FEBRUARY 11, 2026 — Meralco is flipping the switch on the future. The country’s largest power distributor has signed a supply agreement with Aclara Meters, a subsidiary of Hubbell Inc., to deploy more than 72,000 smart meters this year. That’s just the opening salvo in a decade-long plan to roll out 12 million units across the Philippines.

What does this mean? Well, for starters, no more waiting for the “tao ng Meralco” to manually read your meter. These devices can transmit data in real time, detect outages instantly, and even allow remote connection or disconnection of services. In short, they promise transparency, efficiency, and a little less hassle in our daily lives.

Aclara’s Waldo Darvin said, “Our partnership with Meralco reflects our shared commitment to innovation that is practical, secure, scalable, and to operational excellence.” 

And Meralco’s EVP Ronnie Aperocho added, “For us in Meralco, smart meters are not simply electronic devices; they are enablers of transparency, efficiency, and innovation.”

The timing couldn’t be more crucial. With electric vehicles, residential batteries, and distributed energy resources slowly creeping into Filipino households, the grid is getting more complex. Meralco’s upcoming Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center (GEOCC) is designed to handle that complexity, ensuring that the system doesn’t collapse under the weight of modern demands.

Currently, Meralco has about 196,000 smart meters in operation across Metro Manila and nearby provinces. That’s a fraction of what’s coming. Imagine the impact when millions of homes and businesses can monitor their consumption with precision, manage costs better, and report outages without lifting a finger.

Of course, modernization always raises questions — about affordability, accessibility, and whether these benefits will truly trickle down to the average Filipino household. But one thing is clear: the power sector is finally catching up with the digital age, and Meralco is positioning itself at the center of that transformation.

So do you think smart meters will really empower Filipino consumers? Excited to get your hands on one?

(Image: Meralco)