Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has signaled its commitment to join upcoming discussions on proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), aligning its stance with policy directions set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Engineer Ronnie L. Aperocho affirmed the utility’s readiness to engage with lawmakers and industry regulators as legislative review of the country’s primary power sector framework gets underway.
“We respect President Marcos’ policy direction and will actively participate in the discussions as the proposed amendments to the EPIRA are deliberated,” Aperocho said in an official statement.
Central to Meralco’s stance is addressing key operational realities of power delivery, particularly system loss—the difference between energy bought from power suppliers and energy sold to end consumers. Aperocho emphasized that technical system losses represent an inherent operational factor shared across the entire power industry rather than an isolated issue unique to specific distribution utilities.
“We believe it is important to recognize that system loss is not unique to any distribution utility but is a common operational aspect of the delivery of electricity – which affects the entire power industry,” Aperocho stated.
“While distribution utilities like Meralco continue to invest in modernizing and upgrading facilities and deploying technologies that reduce system losses, a certain level of technical losses remains inherent in operating an electric distribution system,” he added.
Despite these operational constraints, Meralco noted that continuous network upgrades have consistently kept its technical losses below regulatory thresholds.
“For Meralco’s part, we have consistently invested in system loss management initiatives, network modernization, and operational efficiencies – which enable us to maintain our system loss well below the 6.5 percent cap set by the ERC,” Aperocho explained.
As lawmakers prepare to evaluate statutory changes, Meralco underscored that regulatory reform must balance consumer protection with the operational viability of power distributors and electric cooperatives.
To ensure tangible results for end-users, Meralco highlights three core areas that any legislative reform should protect:
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Operational efficiency: Preserving the capability of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to run smoothly.
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Infrastructure investment: Sustaining funding for ongoing grid modernization and system resilience against operational disruptions.
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Service stability: Maintaining consistent, safe, and uninterrupted electrical service across service areas.
“We look forward to productive discussions which we hope will carefully consider the impact of reforms on the operations and sustainability of distribution utilities. To ensure real benefits to consumers, these reforms should also support the ability of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to efficiently operate, invest in infrastructure and system resilience, and deliver safe and stable electricity service,” Aperocho said.
Meralco reiterated its intent to work directly with government agencies, lawmakers, and industry leaders throughout the reform process to safeguard consumer interests while fortifying the broader energy sector.
“Meralco will continue working closely with the government, regulators, legislators, and other industry stakeholders in pursuing reforms that enhance consumer protection and strengthen the power industry,” Aperocho concluded.
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