The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is targeting the installation of an additional 1,500 circuit kilometers of underground power lines by 2030, expanding from the current 567 circuit kilometers.
“This will include greenfield areas and will be in coordination with real estate developers plus other identified sites where we can go underground, particularly key value areas, financial districts, commercial centers, heritage sites, tourist spots and of course for resiliency, those that are frequently hit by storms,” said Froilan Savet, Meralco first vice president and head of networks, in a briefing held in Pasig City.
He clarified, however, that areas prone to frequent flooding are excluded from the project due to coordination challenges with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control initiatives.
Existing underground cabling has already been implemented in key developments such as Bonifacio Global City, Rockwell Center in Makati, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong, Entertainment City in Parañaque, and select areas in Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, and Pasig.
Savet did not disclose the estimated cost for the 1,500-km expansion but noted the project will run through the medium term and require permits and right-of-way clearances from local government units and relevant agencies.
He underscored the cost challenge, stating, “Even if LGUs or real estate developers shoulder the cost of civil works, pursuing the underground cabling project is expensive as involved costs are ten times higher compared to the regular and common practice of using overhead wires.”
Currently, 97 percent of Meralco’s power lines remain overhead, a standard approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission. “So, when we pursue underground cable projects, we really need to justify why we need it,” Savet said.
While underground lines are more resilient to storm-related outages and provide aesthetic advantages, Savet acknowledged limitations in cases of earthquakes, where locating and repairing buried lines can be more difficult compared to overhead systems.
Meralco’s franchise area includes the entire Metro Manila and portions of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon Province, and Pampanga.
