Meralco: At least 20 power outages recorded on Election Day

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor, said at least 20 outage incidents were recorded in its franchise area on Election Day, May 9.

“We have so far recorded 20 outage incidents, most of which were isolated troubles,” Meralco said in a statement, adding that the outages “were immediately addressed and restored accordingly.”

The power distributor said the affected sites were the following:

• Metro Manila: Sta. Ana, Sta. Mesa, and Tondo in Manila, Valenzuela City, Batasan in Quezon City, and Talon in Las Piñas City
• Cavite: Cavite City, Naic, and Amadeo
• Batangas: Batangas City
• Bulacan: Hagonoy, San Francisco, San Jose del Monte
• Rizal: Antipolo and Cainta

“As of 12 noon, power has been fully restored in all affected areas,” it said.

Meralco said it would be on “full alert until the conclusion of the elections.”

“Our crew, field personnel and customer care groups immediately respond to calls from election officers,” the company said.

The National Electrification Administration, meanwhile, recorded 201 power interruptions nationwide from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 9. 

To avoid incidents of overloading, Meralco reminded volunteers manning the polling precincts “not to bring additional appliances like electric fans and electric kettles.”

“Nonetheless, our customers can rest assured that we have contingency measures in place so that we can immediately address any emergency and trouble,” the company said.

“We have more than 270 generator sets and more than 500 flood lights ready to be deployed,” it added.

Meralco said it has round-the-clock operations and will continue monitoring electricity service in the election sites across its franchise area.

Meralco’s franchise area covers 36 cities and 75 municipalities, including those in Metro Manila, the provinces of Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, and portions of the provinces of Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon. —VBL, GMA News