‘MORE POWER, HIGHER TECH’: MEPC assures reliable smarter service expansion in 2026

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MEPC/MORE Power) is reinforcing its commitment to reliable, improved, and smarter electricity service as it prepares to expand operations across Iloilo City and surrounding municipalities in 2026.

Company officials said the expansion will go hand in hand with continued investments in infrastructure and technology to ensure that customers experience tangible improvements in service quality.

For one, MORE Power will ramp up the use of artificial intelligence and Advanced Metering Infrastructure, enabling remote reconnection and real-time system monitoring across Iloilo City and nearby municipalities.

The utility said the technology-driven push is designed to eliminate long waits for reconnection, improve response times to outages, and allow customers to better understand and manage their electricity use.

MORE Power President and CEO Roel Z. Castro said the company is doubling down on innovation as it expands its franchise, with the goal of making improvements that consumers can immediately feel.

He explained that the company wants customers to clearly see the value of what they are paying for through tangible service upgrades and the adoption of modern, data-driven systems.

Castro clarified that MORE Power’s direction goes beyond the original five-year development plan set at the start of its operations.

He said the company is now preparing additional development programs that will directly benefit consumers once substations and primary distribution lines are fully upgraded and in place.

“There are new customer programs that we will be launching and improving this year here in Iloilo, as well as in our expansion areas, to ensure excellent service. This is how we justify what consumers pay for their electricity—through the quality of service we provide. At the same time, we will continue working to keep our rates among the lowest for our consumers,” Castro said.

One of the most anticipated upgrades is the expanded use of artificial intelligence to collect and analyze system data through centralized servers.

MORE Power said the AI-driven platform will allow the utility to detect issues faster, anticipate potential disruptions, and respond more efficiently to consumer concerns.

A key complement to this initiative is the planned implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI.

Through AMI, customers will be able to track their energy consumption more easily, giving them better insight into how and when they use electricity.

Once fully implemented, AMI will also enable remote reconnection through MORE Power’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system.

This means customers will no longer have to wait hours for physical reconnections, as service can be restored remotely once requirements are met.

Alongside digital upgrades, MORE Power continues to invest heavily in physical infrastructure to support growing demand and system reliability.

The company currently operates eight substations with a combined capacity of 252.2 megavolt-amperes.

One additional substation is targeted for completion in 2026 to further strengthen the distribution network.

MORE Power also plans to improve its energy mix by increasing the use of renewable energy sources.

The company said this strategy is intended to help keep electricity prices reasonable while supporting sustainability and long-term supply stability.

Castro noted that MORE Power’s expansion beyond Iloilo City has been largely driven by consumer demand rather than top-down planning.

“If you remember, the expansion to the 2nd and 4th districts was driven by the consumers themselves. The reason for migration is really the kind of service we provide—very transparent, very open, and always present for our customers. We work to solve problems as fast and as reliably as possible,” he said.

MORE Power has already begun supplying electricity to new areas in Iloilo Province, starting with Pavia and the University of St. La Salle campus.

Several other establishments are preparing to migrate to MORE Power once all requirements are completed.

The company also plans to extend service to the municipalities of San Miguel and Sta. Barbara in the near term.

MORE Power said its combined investments in artificial intelligence, smart metering, substations, and renewable energy are aimed at ensuring that reliability and service quality keep pace with the company’s expansion in 2026 and beyond.

Company officials added that these initiatives position Iloilo City and nearby towns closer to a smart-city future, where technology not only improves convenience but also strengthens trust between the utility and its consumers.