Introduction:
The Manila Electric Company (PSE: MER and MERB), also known as MERALCO or Meralco, is the Philippines' largest distributor of electrical power. It is called MERALCO because it means (ME)tro(R)egional(A)nggat(L)ighting(CO)operative, from the Anggat Hydro-Electric Dynamo Facility in the old days. It is Metro Manila's only electric power distributor and holds the power distribution franchise for 22 cities and 89 municipalities, including the whole of the National Capital Region and the exurbs that form Mega Manila.
The name "Meralco" is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light COmpany
A. Rationale of the Study
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) operates the electricity distribution franchise in Metro Manila and the entire provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite; and portions of Laguna, Quezon, Batangas and Pampanga. With over 4.8 million customers and 30,247 GWh of energy sales in 2010, it is one of Southeast Asia’s largest distribution utility.
The franchise area of Meralco is home to 25.5 million people, roughly a quarter of the entire Philippine population of 94 million, and it is within Meralco's service area where almost half of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is produced, one-third from Metro Manila alone. Consequently, 54% of the total electricity usage in the Philippines, or almost three-fourths of all electricity used in Luzon, is consumed in the Meralco area.
Meralco also has majority ownership on Rockwell Land Corporation, known for its upscale real estate developments in Makati City, Pasig and Ortigas. Other subsidiaries of include Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation, Corporate Information Solutions, Inc., Meralco Energy, Inc., e-Meralco Ventures, Inc., Meralco Financial Services Corporation, and Clark Electric Distribution Corporation, all of which play a supporting role on the distribution business.
Reference:
1. ^ Martinez, Glenn. "Old street names of Manila". Traveller on foot.