Meralco boosts capacity in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has bolstered its capacity in Laguna with new substations that will benefit its customers.

Meralco and STMicroelectronics Inc. (STMI), the largest European semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company in the country, inaugurated the new 115-kilovolt (kV) gas-insulated switchgear substation located at the Light Industry and Science Park 2 (LISP 2) in Calamba City.

Meralco said the new substation would facilitate the upgrading of STMI’s electric service from 34.5 kV to 115 kV, as well as accommodate its growing demand which is projected to increase to 20 megawatts (MW) by 2027 from 14 MW last year.

Meralco likewise commissioned the new La Mesa 115-kV switching station, also located within the LISP 2.

The project, which will improve the system reliability and power quality in the area, consists of a gas circuit breaker, three sets of disconnect switches, and standard connection and metering facilities for the Philippine office of STMI.

“These projects are expected to address not only the limited power supply of ST Calamba, which is one of our highest operational risks, but also our future power supply demand, our power quality, our carbon neutrality strategy, and will definitely improve our site power resilience,” STMI vice president and general manager Yong Suk Kwon said.

Meralco senior vice president and head of networks Ronnie Aperocho said the company’s continuing efforts to meet the requirements of industrial customers form part its commitment to contribute to improving the country’s infrastructure and ensuring energy security.

“This new STMI Substation along with our new La Mesa Switching Station is designed to support the growing power requirements of STMI’s Philippine office through the delivery of safe, adequate, reliable, and high-quality electricity service, which is consistent with our commitment to our more than 7.6 million customers,” he said.

Meralco first vice president and chief commercial officer Ferdinand Geluz, meanwhile, urged companies to work closely with the power distributor for their various energy requirements.

“Through our dedicated relationship management teams, Meralco works hand-in-hand with its enterprise customers to identify and tailor-fit solutions that will ensure reliable power for their operational requirements,” he said.

Meralco also recently commissioned its new Real 115 kV – 34.5 kV substation located along Real Road in Calamba City.

The company said the substation would relieve the neighboring Calamba substation and boost available capacity that will benefit customers in the city, as well as those in portions of the cities of Tanauan and Sto. Tomas in Batangas.

The project involved the energization of two 34.5-kV distribution feeders serving enterprise customers, housing complexes and subdivisions, and key establishments such as the Calamba City Hall, and Sto. Tomas Doctors Hospital and Medical Center.

“Meralco is continuously working to improve its distribution system to deliver safe, sufficient, and reliable power service to its customers as part of its commitment to support the government’s thrust to improve infrastructure and achieve energy security in the country,” the company said.