PLDT, Smart Join Meralco’s MPower in Clean Energy Shift
- July 24, 2025
PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, are activating a total of 144 cell sites and nine facilities through a new partnership with MPower, the retail electricity arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), under the government’s Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).
The PLDT Group has consolidated an energy demand of more than 2,500 kilowatts across its integrated network to participate in the initiative, which allows multiple users within the same franchise area to pool their electricity needs and access the retail electricity market.
(Also read: RCOA energy customers save P18.57B in 2024)
Aligned for progress
In a joint statement, the companies emphasized the significance of linking two essential utilities—power and connectivity.
“Our Group has always believed that national progress depends on two essential foundations: reliable power and strong digital connectivity,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and CEO of PLDT, Smart, and Meralco. “Both are critical to ensuring that our people—especially those on the margins—have access to opportunity.”
Pangilinan added that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to improving service delivery while aligning corporate resources to benefit customers.
(Also read: SM Retail plugs into 100% clean energy with MPower)
Greener network, smarter operations
The partnership also supports PLDT and Smart’s ongoing shift toward sustainable energy practices.
“As we future-proof our network to deliver 5G and AI capabilities to our customers, we are also mindful of the cost of operating the network and our impact on the environment,” said Menardo Jimenez, Jr., PLDT’s Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network.
“This partnership with MPower will allow us to operate a smarter and greener network and manage our energy costs, all in a manner that is kinder to the planet,” he continued.
(Also read: The Power of Competition Ensuring Affordable and Reliable Energy)
Building on clean energy efforts
The companies’ participation in RAP follows previous efforts to transition to renewable energy. In 2023, PLDT and Smart shifted 30 network sites to run entirely on renewables—24 in Metro Manila and six in Mindanao. They also began sourcing geothermal energy for five facilities in the Visayas
These moves align with broader national energy goals while helping major network operators manage energy use more efficiently.
“To see PLDT and Smart backed by Meralco and MPower—names that have become ubiquitous and integral to the daily lives of Filipinos—embrace RAP sends a very strong message. For one, it tells the country that even the biggest players with the widest reach and deepest roots can make courageous decisions in support of a more open, inclusive, and competitive energy market,” said outgoing Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta.
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