MORE Electric and Power Corporation (More Power) has started integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its core operations, becoming one of the first in the power distribution industry to adopt AI in an effort to enhance service efficiency.
The company partnered with Iloilo Science and Technology University (Isat-U) to develop the system, which is now in its pilot testing phase.
“The AI will enable the analysis of big data, recurring data that will give us predictive prescriptions. Itong feeder na 'to, ang hotspot niyan is ganito,” said Roel Z. Castro, More Power president and chief executive officer.
The event took place on July 18 at the "What's Up Western Visayas 2025" business event.
Castro emphasized that the AI integration aims to empower employees rather than displace them, a common concern in many industries exploring automation.
Traditionally, customer complaints go through dispatchers who generate tickets and assign them to linemen. Once the issue is resolved, teams move on to the next case.
Castro pointed out that this method often fails to address underlying problems, especially when recurring issues go unflagged for years.
“Now, if the supervisor looks into these problems, that’s the time they get to see the bigger picture as to why that block or household experiences frequent interruptions,” Castro said.
Castro emphasized the importance of processing and interpreting larger data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the larger picture.
The AI system is being developed to detect patterns from these recurring service reports and offer “preventive, prescriptive” solutions, allowing MORE Power to be more strategic in its operations.
“So how will that AI now help us give better preventive prescriptive data for us to be more strategic in our approach? That is the use of the AI for now; that’s what we’re testing,” Castro said.
As the current president of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED), Castro encouraged Isat-U to innovate and apply its technology in real-world settings.
“I will let you do it in More, kasi again, ang benefits to consumers will be great,” he said.
The company expects the AI system to be fully developed and streamlined before the end of 2025. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)