POWER DISTRIBUTOR Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said on Monday that it has ramped up maintenance activities and laid down contingency measures for the dry season and the upcoming midterm elections.
“We are actively coordinating with the Department of Energy (DoE) and other industry stakeholders to ensure readiness to meet the higher demand we anticipate in the coming months, which coincides with the country’s midterm elections,” Joe R. Zaldarriaga, vice-president and head of corporate communications of Meralco, said in a statement.
The company said it has been working on its maintenance and upgrading activities to ensure that its distribution network and facilities are in good condition.
Meralco encouraged more businesses and industrial establishments to participate in the government’s Interruptible Load Program — an energy demand-side program wherein large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or shift their operations to spare households from power interruptions whenever supply is insufficient.
Meanwhile, the distribution utility said it has also laid down contingency measures for this year’s elections by participating in the mock elections organized by the Commission on Elections to test its readiness to respond to troubles that could happen during the voting and canvassing process.
“Historically, Meralco’s franchise area has had no problems during election period, but we have prepared contingency plans in case of isolated power outages to ensure that our facilities are ready to respond to any emergency,” said Mr. Zaldarriaga.
“Our generator sets are ready, and our crews will be deployed in strategic locations so that in case of isolated interruptions, we are ready to respond accordingly,” he added.
Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
