Meralco plans smart meter rollout in 2027 under P33.4 billion AMI program

Traders Union
All News
Business & Wealth
Companies
Meralco smart meter rollout 2027

Highlights

Meralco plans to deploy 280,000 to 420,000 smart meters in 2027 with spending estimated at P4 billion to P4.6 billion under its AMI program.
The Energy Regulatory Commission approved P33.4 billion in AMI investments as part of Meralco's P229.45 billion capital expenditures from July 2026 to June 2030.
Meralco targets about 12 million smart meters in the next 10 years, expanding service beyond the 196,000 currently deployed to over 8.3 million customers.

2027 rollout plan and approved investment framework

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, Manila Electric Co. plans to install 280,000 to 420,000 smart meters in 2027, with spending estimated at P4 billion to P4.6 billion under its advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, program.

Meralco Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho says the rollout is aligned with the approved capital expenditure for the company’s AMI program. He says the spending covers not only smart meters, but also the communications, systems, and cybersecurity infrastructure needed to support the platform.

The planned deployment sits within Meralco’s first regulatory period from July 2026 to June 2030. In a decision promulgated on Oct. 26, the Energy Regulatory Commission approved about P33.4 billion in AMI investments, part of total approved capital expenditures of P229.45 billion for the same four-year period to improve network reliability and reduce system losses.

Utility modernization and regional service impact

AMI combines smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems to enable two-way communication between distributors and customers. The technology allows remote meter reading, service disconnection and reconnection, and automatic outage detection, which can improve operating efficiency and response times.

Meralco began exploring advanced metering technologies in 2012, initially focusing on prepaid meters before developing a separate AMI project for postpaid customers. In February, it signed a two-year supply agreement with Aclara Meters Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S.-based Hubbell, Inc., to deploy more than 72,000 smart meters across its franchise area.

The broader AMI program targets about 12 million smart meters over the next decade. Meralco currently has about 196,000 smart meters deployed and serves more than 8.3 million customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces including Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and parts of Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, and Quezon.

In our earlier article on the Philippines’ planned sovereign bond reforms and expected inclusion in J.P. Morgan’s Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets in January 2027, we explained how these steps could broaden the investor base and improve liquidity. We also noted that market modernization alone does not guarantee stronger real-economy investment unless it is supported by fiscal credibility and wider structural improvements such as competitive infrastructure, better governance, and a deeper domestic investor base.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.