Meralco taking power lines underground

MANILA, Philippines — The unsightly power lines that have long marred tourist spots across Metro Manila and nearby provinces may soon vanish, as Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) accelerates its plan to bury them underground.

Meralco networks head Froilan Savet said the utility giant intends to put up 1,500 circuit kilometers of underground systems within its franchise area to improve network resiliency and eliminate tangled overhead power and telco lines.

“We have identified sites for underground cabling, particularly key value areas such as the financial district, commercial centers, heritage sites, tourist spots and, importantly for resiliency, locations frequently hit by typhoons,” he said in a recent interview.

Flood-prone areas, however, pose challenges because civil works must be coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ flood-control projects, Savet said.

Asked about the timeline, the Meralco official said the initiative is slated for rollout by 2030, subject to permitting and right-of-way clearances from local government units and other relevant agencies.

In terms of investment, Savet said the company is projected to spend 10 times more on implementing underground cabling compared to overhead power lines.

“It (underground cabling) can be done. It’s not impossible, but it’s a very complex project,” he said, adding that implementation is much easier in newly developed locations or areas without existing power lines.

Currently, Meralco’s distribution network includes 567 circuit kilometers of underground cables, covering key areas such as Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Rockwell in Makati, parts of Bridgetowne in Pasig, Vertis North in Quezon City and select locations in Manila and Pasay.

According to Savet, underground cabling offers long-term benefits for consumers as it is far less vulnerable to disruptions from strong winds, typhoons and man-made accidents compared to overhead lines.

While more prone to damage, he said, overhead cables are quicker to repair as issues can be easily identified and addressed, especially during natural disasters such as earthquakes.

“If the earthquake’s (epicenter) is close, the ground could crack and damage the underground cables, and the power restoration would be long. It is more difficult to restore underground cables than overhead lines,” he said.

For 2025, Meralco has set aside around P23 billion to strengthen the resilience of its distribution network as part of efforts to ensure reliable and quality electric service for its over eight million customers.