Subic EnerZone Corp., the AboitizPower-led electricity distributor at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, is preparing network upgrades to accommodate rising power demand as the economic hub expands, following a 25-year extension of its partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
Jay Navarro, Subic EnerZone officer-in-charge president and general manager, said the utility is planning system improvements and reliability measures to support new economic activity and Subic’s role in the Luzon Economic Corridor.
“Looking ahead, we are ready for Subic’s growth. Our demand and capacity forecasts project a steady rise in power needs,” Navarro said.
He added that Subic’s emergence as the corridor’s global gateway could significantly alter demand projections, underscoring the need to prepare the distribution network for higher electricity requirements.
The company, however, has yet to disclose the planned upgrades’ investment cost, additional distribution capacity or implementation timetable, leaving the scale and pace of the proposed improvements unclear.
Subic EnerZone has operated the Freeport’s distribution system since October 2003. As of Feb. 28, 2026, it served more than 3,750 customers, spanning industrial and commercial locators, residential consumers and streetlights.
The utility reported system losses of 4.37 percent at the end of 2025, below the government’s 5.50 percent ceiling for private distribution utilities. While the figure indicates compliance with the regulatory benchmark, meeting future demand will also require sufficient network capacity and reliable service as industrial activity grows.
Anton Mari G. Perdices, AboitizPower chief executive officer for distribution utilities, said the extended partnership would involve planning with SBMA to reinforce the network and prepare for changing requirements.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the existing contract was due to expire in 2028, but the agency pursued an early renewal to respond to evolving regional needs.
AboitizPower held a 99.98 percent direct and indirect stake in Subic EnerZone as of February, positioning the power group to support the distributor’s next phase of development.
