Published April 27, 2021, 7:00 AM The consolidated core net income of power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) was still lower by 11-percent to P5.11 billion in the first quarter versus a heftier profitability of P5.724 billion in the same period last year pulled down by lower energy sales. Nevertheless, the power firm’s income posted a significant climb of 66 percent to P4.3 billion in the first three months of this year as against a leaner P2.6 billion last year. The company emphasized that its sales dropped by 4.0 percent last year to 10,473 gigawatt hours (GWh); given the continued slump logged in the commercial sector; although that is being offset by strong consumption of the residential segment and the apparent revival of business activities in the industrial sector.