Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has been accelerating maintenance activities on its power lines and other facilities, so these can be ably prepared for the strike of extreme weather events -- including strong typhoons upon the onset of the ominous rainy season.

Within this week, the company announced that its crew and repair teams have been deployed for “load splitting operations” as well as for inspection of facilities at Hidalgo Street in Pasay City.

Typically, power service interruptions would ensue as a result of the scheduled maintenance activities, hence, the power firm has been appealing for understanding from its affected customers.

Meralco First Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet noted that “with the start of the rainy season, Meralco crews remain hard at work 24/7 to further strengthen our distribution system’s resiliency against possible severe weather disturbances and to actively contribute to the promotion of public safety.”

After the completion of repair work, Meralco indicated that the facilities which have undergone maintenance activities can deliver “enhanced service quality and reliability” in their respective service areas.

The power lines and other service facilities of the distribution utilities (DUs) can typically withstand certain extent of vulnerabilities from rain-induced circumstances, such as typhoon and flooding, but routine maintenance on these assets would be required so they can sustain resiliency during critical conditions.

Meralco emphasized that part of the repair work it has been pursuing is the replacement of dilapidated wires that could trigger sparks - which if unabated could turn into worse incidents of fire.

Beyond that, the utility company expounded that it is giving utmost attention on fixing low hanging cables, “to prevent illegal connections and to ensure public safety.”

Meralco opined that if the power lines and related service facilities could properly undergo maintenance activities and upgrading work, that important process in their operations can “strengthen and improve the resiliency of electrical facilities.”

Just recently, the Metro Manila mayors also raised safety risks on the ‘hanging spaghetti electric wires’ of Meralco, given the threatening deadly hazard these could inflict on communities and individual consumers if they are unduly hit either by passing large vehicles or by any other factor or force that will smack into them.

Heeding the call of the local leaders in the metropolis, Meralco Vice President and Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga conveyed that they will “closely coordinate with local government units (LGUs), telco and cable companies to address the issues on dangling wires, leaning poles, and unauthorized foreign attachments.”

He assured that the power firm “will closely work with all the concerned stakeholders to ensure the integrity and safety of our facilities as part of our commitment to deliver reliable and stable electricity service to our customers.”