OF COURSE, we are talking about Iloilo City’s sole power distribution utility, MORE Electric and Power Corporation — better known as MORE Power. The question now is: what more do they have in store for the city and its consumers?
The plan, at its core, is simple — keep improving customer service. That means rolling out smarter technologies to ensure that operations run more efficiently and reliably.
Clearly, the company is not slowing down. Instead, it is doubling down on its promise to deliver stable, high-quality electricity — not only within Iloilo City but also in the surrounding municipalities covered by its expanded franchise.
At present, MORE Power is preparing additional development programs that are expected to directly benefit consumers. This is just one of many initiatives in the pipeline.
Recently, MORE Electric and Power Corporation was selected as one of the few major players in the Philippine power industry to join the Philippine delegation to the United States for a reverse trade mission organized by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The immersion study, held from Feb. 1 to 11, 2026, focuses on strengthening grid infrastructure.
The initiative, organized by USTDA, aims to provide participants with insights into the United States’ modern approach to power generation and distribution, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Such technologies could prove highly beneficial if applied in the Philippines. Of primary importance is addressing the country’s energy security needs through strategic partnerships with the United States.
Among the invitees were officials from the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and MORE Power — Iloilo City’s power distributor.
USTDA’s objective is to help modernize the Philippine energy sector and strengthen the country’s smart grid capabilities.
During the mission, representatives visited various American power companies in San Diego and Silicon Valley, California, as well as in Washington, D.C. They also participated in the DTECH conference and toured the Stanford Central Energy Facility.
As USTDA explained:
“Electricity demand in the Philippines is expected to double by 2040, necessitating strong investment in the country’s smart grid infrastructure. As a leading developer and deployer of smart grid technologies and services, the U.S. private sector is well-positioned to become a long-term commercial partner to the Philippines’ distribution utilities and regulators as they modernize, digitalize and strengthen the grid infrastructure across generation, transmission, and distribution systems. This Reverse Trade Mission offers U.S. firms early visibility into upcoming projects, procurement pipelines, and partnership opportunities — helping position companies ahead of future tenders and USTDA-supported engagements.”
Among the key components that stand to benefit from this collaboration are:
* Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS)
* Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
* Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
* Data Centers
* Distribution Automation
* Energy Stability Solutions
But there is still more from MORE.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has recently approved amendments to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers. These revisions aim to strengthen consumers’ fundamental right to electric service and introduce more flexible, transparent, and consumer-friendly rules regarding bill deposits and refunds.
One key amendment simplifies the requirements for new residential electricity service applications, limiting them to only essential documents — a move designed to make access to electricity more straightforward.
The revised rules also strengthen consumers’ right to refunds of bill deposits by institutionalizing automatic refund mechanisms. Residential consumers who qualify for a 100 percent discount under the ERC-administered Lifeline Program will automatically receive refunds of their bill deposits. These refunds will be credited to their subsequent monthly bills without requiring a separate application, until the full amount is returned.
Furthermore, residential consumers who have consistently paid their electricity bills on or before the due date for two consecutive years will automatically qualify for a refund of their bill deposits, including accrued interest. Under the amended rules, distribution utilities are required to automatically apply these refunds to consumers’ monthly bills.
Notably, even before the ERC formally adopted these amendments, Primelectric — particularly MORE Power — had already been implementing similar consumer-friendly measures./PN
