New MORE Power substation to ease City Proper low voltage

ILOILO CITY — MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) is fast-tracking the completion of its General Hughes Substation in the City Proper District, with energization targeted before the end of 2026.

The power distributor said the project aims to give consumers in the district a reliable power supply before the year closes.

The new substation is a key component of MORE Power’s modernization program, which seeks to expand its facilities and strengthen its capacity to meet rising power demand in the City Proper District.

Once operational, the substation is expected to address low-voltage concerns and improve the overall power distribution network.

MORE Power said the project involves a significant investment covering the construction of the substation and the installation of a 69-kilovolt (kV) line spanning 4.3 circuit kilometers.

The General Hughes Substation will incorporate advanced technology, including thermal cameras to monitor equipment hotspots and a built-in on-load tap changer to regulate voltage.

The substation’s 30/36-megavolt-ampere (MVA) power transformer was imported from Vietnam on Oct. 8, 2026.

Ronaldo Torres, MORE Power chief operating officer, said substations are typically placed at the center of a service area to serve nearby customers, but the General Hughes Substation was sited specifically to address low-voltage concerns in the City Proper District.

If completed by year-end, the substation will serve consumers in the City Proper District, Iloilo City Hall, the new city markets, and nearby customers, Torres said.

Once construction is finished, MORE Power’s substations will have a combined capacity of 288.5 MVA.

The company said the expanded capacity will allow it to accommodate additional electricity demand while maintaining enough capacity for future growth and keeping its substations within a safe and optimal loading level of 60% to 70%.

The General Hughes facility was among the projects MORE Power earlier lined up alongside a new Banuyao substation and the rehabilitation of the La Paz substation as part of its push to modernize the city’s power infrastructure.

MORE Power has built five new substations over the years to meet the growing needs of its consumers.

It also rehabilitated the Molo, Jaro, and Mandurriao substations, three deteriorated facilities inherited from previous operator Panay Electric Company (PECO), which held the city’s distribution franchise before MORE Power took over in 2020.

The company described the new facility as part of its proactive measures to prepare for a potential increase in electricity demand as Iloilo City’s economy continues to grow.

MORE Power currently serves 105,210 consumers, a figure the company said is steadily rising as it expands into the province of Iloilo.

The distribution utility said this expansion, along with a growing number of applications from consumers seeking to switch to its service, reflects their trust and confidence in the company.