The Meralco of the future

MANILA, Philippines - Imagine drawing the curtains and switching on the lights and appliances in your house, even if you’re not home, by just pressing a button on your cell phone or tablet.

“It’s the house of the future,” says Marvin Gonsalves, head of Metering Services Asset Management of Meralco. “The Smart Home presents automated solutions for your appliances,” he says. You don’t even have to upgrade or buy new appliances. By just adding a “smart plug” to your current TV, DVD player, refrigerator, air-con and other appliances, you can program it or switch it on and off with just the click of a button on your phone or tablet, all in real time.

“It all starts with the Smart Grid,” Gonsalves says. For the power utility company, this ushers in Meralco’s distribution automation, which will bring about operational efficiency and responsiveness for uninterrupted electricity supply. “We can control distribution systems from remote locations,” Gonsalves says. “We can also perform supervisory control of equipment and monitor operations and the overall health of the electric grid, all in real time.”

For the consumer, this is the digital technology that can provide convenience and efficiency in electricity usage.  With automation as well as its monitoring and control capability that can provide customers with more information about their consumption, it allows customers to play an active part in optimizing the service from the electricity delivery system. Smart Meters installed in establishments and homes is an important feature.

“The Smart Meter is a device that can gather valuable information on a timely basis so customers can be informed and make intelligent decisions on their electricity usage,” Gonsalves explains. At present, you have to wait one month to get information about your electricity consumption, which is reflected in your monthly billing statement. The periodic reading of the electric meter, which is calibrated in kilowatt-hours, establishes the billing cycles and energy consumption within the cycle.

Meralco Apps now online: Mac Dizon of Meralco demonstrates how different Meralco applications like the Power Maintenance Schedule, Meralco E-Bill, Meralco AppCal and Business Center Directory can be used on the handy PLDT TelPad.

“Right now, the customer is using electricity without knowing how much he used or how much he will be paying until he receives the bill,” Gonsalves remarks. The Smart Meter is a convenient way of monitoring your consumption. It can keep track and record your consumption on a daily, hourly, or even up-to-the minute basis, and communicate the information to you via a communications network service. It can measure demand. It can determine how much electricity is being used during peak periods. It can forecast or tell you which appliances are power-intensive so you can plan or adjust your pattern of electricity usage. A small change in behavior can result in substantial savings for the customer.

The energy management portal lets you see how much electricity is being consumed, whether per room or per appliance. Based on the information, you can choose to turn off non-essential electricity-powered devices at certain times.  You can compare your consumption with that of the previous month or year. You also have the convenient option of prepaid electricity. It is similar to getting prepaid load for your cell phone, which provides you with more flexibility and control. “It is electricity budgeting made easy,” Gonsalves says.

The Meralco apps provide information and access to services at your fingertips. You can learn useful energy-efficiency tips with just a touch on your iPad, iPhone or Android-powered device. You can also know the details of your Meralco bill and calculate which appliances contribute most to your electricity bill. You can even find out if there is a maintenance schedule in your area.

“You can get information on events, if there is a power outage,” Gonsalves explains. “There is no more need to call the Meralco office, so the trouble on the customer side is shortened.” A timely response can be made more quickly. Customer concerns and complaints can be better addressed. And, should you need to make a personal transaction, it also provides information as to where the Meralco business center is nearest you.

We may have to wait a while to see the Smart Home animated by digital technology and automation in our neighborhood. But smart metering, and the benefits it promises, is just around the corner. The target for the Smart Meter to be made available in small areas of the country is the end of this year, Gonsalves says.