BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
Powering Connectivity, Greening The Grid: PLDT, Smart, And MPower Team Up For Smarter Energy Use
Contributed Photo
PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. have joined forces with MPower, the retail electricity supplier of Meralco, to bring smarter and greener energy solutions to their operations. Through this collaboration, 144 cell sites and nine key facilities of PLDT and Smart are now powered under the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) Retail Aggregation Program (RAP)—a move that combines energy efficiency, cost savings, and environmental responsibility.
“Our Group has always believed that national progress depends on two essential foundations: reliable power and strong digital connectivity. One cannot function without the other—hand in glove, so to speak—and both are critical to ensuring that our people, especially those at the margins, have access to opportunity,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT, Smart, and Meralco. “This is why this collaboration is consequential, because it reflects our continued effort to align our resources and capabilities to serve our customers better—with reliable and consistent power and connectivity.”
The RAP allows businesses to aggregate multiple electricity accounts within the same franchise area and purchase power in bulk from licensed retail suppliers like MPower. This approach helps lower electricity costs, provides better control over consumption, and opens up access to competitive rates and renewable energy sources—all of which are central to the PLDT Group’s drive toward sustainability and operational efficiency.
In total, the initial activation covers more than 2,500 kilowatts of demand across PLDT’s integrated network. The Group plans to expand RAP implementation to more sites in the Visayas and Mindanao before the end of the year.
“As we future-proof our network to deliver 5G and AI capabilities to our customers, we are also mindful of the cost to operate the network and our impact on the environment,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr. “This partnership with MPower will allow us to operate a smarter and greener network and manage our energy costs in a way that is kinder to the planet.”
Smart COO Anastacio “Boy” Martirez added: “As we scale up our 5G network, Smart welcomes this partnership with MPower, as it supports our goal of delivering simply reliable service that our customers can count on.”
This initiative builds on PLDT and Smart’s ongoing transition to renewable energy. So far in 2024, the Group has switched 30 sites—24 in Metro Manila and six in Mindanao—to 100% renewable power. In 2023, five network facilities in the Visayas also began sourcing energy from geothermal plants. To help fund these green initiatives, PLDT has raised ₱5 billion in green loans to support fiber expansion while reducing the carbon footprint of its network rollout.
The Group is also working toward a decarbonization roadmap, which targets a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, supporting the global push to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
For MPower, the partnership underscores the company’s commitment to advancing consumer choice and sustainability in the power sector. “MPower is proud to support PLDT and Smart in this transformative journey. Our energy solutions are designed to accelerate operational efficiency while supporting the country’s energy transition through championing consumer choice in the power market,” said Redel Domingo, First Vice President and Head of MPower.
Outgoing ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta praised the collaboration as a model of leadership and accountability. “To see PLDT and Smart backed by Meralco and MPower—names that are integral to the daily lives of Filipinos—embrace RAP sends a strong message,” she said. “It tells the country that even the biggest players with the widest reach and deepest roots can make courageous decisions in support of a more open, inclusive, and competitive energy market. More importantly, it is a testament to their recognition of their role as stewards of a huge part of our nation’s economy and the wellbeing of our people. Leadership means being first, being bold, and embracing responsibility for the welfare of all.”
By combining their strengths in digital infrastructure and energy, PLDT, Smart, and MPower are demonstrating how strategic partnerships can pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and sustainable Philippines.
“Our Group has always believed that national progress depends on two essential foundations: reliable power and strong digital connectivity. One cannot function without the other—hand in glove, so to speak—and both are critical to ensuring that our people, especially those at the margins, have access to opportunity,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT, Smart, and Meralco. “This is why this collaboration is consequential, because it reflects our continued effort to align our resources and capabilities to serve our customers better—with reliable and consistent power and connectivity.”
The RAP allows businesses to aggregate multiple electricity accounts within the same franchise area and purchase power in bulk from licensed retail suppliers like MPower. This approach helps lower electricity costs, provides better control over consumption, and opens up access to competitive rates and renewable energy sources—all of which are central to the PLDT Group’s drive toward sustainability and operational efficiency.
In total, the initial activation covers more than 2,500 kilowatts of demand across PLDT’s integrated network. The Group plans to expand RAP implementation to more sites in the Visayas and Mindanao before the end of the year.
“As we future-proof our network to deliver 5G and AI capabilities to our customers, we are also mindful of the cost to operate the network and our impact on the environment,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr. “This partnership with MPower will allow us to operate a smarter and greener network and manage our energy costs in a way that is kinder to the planet.”
Smart COO Anastacio “Boy” Martirez added: “As we scale up our 5G network, Smart welcomes this partnership with MPower, as it supports our goal of delivering simply reliable service that our customers can count on.”
This initiative builds on PLDT and Smart’s ongoing transition to renewable energy. So far in 2024, the Group has switched 30 sites—24 in Metro Manila and six in Mindanao—to 100% renewable power. In 2023, five network facilities in the Visayas also began sourcing energy from geothermal plants. To help fund these green initiatives, PLDT has raised ₱5 billion in green loans to support fiber expansion while reducing the carbon footprint of its network rollout.
The Group is also working toward a decarbonization roadmap, which targets a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, supporting the global push to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
For MPower, the partnership underscores the company’s commitment to advancing consumer choice and sustainability in the power sector. “MPower is proud to support PLDT and Smart in this transformative journey. Our energy solutions are designed to accelerate operational efficiency while supporting the country’s energy transition through championing consumer choice in the power market,” said Redel Domingo, First Vice President and Head of MPower.
Outgoing ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta praised the collaboration as a model of leadership and accountability. “To see PLDT and Smart backed by Meralco and MPower—names that are integral to the daily lives of Filipinos—embrace RAP sends a strong message,” she said. “It tells the country that even the biggest players with the widest reach and deepest roots can make courageous decisions in support of a more open, inclusive, and competitive energy market. More importantly, it is a testament to their recognition of their role as stewards of a huge part of our nation’s economy and the wellbeing of our people. Leadership means being first, being bold, and embracing responsibility for the welfare of all.”
By combining their strengths in digital infrastructure and energy, PLDT, Smart, and MPower are demonstrating how strategic partnerships can pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and sustainable Philippines.
Jul 17, 2025
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