Meralco eyes underground power lines to address spaghetti wires

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Monday said it is considering relocating its power lines underground to address dangling wires and overhead cables.

“Actually, sa budget namin sa next five years, kasama na po yung malaking capex (capital expenditure) para sa pagbaba ng linya namin from overhead to underground. Hindi lang ho ito para ma-address yung spaghetti wires, kundi para sa storm hardening and storm resiliency po,” said Meralco chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on Meralco’s bid for a fresh 25-year franchise.

(Actually, in our budget for the next five years, it is already included in our capex to relocate the lines from the overhead to underground. This is not just to address the spaghetti wires, but also for storm hardening and storm resiliency.)

Meralco explained that with the implementation of work from home setup during the pandemic lockdown, many individuals applied for internet connection. Hence, internet service providers or telecommunication companies connected the lines to electrical posts.

“Sa sobrang dami, kailangan na talagang ayusin ni Meralco kasi maliban sa medyo hindi maganda tignan, nagiging risk sa mga facilities ni Meralco. Kapag nagkaroon ng overloading, pwedeng matumba yung mga poste namin at magkakaroon pa ng safety issues,” said Aperocho.

(With so many wires, Meralco really had to address them because aside from looking unsightly, they have become a risk to our facilities. If an overloading happens, our posts could tumble down and there could be safety issues.)

The Metro Manila Council has approved in principle a resolution in July  encouraging local government units in Metro Manila to pass ordinances that would regulate and monitor the installation of dangling wires and overhead cables to prevent possible hazards.

There were also bills filed in the House of Representatives that would require public utility providers to properly organize their sagging and dangling aerial utility wires, remove all non-operational or unused wires and cables, and relocate or replace post adhering to the specified allowable clearance of aerial wires and cables. —RF, GMA Integrated News