MORE Power rolls out modern control and data system

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has officially commenced operations of its new control tower, which is at the heart of a pioneering centralized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the first in Panay.

This technological leap is set to bring a multitude of benefits to the consumers of Iloilo, as declared by MORE Power president and CEO Roel Castro during a press conference on Thursday.

The SCADA system is poised to revolutionize the distribution utility’s operations by enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities, thus greatly reducing turnaround times and unplanned outages.

It integrates advanced software, hardware, and intelligent programming to serve as the central nervous system of the distribution network, providing automated data recording, fault detection, maintenance forecasting, and energy sourcing optimization.

“The SCADA system will be the key feature of the control center, which will bring many benefits to the consumers in Iloilo,” Castro added.

The centralized SCADA system will give MORE Power the capability to monitor real-time operations for the control center to react in seconds. It features automated data recording, instantaneous default detection, a 24/7 helpline, predictive maintenance activities, and optimizing energy sourcing.

“It is a harmony of software, hardware, and intelligent programming that allows the monitoring, control, data recording, and forecasting of MORE Power’s system. It serves as the brain of the distribution system,” Castro added.

MILESTONES

This innovation comes on the heels of MORE Power’s impressive strides in service enhancement, as evidenced by a significant 84% reduction in the frequency of power interruptions and a 76% decrease in their duration from 2021 to 2023, excluding scheduled and supplier-related interruptions.

This achievement showcases MORE Power’s dedication to delivering consistent and reliable electricity to Iloilo City, while excluding scheduled and supplier-related interruptions, Castro said.

Starting operations with a system loss (SL) of 30% at the end of March 2020, MORE Power has made dramatic reductions, bringing down the SL to an impressive 7.11% by December 2023.

This substantial decrease of 24.67% in under four years reflects the company’s commitment to minimizing energy wastage and optimizing distribution efficiency.

MORE Power has also seen a surge in captive customer connections, demonstrating an annual growth rate (AGR) of 14.20% in 2021, 7.03% in 2022, and 3.38% in 2023.

A customer-centric approach, coupled with a 32.63% AGR in annual megawatt-hour (MWh) sales in 2021, highlights the expanding reach and reliability of MORE Power.

INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT

Investing in infrastructure, MORE Power replaced and installed over 4,883 poles and 993 distribution transformers (DTs) from March 2020 to December 2023.

These enhancements, including more than 1,570 new concrete pole installations, have fortified the power infrastructure to cater to the growing demands of the city.

The company’s introduction of 45 automatic circuit reclosers and 22 load break switches since 2021 illustrates a leap in network management.

These devices ensure the continuity of service and quick recovery from transient faults, emphasizing MORE Power’s proactive approach to modernizing its network.

 

MODERNIZATION PLAN IN FULL SWING

With a 5-year modernization plan, MORE Power has invested in primary and secondary line projects, reflecting over 31.57 km of reconductoring to enhance the power distribution network’s robustness and resilience.

MORE Power’s system capacity has grown to meet the peak demands, which has risen to 222.5 MVA, ensuring that the city’s burgeoning energy needs are met without compromising on service quality.

In the realm of consumer costs, MORE Power has managed to provide competitive electricity rates. The average residential rate for December 2023 is lower than the previous months, a testament to the company’s efforts to offer affordable energy.