Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest private power distributor, has partnered with US-based Itron Inc. to accelerate its smart grid modernization program and support the Philippines’ digital and sustainable energy transition.
Through its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) initiative, Meralco seeks to transform the utility’s power distribution network into a more intelligent, responsive, and customer-centric system. As part of the initial deployment, Itron’s AMI solution—with its Intelligent Connectivity framework—will manage 73,000 endpoints in Metro Manila. A multi-year rollout will extend coverage across Meralco’s entire franchise area.
“This collaboration is a critical step in our AMI journey,” said Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer. “With Itron’s Gen5 solution, we are building a smart grid that enhances billing accuracy, improves outage response times, and empowers customers with greater visibility into their energy usage.”
Itron’s Gen5 solution is designed to support multiple meter brands, helping Meralco avoid vendor lock-in while future-proofing its infrastructure. The AMI system, part of Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, features a scalable, IPv6-based network that supports mesh and cellular communication. This technology enables near real-time, two-way data exchange between Meralco and its customers, allowing for more efficient operations, faster outage detection and restoration, and improved customer engagement.
“For a utility with such a large and diverse service territory, flexibility and scalability are essential,” said John Marcolini, Itron’s Senior Vice President of Networked Solutions. “We are excited to help Meralco modernize its grid and deliver more value to its customers.”
The partnership aligns with Meralco’s commitment to provide 24/7 reliable power to over eight million customers while investing in technologies that enhance network resilience, customer service, and long-term energy security.
