Morgan Mouton: Urban change under pressure. Electricity service and modernity in Greater Manila.

Since the end of the 20th century, the metropolitan region of Manila has been undergoing "urban change." This term refers to a set of interrelated phenomena, including the consolidation of the middle classes, the establishment of service companies, and the development of a consumption-oriented economy—the latter being strikingly illustrated by the proliferation of shopping malls, which are key urban features in the Philippine capital. These factors have led to a transformation of the urban landscape, but also to the internationalization of the economy and the emergence of new lifestyles.

This thesis proposes to examine this urban change in Greater Manila in relation to electricity services. The phenomena described have major implications for energy: a substantial increase in electricity demand, higher requirements for service reliability, and new practices in infrastructure planning and deployment. But the relationship between urban change and the electricity sector is two-way, and tensions can be observed in relation to tariffs and network quality, insofar as these factors constrain the economic and social transformations taking place in the Philippine capital.

 Drawing on several strands of literature—on the middle classes, the political economy of urban production, and large technical networks—the thesis examines the socio-technical developments of the electricity service in Greater Manila. To do so, it draws on the concept of "modernity," which helps to understand the emerging standards and representations for the provision of the service. The thesis then identifies the gaps between the ideals of modernity and existing practices. In doing so, it analyzes the tensions generated by these misalignments and discusses the challenges of universalizing the network, ensuring the homogeneity of its service, evolving its form (large centralized network or "post-mesh" structure), and adapting to environmental constraints.