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With PAGASA officially declaring the start of the dry season, you can expect hotter days ahead—and with that, a spike in electricity demand. But don’t sweat it. Meralco has assured its customers that they’re all set to keep the power flowing smoothly, even as temperatures (and aircon usage) rise.

Meralco’s Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications, Joe R. Zaldarriaga, emphasized their commitment to reliability, saying, “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.”

Keeping the Lights On—Even in Peak Season

Meralco has been hard at work upgrading and maintaining its facilities to ensure that its distribution network can handle the expected summer surge. In fact, they’ve been planning ahead since last year, securing additional power supply to meet customer demand.

To further stabilize supply, Meralco recently signed an emergency power supply agreement for 200 MW in January—helping cushion consumers from the unpredictable price fluctuations in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

The company is also encouraging big businesses and industries to pitch in through the Interruptible Load Program (ILP). This program allows large electricity consumers to switch to their own generator sets when demand peaks, freeing up more power for households and preventing brownouts. More than 100 companies with a total de-loading capacity of over 500 MW are already enrolled in the ILP within the Meralco franchise area.

Helping Customers Manage Their Bills

With electricity consumption rising by 20% to 33% during the summer months, Meralco is also reminding customers to practice energy efficiency. Simple habits like setting air conditioners to the right temperature, unplugging unused appliances, and using energy-efficient lighting can help keep bills manageable.

“By practicing energy efficiency, customers can better manage their electricity consumption while also doing their part in managing energy demand,” Zaldarriaga shared.

Ready for Election Day

Aside from preparing for the summer surge, Meralco is also making sure the upcoming midterm elections go off without a hitch—at least where power supply is concerned.

The company recently participated in mock elections organized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to test their emergency response capabilities. They ran simulations of outage incidents, such as downed power lines and equipment malfunctions, to ensure quick resolution in case of real-life disruptions.

Meralco’s call center team also tested its ability to handle election-related power concerns. According to Zaldarriaga, while Meralco’s franchise area has never had major power issues during past elections, contingency plans are in place to address any isolated outages.

“Our generator sets are ready, and our crews will be deployed in strategic locations so that in case of interruptions, we are ready to respond accordingly,” he assured.

So, whether it’s the scorching summer heat or the high-stakes elections, Meralco is confident it can keep the power running—keeping homes cool, businesses running, and polling stations operational when it matters most.