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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider DOE mandates three-day solar net-metering permits to cut red tape

DOE mandates three-day solar net-metering permits to cut red tape

Published Feb 2, 2026 12:01 am
The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving to dismantle bureaucratic hurdles stymieing the nation's rooftop solar rollout, mandating three-day permit approvals as the number of participants in its net-metering program climbs past 21,000.
The push for more aggressive “whole-of-government” approach comes as Energy Secretary Sharon Garin seeks to streamline overlapping jurisdictions between local governments, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and the DOE.
Under a new joint memorandum circular, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Public Works and Highways have issued a directive to local government units to adopt standardized application forms and adhere to strict turnaround times for key certifications.
The new rules require local authorities to issue electrical permits within three working days and to release certificates of final electrical inspection within seven working days. The move aims to eliminate long-standing bottlenecks that have historically discouraged households and small businesses from investing in renewable energy systems.
Under the updated framework, if a local government unit fails to act within the prescribed period, the permits or certifications will be deemed approved to prevent administrative delays.
Data from the DOE showed the program had 21,224 qualified end-users by the end of 2025. The vast majority of these installations are concentrated in Luzon, followed by the Visayas region. The net-metering system allows consumers to install renewable energy facilities, such as solar panels, and export excess electricity to the grid in exchange for credits that offset future power bills.
Beyond individual savings, the DOE maintained that decentralized generation enhances overall grid resilience and reduces the Philippines' perennial reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels.
In a policy shift aimed at boosting the financial viability of small-scale solar, the DOE reiterated that qualified users now hold ownership of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for the power they generate and consume. These certificates can be sold or traded through the Renewable Energy Market, providing a secondary revenue stream for participants.
Furthermore, the agency is introducing "multi-site and aggregate net-metering," a mechanism that allows a single user to share credits across multiple electricity accounts within the same distribution utility’s franchise area. This enables businesses with several facilities to maximize the economic returns of a single large-scale solar installation.
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