The AboitizPower-owned Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (Visayan Electric) has launched a free house-wiring electrification project for indigent households in its franchise area in Cebu. The project, initiated in September 2025, targets families unable to afford professional installation of electrical systems.

The program is funded under the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Regulations No. 1-94 (ER 1-94) program, which allocates financial benefits from energy-generating companies to host communities. Contributions to the electrification fund come from entities such as Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and are used to cover labor and materials for electrical installations.

A survey by Visayan Electric identified 3,933 households as potential beneficiaries. The first phase of the project covers 2,013 homes in Naga City and 718 in San Fernando. Accredited electricians carry out the installations, including wiring, outlets, switches, and circuit breakers, following safety standards and electrical codes.

Barangay officials noted that high connection costs previously prevented residents from accessing electricity despite available utility poles. The project aims to address these barriers, providing safe and reliable electricity to households for the first time.

In addition to the household program, Visayan Electric has conducted public school rewiring projects since 2010 in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation. The initiative replaces outdated electrical wiring in over 5,300 classrooms and school facilities across its franchise area, ensuring compliance with industry safety standards and reducing risks of fires and electrocution.

Research cited by Visayan Electric indicates that households with consistent electricity access see improvements in income and spending. With eight hours of electricity per day, household income rises by 15.8 percent and spending by 14.8 percent; with 24-hour access, income increases by 56.3 percent and spending by 59.4 percent. Electrified classrooms also perform 10 to 12 percent better on the National Achievement Test compared with non-electrified ones.

The project aligns with the Philippine government’s goal to provide electricity to the three million households that remain without access. Visayan Electric serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Naga, and the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. As of end-2024, 100 percent of barangays and 99.37 percent of households in its franchise area have access to electricity.