Across the Philippine archipelago, eight million customers depend on Meralco—the country’s largest private-sector electric distribution utility company. “That’s eight million different needs, expectations, and lives,” says Ronnie L. Aperocho, the company's executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO). “Our job is to make sure that when customers flip the switch, it works—that the lights are kept on and customers enjoy the convenience. That is our responsibility.”
Meralco accounts for 55 percent of the country’s electricity needs, despite just covering 39 cities and 72 municipalities. It has served Filipino communities for 122 years and recently received government approval to renew its franchise for another 25 years.
“It’s a pivotal achievement for us in Meralco,” Aperocho acknowledges. “A 25-year mandate is rare in business today. It’s really a powerful vote of confidence from our customers. It is for us to really keep pushing to raise the bar in innovating our services, making them more reliable and sustainable. All of us in Meralco are committed to really raise the bar.”
According to the executive, the next 25 years will involve significant transformation to align with the “ambitious target of the government to increase the penetration of renewables in our franchise.” He adds, “It entails a lot of effort on our part to ensure that the variability of these renewables will not compromise the reliability, quality, and adequacy of our service.”
To achieve this, Aperocho says Meralco will prioritize four areas with urgency: modernizing the grid, elevating customer experience, advancing innovation and technology, and accelerating the transition to clean energy.
“Our job is to make sure that when customers flip the switch, it works—that the lights are kept on and customers enjoy the convenience. That is our responsibility,” says Aperocho.
“We will be investing in smarter and stronger infrastructure to reduce system loss and make operations more efficient through the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure and moving toward full smart grids,” he explains. “Second, we’re rolling out digital upgrades that make interactions faster and more seamless—from better billing systems to 24/7 support and enhanced online platforms. Next, we’re continuously exploring new technologies, from energy storage solutions to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, the increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DER), and smart home integration. We’re making sure we stay ahead of the curve.
“We’re also taking a bold step forward with nuclear energy,” he reveals. “Through our NEST (Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition) program, we’re exploring all viable pathways—including modular reactors and even potentially rehabilitating the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Solar and wind are essential, but they’re intermittent. If we want real progress, we need clean, reliable power too—and that’s where nuclear comes in. Meralco is a leading player in terms of nuclear energy adoption in the Philippines.”
The executive acknowledges that public acceptance of nuclear energy remains an issue. “That’s why we must be ahead in terms of informing the public about the benefits of putting up a nuclear power plant here in the country,” Aperocho states.
