With the heat index continuing to rise in the Philippines, Filipinos have had no choice but to turn to electric fans and air conditioners to cool down. Beating the heat, however, comes with a heavy price.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recently forecasted a peak of 42 to 48 degrees Celsius across multiple areas nationwide, and consumers are more wary of utilizing their household appliances because of the increasing electricity rates.
Despite the rising demand for electricity during the summer period, some Filipinos have found a way to maximize their cooling appliances while still saving money. The secret? Domestic solar panels.
A family of five residing in Parañaque shared their green energy investment with the Manila Bulletin, and what benefits one might get from it.
“The main reason for [opting for] solar panels was the impending power crisis in the Philippines forecasted in the next two years and the rising cost of electricity,” the mother said in an exclusive interview with MB.
“We had our solar panels installed last December and we’ve been thinking about it since 2019, but the pandemic struck.”
Since December of 2023, their bills went up to an average of P8,000 to P9,000 a month; but with the recent solar panel installment in their home, they were able to cut down their monthly power costs to P1,300.
Because of the solar discount, the family expanded the cooling system in their home.
“We recently installed another air-conditioning unit in our living room and our next electricity bill would amount to about P5,000,” she said. “We are almost using AC units 24/7 but when the cold season comes along, we will be using less electricity.”
Because the solar investment lessened the family’s worry about electricity consumption, the mother stated “We plan to expand our battery space to our solar panel system to utilize the energy we are getting from our panels fully.”
Environmentally friendly and cost-efficient
To understand its effect on the environment and household budget, MSpectrum, the solar company of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) explained how these benefits are earned through the green energy source.
Before using solar installations, a marketing specialist from MSpectrum stated that “there are a number of important permitting requirements needed to consider it as a 'legal' solar installation.”
“Two of the usual requirements include the Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection [CFEI] from the local government unit [LGU] and the ERC’s Certificate of Compliance,” he added.
These necessary documents are required to show proof that the solar panel designs have been checked by the LGU and are compliant with the Philippine Electrical Code. Furthermore, the ERC certification would mean that the installation is at par with the Philippine disciplines and standards.
“There are also other prerequisites to these regulatory documents such as the Distribution Impact Study, and, for commercial establishments, the DOE Certificate of Registration [COR],” he elaborated.
While saving money is very vital to every household, MSpectrum clarified that solar power does not make power rates free.
“Although it’s possible to zero out your electricity bill, it will come with an oversized solar installation that has a very long return on investment. You can think of it as paying for your electricity bill upfront for 20 years instantly without any assurance that you will be able to consume that much electricity in the first place.”
On the bright side, investing in green energy sources such as solar can guarantee lower rates, as MSpectrum said it’s possible to save 50 percent of their electricity bill depending on the conditions.
Businesses can also avail the advantages too! “On average, Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) and Commercial and Industrial customers can save around 15 to 20 percent of their usual electricity bill,” he added.
Keep in mind, however, that solar power is intermittent, especially when the dry season is over. The solar firm reminded consumers that solar can still generate electricity when sunlight is present. But it is also expected that it would generate lesser energy during off-peak seasons, like La Niña.