MORE Power joins U.S. smart grid deep dive

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE Electric and Power Corporation has been selected to join a reverse trade mission to the United States, reinforcing the Iloilo-based utility’s growing role in power distribution modernization and smart grid development in the Philippines.

The reverse trade mission, organized by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, brings together selected Philippine power sector leaders to learn about modern U.S. approaches to power generation, distribution, and the use of artificial intelligence in grid operations.

MORE Power is among a limited number of distribution utilities invited nationwide, giving the company direct access to advanced technologies and best practices that could be adopted to further improve power reliability and efficiency in Iloilo.

The delegation also includes officials from the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission, reflecting the coordination between regulators and private utilities in strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure.

Since taking over distribution operations in Iloilo City, MORE Power has positioned itself as a utility focused on system upgrades, operational efficiency, and customer service improvements, setting it apart as a relatively new but fast-moving player in the power sector.

The company has rolled out extensive rehabilitation of distribution lines and substations, reduced system losses, and implemented modern metering and billing systems aimed at improving transparency and service reliability for consumers.

MORE Power has also invested in digital technologies and automation to enhance grid monitoring and response, aligning its operations with broader national goals of smart grid adoption and energy resilience.

Building on these gains, MORE Power has recently expanded its operations beyond Iloilo City to serve areas in Iloilo province, marking a major milestone in its growth as a regional distribution utility.

The provincial expansion extends the company’s modernization model to additional municipalities, allowing MORE Power to apply its infrastructure upgrade program, operational efficiencies, and customer-focused systems to a wider consumer base.

The expansion is seen as a validation of MORE Power’s operational track record and a strategic move that supports broader regional development by improving power reliability across Iloilo province.

USTDA said the reverse trade mission aims to help modernize the Philippine energy sector and strengthen smart grid technology, while opening opportunities for partnerships between U.S. technology providers and Philippine utilities such as MORE Power.

Through the initiative, U.S. firms are expected to share best practices and solutions that could attract new investments and support efforts to modernize aging grid infrastructure across the Philippines.

The reverse trade mission is scheduled from Feb. 1 to 11 and will include visits to power and technology companies in San Diego and Silicon Valley in California, as well as engagements in Washington, D.C.

Participants will also attend the DTECH conference and visit the Stanford Central Energy Facility, a model facility known for advanced energy efficiency and integrated power systems.

“Electricity demand in the Philippines is expected to double by 2040, necessitating strong investment in the country’s smart grid infrastructure,” according to the USTDA. “As a leading developer and deployer of smart grid technologies and services, the U.S. private sector is well-positioned to become a long-term commercial partner to the Philippines’ distribution utilities and regulators as they modernize, digitalize and strengthen the grid infrastructure across generation, transmission, and distribution systems.”

“This RTM offers U.S. firms early visibility into upcoming projects, procurement pipelines, and partnership opportunities—helping position companies ahead of future tenders and USTDA-supported engagements,” the agency added.

Power sector components expected to benefit from the mission include advanced distribution management systems, advanced metering infrastructure, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, data centers, distribution automation, energy stability solutions, hyperscale energy corridors, and supervisory control and data acquisition systems.