Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is installing a new power substation that will cater to the electricity service needs of the Vermosa estate of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) in Imus, Cavite.

The power company said it already kicked off the construction of the blueprinted 115-kilovolt-34.5kV substation which will be sited within the Vermosa development, which is a 725-hectare mixed use property straddling Daang Hari road.

According to Meralco, “the substation will house three transformer banks – each capable of generating 83 megavolt amperes (MVA) of power or a combined capacity of 249 MVA.”

The power facility is targeted for full commercial operations by December this year and it has been cast to accommodate new as well as additional load applications in the area.

Ronnie L. Aperocho, SVP and head of Networks of Meralco, noted that the power firm has been encouraging real estate developers “to work closely with Meralco at the early stages of their planning.” Correspondingly, he emphasized that the commitment of Meralco is “to provide the energy infrastructure to meet the projected growth of new communities, not just for timely energization but to have the right facilities to meet their needs.”

Vermosa is considerably the fourth largest estate of Ayala Land accentuating a blend of suburban appeal while also integrating ease of city living. It is underpinned by its key features such as the range of horizontal residential options, a central business district, regional mall, educational institutions and leisure establishments.

Jay Teodoro, head of Vermosa Estate, emphasized that for several years, their company has already been working with Meralco to satiate the electricity service needs of locators as well as residents in their property developments.

“We have worked hand in hand with Meralco in the master planning of our estates, offering key utilities to residents, locators and visitors. Now, we are building towards making Vermosa move-in ready with its own Meralco substation,” he stressed.

With the power substation project, ALI is assured that there will be “smooth flow of electricity for Vermosa dwellers -- whether from residential customers or the commercial and industrial accounts, catering to the retail, sports and leisure and office markets.”

Meralco expounded that the facility will “guarantee operational switching flexibility during contingencies and improve voltage regulation for Vermosa’s commercial and institutional locators,” including those for the De La Salle Zobel campus; and the other developments within the fringes of Imus, Cavite.

As conveyed by Ferdinand O. Geluz, first vice president and head of Customer Retail Services, the substation project in Vermosa “is part of Meralco’s thrust to serve its customers, more so in planning all facilities’ requirements, which we can ramp up and forecast according to projected turnover, during the master planning stages.”

He added “this is a critical step to enhance the delivery of electricity services and ensure reliable power across all end-users.”