MANILA — Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said it is prepared to work with the government on the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for reforms in the power sector.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, Marcos proposed amending the EPIRA to stop the collection of system loss charges from electricity consumers and address other issues affecting the power industry.

Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie Aperocho said the distribution utility supports discussions on the proposed amendments.

“We respect President Marcos’ policy direction and will actively participate in the discussions as the proposed amendments to the EPIRA are deliberated,” Aperocho said in a statement.

He said system loss is a common operational aspect of electricity distribution and is not unique to Meralco.

“We believe it is important to recognize that system loss is not unique to any distribution utility but is a common operational aspect of the delivery of electricity, which affects the entire power industry,” he said.

Aperocho added that while Meralco continues to modernize its facilities and deploy technologies to reduce system losses, some technical losses remain unavoidable in operating an electric distribution network.

He said the company continues to invest in system loss management, network modernization, and operational efficiency, allowing it to keep system loss below the 6.5-percent cap set by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Aperocho also expressed hope that lawmakers would consider the effects of the proposed reforms on the operations and financial sustainability of distribution utilities.

He said such reforms should also support the ability of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to maintain operations, invest in infrastructure and system resilience, and provide safe and reliable electricity service.

“Meralco will continue working closely with the government, regulators, legislators and other industry stakeholders in pursuing reforms that enhance consumer protection and strengthen the power industry,” he said.