Meralco said Advanced Metering Infrastructure using High-Speed Power Line Carrier Communication (AMI-HPLC) could provide more timely information on conditions across its low-voltage network, helping improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of electricity service.
Meralco senior vice president and head of networks Froilan J. Savet discussed the technology during Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 17.
Grid visibility
HPLC uses existing power lines to support data communication with smart meters, allowing AMI to provide greater visibility into the utility's low-voltage network.
The technology can provide information that could help Meralco detect outages, verify service restoration and monitor system losses.
It can also support energy balancing and give the utility a clearer picture of transformer loading and other conditions within its low-voltage network.
Such visibility is becoming increasingly important as distribution systems grow more complex with the addition of energy resources and devices located closer to customers.
Faster decisions
Meralco said the expanded network visibility would also help lay the groundwork for its planned Grid-Edge Operations and Control Center (GEOCC).
The facility is envisioned to consolidate information from across the grid edge, giving network operators a broader view of system conditions and allowing them to make faster and better-informed operational decisions.
The grid edge generally refers to the part of the electricity system closest to consumers, where the distribution network interacts with smart meters, distributed energy resources and other customer-side technologies.
Future-ready grid
Meralco is preparing its distribution network for the continued expansion of rooftop solar installations, electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems and other emerging technologies.
As more of these technologies are connected to the distribution network, Meralco expects AMI-HPLC and the planned GEOCC to help it better understand grid conditions and respond to changes while maintaining the quality and reliability of electricity service.
The initiatives form part of the power distributor's continuing network modernization efforts as it adopts digital technologies to improve operations and respond to changing customer and energy requirements. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
