Power retailer Manila Electric Co. is investing P1 billion to put up the power distribution facilities in New Clark City in preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games late this year, an executive said over the weekend.
Meralco senior vice president Rogelio Singson said the company was looking at a demand of 10 megawatts to 14 MW for the New Clark City facilities.
“It can still be ramped up. So we were telling them, at first they want everything smart, underground. I said, with that demand, how much tariff are you prepared to pay…Overhead, we can do it….Smart city yes, but not immediately until you have the consumption,” Singson said.
The Bases Conversion Development Authority issued the notice of award to Meralco as the power distributor of New Clark City after offering the lowest power supply rate.
“We continue to dialogue with BCDA to help them out after given the award. We were giving them suggestions on how they can formulate the plan, for the terms of the utilities,” Singson said.
He said Meralco committed that the facilities would be ready by June or July.
“We’re helping them [BCDA] out in terms of specifications so that when it is eventually turned over to Meralco, it is acceptable,” Singson said.
Meralco, together with Japan’s Marubeni Corp., submitted the lowest power distribution rate for New Clark City at P0.6188 per kilowatt hour.
Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communication Al Panlilio said Meralco’s offer was low because “our partners really wanted to win it.”
“It’s a good franchise to have… We know the development will happen, not immediately but in time, like BGC [Bonifacio Global City],” Panlilio said.
The Meralco-Marubeni consortium is composed of Meralco, Marubeni, Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.
New Clark City managed by BCDA is envisioned to be the first smart, green and sustainable metropolis in the country where locators and residents will enjoy low utility rates.
BCDA earlier said New Clark City would have the first completely smart power grid in the country. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities comparable with other smart cities throughout the world, the New Clark City smart grid also has better reliability standards.
Locators can also enjoy access to real-time information from the distribution utility, allowing them to manage their electricity consumption more effectively.
Phase 1 of the New Clark City development includes the construction of the National Government Administrative Center and world-class sports facilities to be used for the Philippines’ hosting of the Sea Games.
Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, is on the lookout for other opportunities in the distribution sector both locally and internationally. Meralco and partner ComsTech took over Pampanga Electric Cooperative II in 2014.