Meralco's COO, Ronnie L. Aperocho, details the company's vision for modernizing the grid and integrating diverse clean energy sources to ensure reliable service for eight million customers. #EsquirePHVideo, #EsquirePHCollab
00:00Well the renewal of our franchise is a pivotal achievement for us all in
00:19Miralco. It really inspires all of the men and women of Miralco. Here it's really
00:24the renewal of our commitment or our promises to our customers that will do
00:28better, will serve them better. All of us in Miralco are committed to really raise the
00:33bar. Our long-term strategy in the next 25 to 28 years will be around four key
00:40priority areas. First is of course the grid modernization and storm hardening.
00:45We're investing in smarter stronger infrastructure that can reduce system
00:50loss and operate more efficiently. That includes deploying advanced metering
00:54infrastructure or smart metering and evolving toward a full smart grid.
00:58Second is about elevating customer experience. With over 8 million customers
01:03we're rolling out digital upgrades that make interactions faster and more
01:07seamless from debtor billing systems to 24 by 7 support and enhanced online
01:13platforms. Third is advancing innovation and technology. We're continuously
01:18exploring new technologies from energy storage solutions to electric vehicle
01:22charging infrastructure and distributed energy resources or DER management and
01:27smart home integration. We're making sure we stay ahead of the curve. And fourth, we're
01:31accelerating the clean energy transition while we continue sourcing from
01:35renewables like solar and wind.
01:37I really did not dream to be an engineer when I was younger. It was due to peer pressure. First,
01:46I thought that was the most stupid mistake that I committed because at first I really found it very,
01:52very difficult to pass my mathematics subjects. But when I was facing that green scenario that if I fail my
02:01subjects, I would lose my scholarship. Then I tried really studying hard to really make sure that I
02:06wouldn't fail in my mathematics subjects. So it did not take long before I was able to really embrace the beauty of science and mathematics.
02:14And then fortunately, I was able to pass the board exam with flying colors. Looking back now, I think that was the correct decision that I made in my life because it was very, very transformative.
02:25So I was employed by Meralco in June of 1993, expecting a position that somehow more on the technical assignments. But, you know, unfortunately, I was assigned to system control next to customer service or customer assistance.
02:40So I was a bit frustrated at the time, but I just told myself I was looking for a job and here's a job. So I had to grab that role. I was assigned to handle customer complaints and it felt like a detour for me because the work I was assigned to handle customer complaints.
02:53And it felt like a detour for me because the work did not match my credentials. But it turned out to be, again, the best thing that ever happened to me.
03:00And here in Meralco also, the first few years of working with customer assistance or customer service, I think enabled me to really view the entire operations of Meralco from being in the frontline.
03:12And of course, I embraced the job. I saw how electricity is not just about wires and holes. It's about livelihood, about connection, about dignity, about listening to your customers.
03:25I think that was a very, very memorable experience for me. Of course, there's so many typhoons that I had to work in shifts 24 hours and round-the-clock service.
03:35So I lived through all that. And I saw the culture of customer service, the malasakit and teamwork firsthand.
03:42And of course, looking back, I never imagined I'd be here calling the shots for Meralco. But I've always believed that if you work harder and serve with purpose, good things follow.
03:55Well, electricity, like the air that we breathe, people don't really appreciate them until you lose them. Like you don't appreciate the value of oxygen or air until you are gasping for breath.
04:10That's why we have to really work hard for our customers so that the value for money, it's invisible, but it runs through everything.
04:19It runs through your home, your business, your day, and we don't realize how complex it is to deliver because it all starts from generations.
04:26Generated electricity then travels across high-voltage highways, we call transmission lines, to our substations.
04:32And only then does Meralco take over when the power is already transmitted into our substations or delivery point substations.
04:41Our role then is to bring down the voltage to a safe and reliable level and then distributing it through our systems, wires, poles, meters, and to where it matters, people's lives, right to the doorsteps of our customers.
04:55And our job is to make sure you never have to think about it. We just flip the switch and it works.
05:01Well, on your first question, if we will be serving all of our customers with a smart meter, yes, that's our grand plan.
05:11It will be a well-planned out execution, but of course, at the end of the day, it's about cost.
05:16So we just want to manage the cost for us to be able to deploy smart metering that is not so much to be absorbed by our customers.
05:26But on your question on the smart grid, well, think of the smart grid as the digital backbone of energy.
05:33It's about having that real-time visibility, about disturbances in real-time, plug outages even before customers notice them.
05:42And of course, it enables seamless integration with smart homes, appliances, and electric vehicles, giving customers more control and helps us in Meralco respond and serve better.
05:54In the end, smart grid is about people, not just swires. It's about making the entire energy experience more human, more responsive, and more future ready.
06:08What people see is the light switch. What they don't see is everything that makes it work, especially in a crisis.
06:14Powering cities like Metro Manila means preparing for the worst, even on the best days or blue sky days.
06:21We invested heavily in resilience. We have already deployed automated pill devices and advanced platforms to monitor and manage the grid dynamically.
06:30This allows us to detect issues in real-time, reroute power instantly, and drastically reduce restoration time during outages.
06:37We have this advanced distribution management system, which enables us to really keep the lights on.
06:43It's a lot of engineering stuff behind it, but basically it's about really making sure that the power is restored the quickest way possible.
06:53And behind all this technology is a team that works around the clock to make sure the power stays on.
06:59So that means 24 by 7 vigilance, 24 by 7 monitoring of the men and women of Meralco.
07:05It's a fair question, and the truth is more nuanced than most headlines suggest.
07:15Our rates are actually 3% below the global average, based on studies by Independent Energy Consultants or IEC.
07:22The difference lies in subsidies. Countries like Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam heavily subsidized power, but we don't here in the Philippines.
07:35If you exclude those countries, our rates would be 13% lower than the global average.
07:41The bigger question is, how do we keep it viable? That's why we're pushing renewables.
07:46Yes, in the long term, we are exploring nuclear. Clean energy must also be stable because in the long run, what customers need is not just low-cost power.
07:57It's power they can count on 24 by 7.
08:05We launched NES because we believe the future needs a stronger foundation.
08:11Or shall I say we need reliable base load power supply.
08:16Solar and wind are essential, but they are intermittent.
08:20If we want real progress, we need clean, reliable power too, and that's where nuclear comes in.
08:27In 2025, we advanced our NESTS program to continue exploring various project development approaches to assess how we can best support the government's goals.
08:36DOE or the Department of Energy is targeting 1,200 megawatts of nuclear power by 2032.
08:43If we want to meet that, the time to prepare is now. It's bold, but it's grounded.
08:49We're exploring small modular reactors or SMRs, the potential rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant,
08:56and even proof of concept pilot project that will let us gain experience before scaling.
09:01We're also investing in Filipino talent through our vision scholarship program, training future nuclear engineers in top universities abroad,
09:09like in the US, China, even in Canada, and France, and Korea.
09:15During calamities, of course, it's chaotic, meaning you receive a lot of calls.
09:25You really have to be on top of the situation, assuring your customers that we're on top, and power will be restored very, very soon.
09:34You have that reassuring statement because you know that you have the people who are capable of doing quick restoration,
09:44and you have the systems that would enable your entire people to really execute a very precise or a very methodical power restoration process.
09:56And it's really about these experiences will really strengthen the bond that you have with your people.
10:02Because working in crisis together, spending like many, many hours working together,
10:08staying away from your families, doing your job, and forgetting your vacations, things like that.
10:14All hands on deck. Those are the opportunities where you get to know your people, you become closer.
10:20So that's why we are always proud that we are Meralco. We are here to keep the lights on, no matter what.
