Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is accelerating the modernization of its distribution network as it prepares for the growing adoption of rooftop solar, electric vehicles, battery storage and other technologies reshaping the power sector.
At Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, China on September 17, Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Engr. Froilan J. Savet highlighted the potential of Advanced Metering Infrastructure using High-Speed Power Line Carrier Communication, or AMI-HPLC, to provide greater visibility across the utility’s low-voltage network.
The technology allows smart meters to transmit data through existing power lines, giving Meralco access to more timely information on conditions across its distribution system.
The enhanced visibility can help the utility detect outages faster, verify power restoration, monitor system losses and energy flows, and assess transformer loading and other network conditions.
Such capabilities are becoming increasingly important as electricity distribution grows more complex with the entry of customers that can both consume and generate power through rooftop solar installations, battery systems and other distributed energy resources.
Meralco said AMI-HPLC will also support the development of its planned Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center, or GEOCC, which will integrate information from different points of the distribution network.
The facility is envisioned to give grid operators a clearer and more comprehensive view of activity at the edge of the network, allowing them to respond more quickly and make better-informed operational decisions.
The initiative forms part of Meralco’s broader push to build a smarter and more resilient distribution system capable of accommodating new energy technologies while maintaining reliable electricity service.
By combining advanced metering, real-time network visibility and centralized grid-edge monitoring, Meralco aims to strengthen outage management, improve operational efficiency and enhance power reliability for customers as the country’s energy landscape evolves.
