With the continuing push for sustainability, more and more Philippine businesses have started utilizing solar energy in their operations. The benefits of this clean energy technology have become even more pronounced with the increasing interest from residential customers who want to save on electricity costs and embrace a more environment-friendly lifestyle.

Take for instance Jun Umali, president and CEO of Gardenia Philippines. Some years ago, Umali envisioned to have a house powered by solar energy as part of his personal goal of having a sustainable home.

He tapped the services of Spectrum, the solar power company owned by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), for the solar-powered rooftop of his newly built home in Muntinlupa City. In June 2018, Spectrum completed the installation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) facility with a total capacity of 6.16 kilowatt-peak (kWp), allowing Umali to achieve his personal goal while realizing savings.

During the first five months without the solar PV installation, his average bill was around P28,000. With the solar facility on his own rooftop, Umali's five-month electricity bill average declined to P 22,600, equivalent to approximately 19% in savings.

This is a proof that switching to solar power does not only help customers pay less for their power consumption in the long run, but also allows them to future-proof their homes by becoming an early advocate for energy independence.

End-to-end energy solutions

Many residential customers have taken advantage of the declining cost of the solar technology and shifted to solar power to better manage household expenditures, with electricity expenses accounting for about 3.3% of a household's income according to a recent study by Utility Bidder, a UK-based energy consultancy.

However, to maximize the benefits, homeowners need to be more critical in choosing their technology and service providers, considering that there are a lot of solar panels currently available in the market.

For Umali, Spectrum's end-to-end service offering was just the right fit for his requirement. Backed by Meralco's energy expertise and safety track record, Spectrum tailor-fits solutions for customers through an in-depth understanding of energy consumption patterns and strategic partnerships with world-class technology partners.

"Working with Spectrum was a great experience overall. With their end-to-end services, we were able to realize significant savings in our electricity bills for our home because of our well-maintained solar PV system," Umali shared.

Another Spectrum customer, Carmelita Masigan-Walton, enjoyed an initial 20% savings on electricity cost through her 3.465 kWp solar PV installation in her home in Paranaque City. From an average monthly bill of P5,000, the solar installation at her home allowed her to lower her electricity bill to P4,000.

"It really pays to know that your solar power generating system comes from credible sources because you will definitely know that you are and will never be shortchanged along the way. Now we contribute to the planet's generation of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy, and at the same time, we pay less for power," Masigan-Walton said.

She also shared that Spectrum has been nothing short of diligent in making sure that it follows its own service agreement. "After a year, Spectrum came over to our residence to inspect the solar panels, the inverter, and the meter, to ensure that everything is in proper working order," she added.

easy and convenient
application

As solar technology becomes more affordable, it is also made accessible to potential customers. For Spectrum, applying for solar service for homes may be completed in five simple steps.

First, customers must reach out to Spectrum to discuss the needed service. This step can be taken in the comfort of the customers' homes as initial inquiries may be made by call or email. In fact, on the company's website, there is a short form where you can input your personal details such as name, email address, mobile number, and after you send it, a message saying that Spectrum will contact you will prompt.

Once the discussion on the details of the needed solar service has been made, customers will now be asked to submit documents such as the home's roof plan, structural plan, single line diagram showing the electrical map of the house, and Meralco bills for the past 12 months.

Upon submission, Spectrum will then review the documents as part of the process of drafting a proposal that's tailor-fitted to the customer's home. This proposal contains the design, the cost of the solar service, and the financing plan.

Once the customer agrees to the terms and details of the proposal, the customer just needs to sign the contract so Spectrum can proceed with the installation. This last step is usually completed within a month, including the procurement and delivery of materials. After which, the customer may already experience the advantages of being a solar energy user.

Service that goes
beyond installation

Besides solar panel installation, Spectrum can also assist in enrolling the customer's account to Meralco's net metering program.

Through the net metering program, customers can sell the excess energy generated by the solar panels, which can even translate to extra income. This program allows customers to make the most of their solar investment.

Case in point is the family of environmental advocate and social entrepreneur Illac Diaz, who has begun realizing electricity savings by utilizing solar energy in their home in Manila.

Spectrum installed a 9.24 kWp solar panel system in the house of Diaz's parents, whose monthly electricity bill went down by more than 50%. From P21,000, this went down to around P10,000 after just three months of using the solar panels.

"What's nice here is that Spectrum is a subsidiary of Meralco, so it takes away all the worry of connecting from the grid to the power and making sure that your investment works for you," Diaz shared.

Aside from the net metering service, Spectrum also offers zero export service to its customers. These services allow customers to maximize the benefits from the solar panels.

A partner in attaining operational efficiency
for businesses

With sustainability turning into a global agenda, it has become imperative for businesses to join the cause and establish their own green initiatives to decarbonize their operations. Spectrum has become one of the top-of-mind service providers in the business community.

One of the newest additions to Spectrum's roster of international and local partner companies is Riverbanks Development Center, for a new solar energy project that will support the latter's push for sustainability.

The two companies recently inked a deal involving the installation of a solar rooftop PV system with a total capacity of 1.5-Megawatt peak (MWp) for Riverbanks' shopping mall in Marikina City, which was made into an eco-friendly and integrated development for business and recreation.

Once completed in March 2023, the project is expected to generate approximately 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy per annum and will allow Riverbanks to save approximately P14 million in energy costs annually.

It will likewise reduce Riverbanks' carbon footprint by an estimated 1,400 metric tons per year. This translates to 3 million trees planted in 20 years and a reduction of 5,800,000 kilometers in vehicle travel per year.

"Spectrum gave us the opportunity to achieve sustainability through solar energy. As their partner, we expect to reap huge energy savings while contributing to environmental care. It's a win-win situation for all parties, including Mother Earth. It's the best kind of synergy," Riverbanks President Rosario Carlos said.

Since 2016, Spectrum has installed solar panels with a total capacity of around 50 MW, about 98% of which are for commercial and industrial customers.

Spectrum's projects are seen to reduce carbon footprint by as much as 48,322.77 metric tons. This is equivalent to a total of 4,958,724 trees planted to offset carbon emissions.

"With sustainability at the core of Meralco's business strategy and operations, the company aims to achieve its business objectives while protecting the environment and powering the good life for its customers. Spectrum is a testament to that. While we are committed to achieving market leadership in the solar power space, we also strive to foster a culture of sustainability and preserve the environment to ensure a better, brighter, and greener future for the next generations," Geluz said.