the two facilities formed part of their commitment to the national government’s socioeconomic agenda, which focuses on infrastructure improvement while ensuring energy security.

Last year, the company announced it would be spending nearly P150 billion in the next four years to meet demand growth. INQ