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Meralco
The Manila Electric Company, also known as Meralco (/mɜːrɑːlkoʊ/, Tagalog: [mɛˈɾalkɔ], 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 39 cities and 72 municipalities, including the whole of Metro Manila 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 Sebastián (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, under the American Insular Government, 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 Sebastián power plant, the company built its own turbine rotated by water steam generating electricity plant on Isla de Provisor (later becoming the Manila Thermal Power Plant), which fuelled 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. The name Manila Electricity, Lighting and Railroad Company (MELARCo) was also considered.[citation needed]
Swift was awarded another franchise in 1906 to operate a 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) extension line from Paco to Fort McKinley and Pasig and founded the Manila Suburban Railway to operate this franchise. In 1919 this company merged with the Manila Electric Company. This extension was one of the most profitable of MERALCO's lines.
By the 1920, MERALCO invested on transportation and owned a 170-strong fleet of streetcars, before switching over to buses later in that decade.
The company operated 52-miles of trams until World War II. The equipment and tracks of the system was severely damaged during the war and had to be removed.
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Meralco
The Manila Electric Company, also known as Meralco (/mɜːrɑːlkoʊ/, Tagalog: [mɛˈɾalkɔ], 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 39 cities and 72 municipalities, including the whole of Metro Manila 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 Sebastián (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, under the American Insular Government, 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 Sebastián power plant, the company built its own turbine rotated by water steam generating electricity plant on Isla de Provisor (later becoming the Manila Thermal Power Plant), which fuelled 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. The name Manila Electricity, Lighting and Railroad Company (MELARCo) was also considered.[citation needed]
Swift was awarded another franchise in 1906 to operate a 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) extension line from Paco to Fort McKinley and Pasig and founded the Manila Suburban Railway to operate this franchise. In 1919 this company merged with the Manila Electric Company. This extension was one of the most profitable of MERALCO's lines.
By the 1920, MERALCO invested on transportation and owned a 170-strong fleet of streetcars, before switching over to buses later in that decade.
The company operated 52-miles of trams until World War II. The equipment and tracks of the system was severely damaged during the war and had to be removed.