Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is reportedly naming Ronnie L. Aperocho, one of its insider-veterans, to take the company’s helm soon as President, replacing Ray C. Espinosa who retired last year, according to a highly placed source.

The utility firm’s Presidency was practically vacant for a year but Aperocho stepped up into leading the company after he was designated Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Vice President last year, working under the command of Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

According to the source, Aperocho will likely be elevated in rank as President either during or after the Meralco’s stockholders’ meeting on May 28 this year.

Aperocho is considered a well-entrenched Meralco executive, having served as First Vice President and Head of Networks in the company for a long time; while also taking on other roles as Board Director of General Electric Philippines Meter and Instrument Company as well as with Meralco affiliate-entities like MRail Inc., Meralco Energy Inc (MSERV) and Meralco Employees Mutual Aid Benefit Association Inc.

An Electrical Engineer by profession, Aperocho had been a board topnotcher in the Electrical Engineering Board Examinations in 1991; and had completed a Masters Degree in Business Administration Program at the J.L. Kellog School of Management of Northwestern University and the Hongkong University of Science and Technology.

In taking the corporate presidency, Aperocho is expected to lead Meralco on to its shifting investment ground – primarily on ramping up renewable energy (RE) installations, then foray into liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as targeted plunge into nuclear power investments.

While the power generation investments of the utility firm are ensconced under its subsidiary Meralco PowerGen (MGen), the project-developments would still be advancing within a careful watch of the parent.

And since Meralco is a frontline service provider to consumers, it will also continually grapple with the challenges of ensuring uninterrupted electricity services to consumers – especially in periods of tight supply within Luzon grid.

Meralco’s journey into the smart grid track of technological innovations in the power industry would likewise be one of the major responsibilities that Aperocho will be spearheading – including the targeted massive scale rollout of smart meters or Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI); while also pursuing higher degree of automation and digitalization of its networks.

Aperocho’s foreseen era of leadership will similarly traverse treacherous waters dealing with legislative maze, as Meralco’s franchise will be expiring by 2028 – and deliberations on proposed renewal has already started in the House of Representatives.

At this stage, what is considered as ‘known unknown’ in the industry is whether or not threats of a “split in the Meralco franchise” could be successfully maneuvered by some mad keen-competitors.