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Modernization drive ramps up with 72,000 new devices this year

The country’s biggest power distributor is accelerating its shift to smarter, more efficient grid operations after forging a new partnership with US-based technology firm Aclara Meters Philippines, a subsidiary of Hubbell Inc.

In a ceremony held at the Meralco Operating Center in Pasig City, top executives of the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Aclara formalized a supply agreement that will bring more than 72,000 new smart meters into Meralco’s franchise area starting this year.

Aclara Meters Philippines President and General Manager Waldo Darvin highlighted the shared vision behind the collaboration.
“Our partnership with Meralco reflects our shared commitment to innovation that is practical, secure, scalable, and to operational excellence. We stand here today ready to commit the resources, people, and processes and technology so that we can ensure and assure Meralco of a reliable and smooth rollout of meters for deployment,” he said.

The Smart Meter Advantage

The incoming devices are designed to support real-time usage monitoring, remote meter reading, outage detection, and other essential smart-grid applications. These features are expected to help Meralco respond faster to power issues while giving consumers increased control and visibility over their electricity use.

Smart meters also enable remote connection and disconnection, help reduce manual field visits, and provide more accurate billing—an upgrade Meralco says is aligned with its long-term modernization roadmap.

A 10-Year Plan: 12 Million Smart Meters

The deployment is part of Meralco’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Program, which aims to install around 12 million smart meters across its service area within the next decade. The utility currently has about 196,000 smart meters already in place.

Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet explained that AMI will play a crucial role in the upcoming Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center (GEOCC)—a new facility designed to integrate low-voltage conditions into day-to-day grid operations.

“These technologies are designed to enhance secondary network visibility, particularly as distributed energy resources, residential batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations continue to expand across the grid,” Savet said, noting that the GEOCC will work alongside Meralco’s existing System Control Center, which manages high-voltage facilities.

Customer-Centric Digital Shift

Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho said the partnership with Aclara and Hubbell underscores the company’s commitment to a more transparent, reliable, and customer-focused power system.

“This partnership strengthens our ongoing journey toward digital transformation, one that places smart metering at the center of how we deliver reliable service and provide our consumers with better tools to manage their energy use. For us in Meralco, smart meters are not simply electronic devices; they are enablers of transparency, efficiency, and innovation,” Aperocho noted.

With smart grid technologies becoming increasingly essential—especially as more households adopt solar systems, home batteries, and electric vehicles—Meralco says it is gearing up to future-proof the grid and give customers smarter ways to manage their electricity consumption.