Panay Electric Company (PECO) has bared the innovations in energy distribution that it initiated “to provide the best service and energy solutions” to its consumers.

“Being Iloilo’s partner for almost a hundred years, back when powerlines were still done manually, PECO has been continuously creating innovation in the pursuit of energy independence,” said PECO’s Public Engagement and Government Affairs head Marcelo Cacho during the Regional Business Conference in Bacolod City on Oct. 10.

“While the future of energy is in the power choice, the good news is that the future is now starting to happen here in the Visayas, particularly in Iloilo,” he further said.

PECO is Iloilo City’s sole power distributor. It’s 100% Filipino-owned private enterprise and the leading energy innovator in the Visayas.

“We would like to believe that in that span of time, we have been a major part of Iloilo’s journey towards development and economic prosperity,” Cacho said.

PECO believes that the future of energy is in the power of choice.

“We need the power of choice for the Philippines to move , natural gas, hydro, or coal–how much their electricity costs, and from whom they want to get it,” said Cacho who also serves as the President and convener of the Iloilo Utilities Group.

PECO launched its Smart Metering project whose benefits to the customers include prepaid metering, real-time wireless meter reading, automatic disconnection and reconnection, and an overall lowering of rates due to customer load profiling.

“Smart metering also empowers the customers through an online web portal where they can see their meter readings real-time, with meter reading updates every 15 meters,” he explained.

According to Cacho, some 2,000 smart meters have already been installed and another 2,000 will be delivered within the year.

PECO also introduced Net Metering, in which power consumers can install solar panel systems in their homes.

With this, the consumers can throw back to PECO any excess power generated by their solar panels which will then be credited to their regular electricity bill.

“Our net metering system further gives our consumers the power of choice, because now they can choose to generate their own electricity and save money in the process,”Cacho said.

The PECO officials also shared that PECO is on board with the Department of Energy (DOE) smart grid project.

“A smart grid is an electric system enhanced with innovative digital technologies that detect problems in the system and initiate self-healing processes,” he explained.

“With the smart grid, consumers can experience improved reliability, better service, and greater control over their energy use.”

Another PECO innovation in energy distribution is their “Pasa-Kuryente” service which allows solar panel owners to pass on to other consumers any excess power their system has generated or get a cash rebate.

“These are just some of the initiatives that PECO has done for the Ilonggos,” Cacho said

“But we’re not stopping there, because we believe that the people of Iloilo deserve a dynamic kind of service that is improved and enhanced as the years go by,” he assured.

“The government is already implementing regulations to support your power of choice, while there are many who are reluctant to that take on this, as someone who’s family has been doing for 95 years, I can tell you it can be done,” Cacho stressed.IMT