Manila Electric : ERC witnesses Meralco’s AMI demonstration

Top photo: Meralco and ERC officials during the AMI demonstration at the Meralco Head Office in Ortigas, Pasig City (from left): Meralco SVP and Head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communications Alfredo S. Panlilio, Meralco FVP and Head of Regulatory Management Office Ivanna G. dela Pena, Meralco President and CEO Oscar S. Reyes, ERC Commissioner Josefina Patricia M. Asirit, ERC Chairman and CEO Jose Vicente B. Salazar, Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, ERC Commissioner Gloria Victoria C. Yap-Taruc, Meralco FVP and Head of Networks Ronnie L. Aperocho, and Meralco Chief Technology Adviser Gavin D. Barfield.
Lower left photo: Meralco AVP and Head of Metering Services Asset Management Marvin G. Gonsalves leads the actual demonstration of AMI basic functionalities.
Lower right photo: ERC Chairman Salazar and Meralco Chairman MVP are among the elated crowd who witnessed the successful AMI demonstration of Meralco.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) officials led by Chairman Jose Vicente B. Salazar recently witnessed Meralco's successful demonstration of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system.

AMI is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. The system will enable Meralco to determine what is happening in its electric grid, quickly respond to events and restore power swiftly.

During the event, Meralco officials demonstrated the basic AMI capabilities in delivering the minimum functionalities which include Remote Reading, Remote Disconnect/Reconnect, Outage Detection, Meter Irregularity Detection and Consumption Notification.

'With AMI, Meralco customers can see their consumption on a daily basis so they can manage their expenses,' Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said. 'Meralco is also able to automate its network, making us more responsive to customer needs, providing restoration estimates better.'
Following ERC's release of AMI rules last June, Meralco will now file its own AMI implementation proposal. Part of this AMI proposal is its prepaid electricity service, which now has over 30,000 customers and is set for expansion in Makati, Mandaluyong, and Pasig.

Meralco's demonstration of its AMI functionalities provides assurance to the ERC of the distribution utility's capability to comply with the AMI rules laid out by the regulatory body.

Chair Salazar recognized Meralco's preparations for the AMI rollout, pointing out that ERC and Meralco share a desire to go beyond satisfying the customers' basic energy needs by introducing innovations that provide a richer and enhanced customer experience.