The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said it strongly supports the renewal of the franchise of MERALCO to ensure reliable electricity for domestic businesses and Filipino households.
In a statement Thursday, May 30, MAP recognizes MERALCO's commitment to green energy as it actively champions the government's renewable energy (RE) goals by supporting programs under the RE Act of 2008. Its franchise area boasts a remarkable 64 percent share of the Green Energy Option Program's (GEOP) total energy consumption.
“We urge the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises to favorably consider MERALCO's positive impact and approve its franchise renewal, thereby ensuring stability in the power sector and ultimately serving the best interests of the Filipino people and the Philippine economy,” the management group said.
“MERALCO prioritizes empowering its customers. It leads the way in customer choice programs under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), as evidenced by a 65 percent participation rate (1,450 out of 2,240 eligible customers) in the retail market. Additionally, it facilitates the installation of RE systems for over 7,000 customers,” read a statement signed by MAP President Rene D. Almendras and MAP energy committee chairman Ruth Y. Owen.
To date, MERALCO has implemented the country's largest smart meter program providing prepaid electricity service to nearly 100,000 customers.
Furthermore, it also demonstrated willingness to cater to the needs of global hyperscalers with high power quality demands and adopt cutting-edge solutions like microgrid technology.
It prioritizes operational efficiency and resiliency, meeting or even exceeding standards set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). It has also consistently improved its System Loss, achieving a rate below the mandated cap and ranking among the lowest nationwide, MAP said.
MAP further said that MERALCO achieved almost 100 percent electrification within its franchise area. Social responsibility is also a cornerstone of its commitment. It implements a Lifeline Rate Program offering a discount range of 20 percent to 100 percent for the poorest customers.
Furthermore, MAP cited a report from the Independent Energy Consultants (IEC) confirming the reasonableness of MERALCO's rates, particularly distribution rates.