Pampanga II Electric Cooperative (PELCO II), co-managed by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has launched its first mobile substation to address the increasing power demand in Pampanga.
In a statement, PELCO said that the substation, with a 10-megavolt ampere (MVA) capacity and 69/13.2 kilovolt (kV) power transformer, is mounted on a low-bed trailer for easy deployment.
"This first-of-its-kind project is intended to ensure the availability of stable electricity service to meet the growing power requirements of homes and businesses in Mabalacat City," said Joe-Mel Zaporteza, PELCO II’s chief management advisor. "We are working closely with the local government and other relevant stakeholders to continuously implement innovative solutions and projects that will benefit our consumers in the long term.”
In addition to the mobile substation, PELCO II is constructing a new 20-MVA substation in Mabalacat City to further bolster the city's power supply. This substation is expected to be operational by next year, according to Meralco.
Arnel Casanova, Meralco senior vice president and chief external and government affairs, affirmed the distribution utility’s support for industry players like PELCO II.
“By partnering with and empowering electric cooperatives like PELCO II, we not only aim to contribute to accelerating economic growth in the province, but we also endeavor to help more Filipinos benefit from reliable, stable, and efficient electricity service that enables sustainable and inclusive progress,” he said.
Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, added, “Developing capital-intensive service improvement projects is an integral part of Meralco’s commitment to its stakeholders.
From regularly upgrading our facilities to developing environment-friendly distribution facilities and smart substations, Meralco ensures the provision of our customers’ immediate requirements and proactively invests in future-ready energy infrastructure that benefits the communities we serve.”
Last year, PELCO II launched the new Sta. Barbara substation in Pampanga, with a 20 MVA capacity. Meralco has been co-managing the electric cooperative since 2014 alongside Comstech Integration Alliance, Inc.