Meralco completes 3 more systems upgrading projects

Despite its financial difficulties, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) was able to complete three more electric system-related capital projects towards the end of 2003, a company official said.

Meralco vice-president for corporate communication Elpi Cuna, Jr. said while the company is experiencing financial constraints, "our primordial concern is still to keep our service at par with our customers’ expectations."

The Meralco official noted that these projects, which are part of the P4.7-billion capital investment program of the company for 2003 are expected to boost the power firm’s capability in providing adequate, reliable and efficient electric service to its customers.

The completed projects are the construction of the first phase of a new 34.5 kilovolt (kv) feeder from Cubao substation (Quezon City); the relocation of a portion of a feeder from Rockwell substation (Mandaluyong and Makati) along a railroad track; and the third phase the unloading of an Angat substation (Bulacan) feeder.

He said the section of the feeder from Cubao substation, which was completed last Dec. 15, was intended to provide additional capacity and improve the reliability and flexibility of service for the existing residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of Murphy and Libis, Quezon City.

Some large customers that are already benefiting from this project include Mercury Drug Corp., Oleo Fats Inc., Citibank N.A., Delta Milling Industries Inc. and LBL Industries Inc.

As soon as the second phase of the Cubao substation feeder project is completed this year, Meralco said it would provide the needed capacity to serve the existing and projected power requirements of Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City.

The retirement and relocation of the main portion of a feeder of Rockwell substation, on the other hand, would allow the utility firm’s personnel an easy access to distribution facilities during maintenance works and thus, improve electric service reliability and reduce interruption times to connected customers.

Customers that are already benefiting from this project are Abbott Laboratories, Selecta Walls Inc., Pioneer Highlands and other commercial and residential customers in the Mandaluyong area.

The third phase of the unloading of a 13.8-kV Angat feeder, on the other hand, will prevent the expected critical loading of the Angat feeder by shifting and converting some portions of its distribution line to 34.5 kV. This project will also improve voltage regulation and reduce system loss in the Pandi, Bulacan area. A total of 7,218 residential, commercial and industrial customers are expected to benefit from this project.

Meralco also reported that before the completion of these three projects, there were also other 10 related projects that were accomplished.

These projects include two 115-kV subtransmission line projects covering the cities and towns of Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Taguig, four substation projects in Bulacan, Cavite, Quezon City, and Laguna, and four distribution line projects in Quezon City, Quezon province, and Bulacan.

The sub-transmission projects contributed to the improvement of the reliability of electric service, while the substation projects provided switching flexibility, relieved critical loadings, and improved power quality. The distribution projects, on the other hand, improved distribution line reliability and capacity.