Manila Electric Company (MER) is a private distribution utility organized on May 7, 1919 which holds a congressional franchise under Republic Act (RA) No. 9209 effective June 28, 2003. RA 9209 granted MER a 25-year franchise valid through June 28, 2028 to construct, operate, and maintain the electric distribution system in the cities and municipalities of Bulacan, Cavite, Metro Manila, and Rizal and certain cities, municipalities, and barangays in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, and Quezon.