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MANILA, Philippines — Power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is deepening its partnership with American technology firms as it accelerates efforts to modernize its power grid and prepare for a more digital, renewable-powered future.

The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led utility recently joined the US-Philippines Smart Grid Technologies Reverse Trade Mission (RTM), hosted by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) from February 1 to 11, 2026. The mission gathered senior Philippine government officials and private-sector energy leaders for a series of high-level meetings and technology briefings in the United States.

Representing Meralco were Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho and Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet. The delegation traveled to San Diego and Silicon Valley in California, as well as Washington, D.C., where they met with U.S. technology providers, cybersecurity experts, regulators, and policymakers.

During the mission, the group participated in live demonstrations of advanced grid systems and explored solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and support the large-scale integration of renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DERs). They also attended DistribuTECH International in San Diego and toured the Stanford Central Energy Facility, which showcases a large-scale integrated energy management system in operation.

The program highlighted next-generation technologies, innovative financing and rate-recovery models, and regulatory best practices that could help utilities modernize while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers.

“Grid modernization is a key pillar of Meralco’s strategy to meet evolving customer needs and ensure long-term operational resilience. As we increasingly leverage artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and robust cybersecurity capabilities, our participation in this trade mission supports our broader digital transformation agenda—gaining firsthand insights into best practices that can strengthen grid-edge intelligence, safeguard critical infrastructure, and accelerate our grid transformation initiatives,” Aperocho said.

Meralco’s participation comes as it pushes forward with its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Program, which aims to roll out around 12 million smart meters across its franchise area over the next decade. The initiative is expected to provide granular, near real-time data to support analytics-driven decision-making and give customers better visibility into their electricity consumption.

The AMI program will also support the development of the company’s planned Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center (GEOCC). This facility will complement its existing System Control Center by adding low-voltage situational awareness into daily grid operations. Together with a planned Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS), the GEOCC is expected to enable more proactive management of rooftop solar, demand response programs, and other emerging grid services.

The trade mission concluded with discussions involving the U.S. State Department and industry leaders on how utilities can successfully scale transformation programs, with a focus on governance, phased investments, and close coordination with regulators.

As Meralco continues its smart grid journey, the company said it remains committed to investing in artificial intelligence, data-driven operations, DER integration, and cybersecurity—laying the groundwork for a smarter, more secure, and future-ready power grid for Filipino consumers.