Meralco: H1 power sales to grow by ‘roughly’ 6.5%
MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) is projecting 6.5 percent growth in electricity sales for the first six months of the year, its top official said.
“[W]e will probably end up end-June with roughly six-and-a-half percent,” Meralco President Oscar Reyes told reporters in a chance interview.
Meralco’s energy sales grew 3.1 percent to 20,338 gigawatt hours (GWh) in the first half of 2017 despite a high base effect.
Reyes attributed the utility’s power sales projection to higher demand in the first five months of this year as well as increased industrial and commercial activities.
“For the first five months year-to-date, [the company sees a]growth of seven-and-a-half percent per annum, but June is trending a little softer because, well, number one, the rains have started… it’s been cool during the last three months, April, May and June,” he said.
“I think to the country’s credit, industrial and commercial activities have been strong. Maybe it’s the growth of the economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Reyes said Meralco would study the possibility of putting up microgrids next year.
A microgrid is a small-scale power grid that can operate independently or collaboratively with other small power grids.
“Perhaps that will be something that we’ll be paying attention to in 2019… We’re still looking at them,” Reyes said.
Meralco said last month it was considering putting up microgrids outside its franchise area to provide electricity supply to far-flung areas. Reyes said Isla Verde would probably be the first recipient if they go ahead with the plan, adding they are coordinating with the local government to meet the island’s power requirements.
In April, the Department of Energy asked Meralco to explain why the island in Batangas remains unserved.
“Since the island is within your franchise area, may we be apprised on the reasons why the island remains unserved by Meralco up to this date,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a letter to Reyes dated April 6, 2018.
Meralco has been asked to submit a proposed electrification plan with a definite timeline for the island, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella told reporters earlier.
Shares of Meralco closed down P0.60 at P344.20 each on Thursday.
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