Meralco upgrades Makati power facilities

Manila Times.net
Published : Saturday, November 05, 2011 00:00 Written by : Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo


MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) has upgraded its Legazpi substation in Makati City in an effort to keep pace with the financial district’s robust growth.
Ricardo Buencamino, Meralco executive vice president and networks head, said that the utility recently commissioned an additional 83-megavolt ampere power transformer at the said facility.


“The recently completed project will not just bring additional capacity, but will also further improve network reliability, switching flexibility and power quality,” he said.


The Legazpi substation was commissioned in 2006 with an initial capacity of 166-megavolt ampere and currently loaded at 70 percent.


The additional 83-megavolt ampere transformer capacity upgrades the Legazpi substation to its full capacity of 249-megavolt ampere, which will be sufficient to meet the increasing power requirements in the area to support the ongoing upscale redevelopment of Ayala Center.


Initially, the power transformer will service the electricity requirements of the newly constructed distribution feeder that will serve prime customers along Sotto and Dela Rosa Streets.


Line construction works are also under way for the commissioning of two additional feeders along Valero and San Agustin Streets within the year, and a fourth feeder along Gabildo Street by early next year.


Customers that will benefit from these projects are the Indonesian Embassy, GSIS, Medical Towers, Ayala Center (Glorietta 3, 4 & 5), Philamlife Tower, JG Summit, Insular Life Building, PBCom, Smart, Globe Telecom, PLDT, Philippine Stock Exchange, Makati Medical Center, Greenbelt, Rustan’s Commercial Corp., and Robinsons Land Corp.


Said investment also supports Glorietta 1 and 2, District (Ayala Center) Cooling System, Fairmont Hotel, Raffles Suites and Residences, which have a combined power requirement of 32 megavolt ampere and are all part of the ongoing redevelopment of Ayala Center.


Last October 30, 2011, Meralco likewise commissioned a new 8.7 kilometer Balintawak-Sta. Mesa 115 kilovolt power line that will bring additional capacity and further improve reliability of its subtransmission system by drawing power from its Balintawak substation.|


Buencamino said, “Other significant projects, particularly the expansion of Diliman substation and development of the New Calamba substation inside the Light Industry Science Park II are also expected to be completed within the year.”