Philippines Accelerates Rooftop Solar Rollout with Major Overhaul of Net Metering Regulations

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a series of regulatory reforms aimed at accelerating the implementation of its solar photovoltaic (PV) net metering program, with measures designed to streamline approvals, reduce administrative barriers, and expand participation among households and businesses.

Under the revised framework, Local Government Units (LGUs) are required to adopt standardized application forms and adhere to strict processing timelines. Electrical permits must now be issued within three business days, while final electrical inspection certificates must be released within seven business days. If an LGU fails to process applications within the stipulated timeframe, the application will be deemed automatically approved, allowing consumers to proceed with net metering upon proof of submission and payment.

The updated rules also permit the use of electronic signatures in net metering agreements and reduce documentation requirements, further simplifying the approval process. According to the DOE, the nationwide standardization is expected to significantly cut waiting times and remove procedural hurdles, enabling faster rooftop solar adoption.

In addition, the reforms allow eligible rooftop solar users to retain ownership of renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with the electricity they consume. These certificates can be sold or traded in renewable energy markets, providing an additional revenue stream for consumers generating their own electricity.

The new framework also introduces multi-site and aggregated net metering mechanisms, allowing consumers to share electricity credits across multiple electricity accounts within the same distribution network. This will enable households and businesses to offset electricity costs at different locations using surplus power generated at a single site.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the reforms align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen and accelerate the country’s net metering program, enabling more Filipinos to generate clean energy and export excess power to the grid.

The Philippines introduced its net metering scheme in 2013 for systems with a capacity of up to 100 kW, allowing surplus electricity to be credited against users’ power bills. As of May 2025, the country’s cumulative net-metered installed capacity stood at 157 MW. The latest regulatory updates follow revisions introduced by the Energy Regulatory Commission in September 2025, which called for nationwide standardization of net metering procedures.