Meralco

The Manila Electric Company (), also known as Meralco (mɜːrɑːlkoʊ, mɛɾalˈkɔ, stylized in uppercase), is an electric power distribution company in the Philippines. It is Metro Manila's only electric power distributor and holds the power distribution franchise for 22 cities and 89 municipalities, including the whole of the National Capital Region and the exurbs that form Mega Manila. The name "Meralco" is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, which was the company's official name until 1919. Organized in 1891 and beginning operations in late 1900, La Electricista was the first electric company to provide electricity to Manila towards the close of the Spanish era. La Electricista had built a central power plant on Calle San Sebastian (now Hidalgo Street) in Quiapo, Manila. On January 17, 1895, its streetlights were turned on for the first time and by 1903, it had about 3,000 electric light customers. On October 20, 1902, during the American Colonial Period, the Second Philippine Commission began accepting bids to operate Manila's electric company, and by extension, providing public lighting to the city and its suburbs. Detroit entrepreneur Charles M. Swift was the sole bidder and on March 24, 1903, was granted the original basic franchise of the Manila Electric Company. March 24 thus is marked annually as the company's anniversary. The Manila Electric Company acquired both La Electricista and the Compañía de los Tranvías de Filipinas, a firm that ran Manila's horse-drawn tramways which was founded in 1882. Construction on the railed tramway began that same year. In addition to acquiring La Electricista's Calle San Sebastian power plant, the company built its own steam generating plant on Isla Provisora (later becoming the Manila Thermal Power Plant), which lighted the railed tram system and eventually also provided the electric service. By 1906, the Manila Suburb Railway were founded and later merged with the Manila Electric Company. Forming the Manila Electric, Railway and Lighting Company.