In a significant move towards modernizing the rural electrification sector, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has initiated a pilot project for smart metering in six selected areas. The project was officially launched with a ceremonial switch at INEC’s main office in Dingras, attended by key figures including National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan.
The pilot areas for this advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) include the towns of Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc, and the city of Laoag. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of energy consumption measurement and billing.
Smart meters, which will be installed in these locations, are designed to record energy usage at frequent intervals and transmit this data directly and securely to the energy distributor. This eliminates the need for manual meter readings and allows for billing based on actual, rather than estimated, consumption. Additionally, the system is expected to improve response times to power-related incidents and reduce transmission losses.
INEC’s acting general manager, Cipriano Martinez, highlighted the potential financial benefits of the AMI, noting that current transmission losses account for 10-20% of the PHP200 million monthly payments to power generators. With the implementation of smart meters, INEC aims to reduce these losses and save on costs, given the region’s average monthly consumption of 34 million kilowatts.
Ilocos Norte, known as the home of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the birthplace of the rural electrification program under former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, is strategically chosen as a pilot site. The success of this project could pave the way for broader adoption across the Philippines.
Martinez also mentioned that while the initial investment for the pilot project would be managed by INEC, the cooperative plans to expand the installation if the pilot proves successful.