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MPower to transition 144 PLDT, Smart cell sites to clean energy
Business
Trade & Industry
MPower to transition 144 PLDT, Smart cell sites to clean energy
MPower to transition 144 PLDT, Smart cell sites to clean energy
Published Jul 17, 2025 05:04 pm
PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. have signed a deal with MPower to transition its cell sites and facilities under the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP). In photo are (L-R) Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Nethercott, Smart Chief Operating Officer Anastacio R. Martirez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez, Meralco First Vice President and MPower Head Redel M. Domingo, MPower Retail Sales Head Eddie John V. Adug and outgoing ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa Dimalanta.
Retail electricity supplier MPower is set to power the cell sites and facilities of PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. as part of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).
In a statement on Thursday, July 17, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said MPower will transition 144 cell sites and nine facilities of the PLDT Group, covering a total demand of more than 2,500 kilowatts (kW) across its integrated network.
This activation builds on the two companies’ earlier efforts to utilize renewable energy (RE) sources, with MPower providing competitive pricing, improved service, and access to clean energy. MPower noted that the RAP integration is set to expand to sites in the Visayas and Mindanao before the end of 2025.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs and acts as the chief executive officer of Meralco, Smart, and PLDT, emphasized the importance of reliable power and digital connection. “This is why this collaboration is consequential, because it reflects our continued effort to align our resources and capabilities, to serve our customers better with reliable and consistent power and connectivity,” he said.
According to Menardo G. Jimenez Jr., PLDT's chief operating officer and network head, the partnership will enable an eco-friendly network.
“As we future-proof our network to deliver 5G and AI capabilities, we are also mindful of the cost to operate the network and our impact on the environment,” he said. “This partnership with MPower will allow us to operate a smarter and greener network and manage our energy costs in a manner that is kinder to the planet.”
For his part, Smart Chief Operating Officer Anastacio Martirez said, “As we scale up our 5G network, Smart welcomes this partnership with MPower, as it supports our goal of delivering simply reliable service that our customers can count on.”
In the past year, 30 of the PLDT Group's sites were fully integrated with RE, including 24 in Metro Manila and six in Mindanao. The company had also previously utilized geothermal power for five of its network facilities in the Visayas.
“MPower is proud to support PLDT and Smart in this transformative journey,” said Redel Domingo, MPower's first vice president and head. “Our energy solutions are designed to accelerate operational efficiency while supporting the country’s energy transition through championing consumer choice in the power market.”
The PLDT Group also recently secured a ₱5 billion green loan to partially fund its ongoing fiber expansion and minimize its network's carbon footprint. The company has a decarbonization roadmap that aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, using a 2019 baseline.
Outgoing ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta commended the three companies, stating that aggregating power supports “a more open, inclusive, and competitive energy market.”
“Today's event is a testament to the collective recognition of the group as providers of the basic needs of our people in modern society,” Dimalanta said. “You are as a group are stewards of a huge part of our nation's economy and the wellbeing of our people.”