Brownout For 129,000 Meralco Customers

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) yesterday said that a total of 129,000 customers or 2.54 percent of its total customers remain without power after torrential rains pounded Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon over the week. Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco spokesman said, that of 10 a.m. Friday, Meralco power linesmen and workers are conducting round the clock operation to restore power in areas where there is still no electricity. “Our workers are doing everything they can to restore power back in areas still without electricity,” he said.

Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco spokesman said, among the areas still without power in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, and Laguna include:

· Manila: parts of Sta. Mesa, Binondo, Tondo, Sta. Cruz, Sampaloc, Gagalangin;

· Quezon City: parts of San Francisco Del Monte (SFDM); Mabuhay, New Manila, La Loma, San Jose, Balintawak, San Bartolome, Batasan, Greater Fairviw, Novaliches, President Quirino, Balara, Kamuning, Mabuhay, Katipunan, Pugad Lawin, Bahay Toro, Balong Bato, White Plains, and Sta. Monica;

· San Juan: Salapan, Batis, Malanday, Kabayan, Maytunas, San Perfecto, San Perfecto;

· Marikina City: Sto. Niño, Nangka, Malanday, Industrial Valley, Jesus Dela Peña, Tañong, Concepcion 1, Balite, Burgos, Rosario;

· Rodriguez (Montalban): San Jose, Ampid;

· San Mateo, Rizal: Dulong Bayan II, Guinang Bayan I and II, Maly, Ampid I, II, III; Banaba, Sta. Ana;

· Antipolo, Rizal: Mayamot, San Luis, Muntindilaw;

· Tanay, Rizal: San Isidro;

· Cainta, Rizal: Sto. Domingo, San Andres, San Juan, San Roque;

· Angono, Rizal: Angono, Kalayaan, Poblacion Ibaba, San Vicente;

· Pasig City: Sta. Lucia, San Joaquin, Manggahan, Dela Paz;

· Taguig City: Bagumbayan, Lower Bicutan, Fort Bonifacio, Upper Bicutan, Ususan;

· Makati City: Rizal;

· Mandaluyong City: Daang Bakal, Pag-asa, Harapin ang Bukas;

· Calupit, Bulacan: Pio Cruzcosa, Sta. Lucia, Mercado, San Agustin, San Isidro, San Jose, San Juan, Sta. Monica, Sto. Niño;

· Malolos City, Bulacan: Longos;

· Paombong, Nulacan: Sta. Cruz, Balungao, Bulusan, Calizon, Corazon, Gugo, Meysulao, Meyto, Panducot, San Jose, San Miguel, Sta. Lucia;

· Hagonoy, Bulacan: Tampok;

· Balagtas, Bulacan: Wawa, San Juan;

· Norzagaray, Bulacan: Bangkal, Poblacion;

· Obando, Bulacan: Catanghalan, Lawa;

· Meycauyan, Bulacan: Bancal, Lawa;

· Marilao, Bulacan: Ibayo, Sta. Rosa I, Bay, San Antonio, San Isidro;

· Los Baños, Laguna: Bayog;

· Sta. Cruz, Laguna: Sto. Angel Central, Gatid, Binan (town proper), Canlalay;

· Biñan, Laguna: Dela Paz, Sto. Tomas, Malaban, Mamatid;

· Cabuyao, Laguna: Looc;

· Calamba, Laguna: Sampiruhan, Cuyab, Landayan, San Antonio;

· San Pedro, Laguna: San Roque, Landayan;

· Sta. Rosa, Laguna: Caingin;

· Muntinlupa City: Buli, Cupang, Poblacion, Putatan, Tunasan, Bayanan;

· Las Piñas City: Manuyo I;

· Malabon City: Potrero, Tinajeros, Maysilo, Baritan, Dagat-Dagatan, Panghulo;

· Caloocan City: Sta. Quiteria, Bagong Barrio, Grace Park;

· Valenzuela City: Caruhatan, Marulas, Lingunan, Veinte Reales, Dalandan, Balangkas, Bisig, Coloong, Isla, Mabolo, Malanday, Palasan, Pariancillo Villa, Pasolo, Pulo, Tagalag, Malanday, Caruhatan, Marulas, Hen T. De Leon, Palasan.

Zaldarriaga said Meralco is also conducting line-to-line inspection to guarantee public safety prior to the restoration of power.

He also advised customers to call Meralco hotline number 16211 or text to 09209716211 (Smart) or 09175516211 (Globe) if their electric meter was submerged in water.

Customers may also call the Meralco hotline number if they need the services of a licensed electrician.

source: mb.com.ph

Prepaid electricity may cost Meralco customers P25 billion a month

MANILA, Philippines - The government stands to gain P25 billion each month from prepaid electricity - an amount that can plug the Philippines' P279 billion full-year budget deficit. The catch is, customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) would have to fork out that amount.

Prepaid electricity is a scheme that would allow Meralco customers to manage their consumption, in the same way prepaid plans allow telecom subscribers to rationalize their mobile phone use.

However, each of the five million Meralco customers would have to shell out a P3,000 registration fee and between P500 and P1,000 a month to subscribe to prepaid electricity, said Marthyn Cuan, the company's chief information officer. These represent costs for the prepaid meters, which have communications components that are regulated and thus levied fees by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

"We'd like to waive it but we have to get clearance from Department of Finance and the Office of the President," Cuan said.

"NTC understands na hindi naman namin ito ibebenta ng per minute calls. It's for the use of the equipment. That's why we're very optimistic we can get it waived, we just need government awareness na hey, we have to get our acts together or the consumers will bear the brunt," he added.

Meralco plans to conduct a technical test for prepaid electricity in July in preparation for a much wider commercial pilot project. The utility is preparing its 'smart grid' technology as a platform for the prepaid service.

source: interaksyon.com