194K Meralco customers still without power

However, the number increased from more than 187,000 affected customers as of 11 a.m. Saturday. (File photo: Meralco/Facebook)

MANILA – Some 194,426 customers still do not have access to power in franchise areas of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) as of 2 p.m. Saturday.

This represents 5.1 percent of the initial 3,803,810 affected customers since the morning of November 12 due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

However, the number increased from more than 187,000 affected customers as of 11 a.m. Saturday.

“These represent customers with recurring outage.

The system counts specifically customers without power,” Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said.

The majority of the customers without electricity were in Bulacan, which has 112,403 affected customers.

This was followed by Rizal with 46,760 customers still without electricity; Metro Manila with 30,625 customers; Laguna with 2,093 customers; Pampanga with 2,004 customers; Cavite with 490 customers; Quezon with 26 customers; and Batangas with 25 customers.

Early this week, Zaldarriaga asked for understanding and patience as full power restoration takes days because “Ulysses” brought “extensive damage” to the power distribution firm.

On Friday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said they expect electricity to be fully restored by Sunday.

“That’s still the target. We have the whole of Sunday to bring it further down,” the Meralco spokesperson pointed out.