Meralco Improves Ecozone Power Service

To improve power delivery services at special economic zones in Batangas and Laguna, power utility firm Manila Electric Company (Meralco) continues to pour in investments for various electric capital projects. The ecozones which are targeted to benefit from the reinforcement of the company's distribution networks would include the Carmelray Industrial Park 2 (CIP 2) in Calamba, Laguna and the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) as well as the Light Industry & Science Park in Batangas. The projects which are all due for completion within the year, the company said "are intended to provide additional capacity, strengthen the subtransmission line backbone, improve switching flexibility and reduce technical system loss" in its distribution network. The special economic zones are expected as "growth drivers" for electricity demand with the much-anticipated entry of new business locators. At the utility firm's Calamba substation, it completed the construction of a new feeder, which can accommodate additional capacity for new customers within the Calamba area. To further reinforce the network's reliability, Meralco noted that its Calamba substation's 115-kilovolt source "was transferred to the new and more reliable Canlubang-CIP2 line." The power firm also vouched of improved reliability in electric service for CIP2 with the construction of a second 115-kilovolt line source, augmented by the installation of a back-up 33 megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer, which may be utilized in case of emergencies. For the Batangas ecozones, Meralco is constructing the second 115-kV line source for FPIP substation. It is due for completion October this year. The company added that it is also installing additional 83MVA power transformer at the LISP substation "to address the growing demand within the vicinity of Sta. Rosa and Mamplasan areas." It is similarly eyeing that several industrial as well as residential customers in San Rafael, San Ildefonso and San Miguel, Bulacan would be able to benefit from the installed alternate sources with the construction of a second 69-kV line that will link the Cruz na Daan and San Miguel substations. These will be underpinned by the installation of additional power transformer by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. The projects are all targeted for completion this year. (MMV)