Batangas residents want new power provider

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A RECENT provincewide survey has revealed that Meralco is emerging as a preferred electricity provider among Batangas residents, fueling calls for a change amid growing frustration over unreliable service from electric cooperatives serving the province.

The independent survey, conducted by Capstone-Intel Corporation, covered all 29 municipalities and five component cities of Batangas with 1,200 respondents.

The study found that a majority of households in areas served by Batelec 1 and 2 experience frequent power outages, with 62 percent reporting one to two disruptions per month and some up to ten.

The reliability gap is especially stark between Meralco and the two electric cooperatives.

While 93 percent of Batelec 2 customers and 81 percent of Batelec 1 customers reported repeated power interruptions, 54 percent of Meralco customers said they experienced no outages at all, highlighting Meralco’s superior service reliability in the province.

“These findings underscore a widening gap in electricity service across Batangas,” said Dr. Guido David, chief data scientist of Capstone-Intel.

“Reliable electricity is not just a convenience — it’s a prerequisite for economic growth and quality of life,” added David.

Service satisfaction also mirrors this disparity.

Batelec 1 and 2 scored below the provincial average of 4.09, with ratings of 3.96 and 3.90, respectively. In customer service, they also lagged behind, earning 3.80 and 3.90, versus the average 4.04.

The reliability and performance gap are driving consumer sentiment. When asked which provider they would choose if given the option, a strong 61 percent of Batelec 2 respondents said they preferred Meralco. This signals a clear demand for better-performing utilities, especially in areas hardest hit by recurring outages.

Power reliability has become a major political issue as voters, particularly in Batelec 1 areas, expressed likelihood to support candidates who commit to resolving Batangas’ electricity problems.

Capstone-Intel emphasized that consistent and reliable power is essential to sustaining Batangas’ rapid growth as a hub for industry, trade, and infrastructure.

“This survey is a wake-up call — not just for utilities, but for government leaders as well. The people of Batangas are demanding dependable power, and they’re paying attention to who delivers it,” David said.

The survey was conducted in April 2025 and ensured equal representation between male and female respondents across the province.

There had been calls for a change of electricity provider even before due to frequent brownouts hitting different areas in the province, but none so far had materialized.

Batangas has over three million population, making it the eighth most populous in the country.