BREATHING ROOM: MORE Power Boosts Reliability in New Arevalo Substation

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has energized its temporary 10/12.5 megavolt-ampere (MVA) Arevalo Mobile Substation, boosting system reliability and easing the load on Iloilo City’s Molo and Megaworld substations.

The PHP11.5 million facility, inaugurated on June 20, will enhance power distribution for nearly 12,000 customers in the Arevalo district.

MORE Power Chief Operating Officer Engr. JM Zaporteza said the project is part of the company’s strategy to manage feeder loading and prepare for future demand.

“To manage the loading of our feeders, we are making sure that they are operating within safe limits,” Zaporteza said.

He added that while existing substations are stable, the added capacity serves as a proactive solution.

“We predict that in a matter of months or a couple of years, demand will increase, and we are getting ahead of it so we’re ready anytime our consumers need it,” he said.

Engr. Armil Logarta, head of project management and development, said the substation will improve power quality in Arevalo, which is situated at the load-end of MORE Power’s franchise area.

He said the facility will also support faster restoration during outages, thanks to the company’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows for real-time rerouting of electricity in case of equipment failure.

MORE Power is also planning a permanent substation in Arevalo with a projected 30/36 MVA capacity, estimated to cost PHP121 million.

The firm is currently scouting for a site to build the permanent structure, which will support expected demand from growth areas such as Sunset Boulevard.

“We expect that with this temporary facility, the available capacity will attract more demand in the area,” Zaporteza said.

“And it won’t take long before this district will need a large substation like the one in Megaworld.”

The company is also planning new substations in General Hughes and Banuyao, along with the rehabilitation of the La Paz substation, as part of its broader effort to modernize Iloilo City’s power infrastructure.