The Department of Energy (DOE) convened an inter-agency meeting last week to remove red tape and accelerate applications for its net metering program.
The meeting, which included the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), aims to create a clear and predictable path for applicants.
“Every day we delay is another day Filipino consumers lose the chance to reduce their electricity bills and earn from their own clean energy production,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in a statement.
“The President has made it clear: the net metering program must work for the people, not against them,” she said.
The net metering program allows electricity consumers, known as “prosumers,” to install renewable energy facilities of up to 100 kilowatts (kW) on their property. Any surplus electricity they generate is automatically exported to the distribution utility’s (DU) system, which credits the customer’s bill with the equivalent of the blended generation cost.
Garin said the agencies involved in the meeting agreed to reenforce existing policies with strict timelines, introduce simplified and standardized forms and ensure that requirements are relevant and straightforward.
“We will tear down the walls of red tape, set clear and uniform rules, and fast-track approvals so households can start generating and selling clean power without being buried in paperwork,” she said.
“We are done talking about possibilities — it is time to deliver results,” said Garin.
Meralco pledged to support the initiative by streamlining the net metering process through digitization, accrediting solar PV installers and standardizing solar equipment.
The company’s goal is to reinforce the shared aim of democratizing access to renewable energy and advancing a more sustainable power sector.
As of May 2025, 17,175 electricity consumers were registered under the program, with an aggregate installed capacity of 157 MWpeak.
However, some franchise areas require applicants to submit as many as 15 documents and endure lengthy processing times.
One of the biggest sources of delay is the prolonged issuance of certificates of final electrical inspection (CFEI) and electrical permits from local government units (LGUs). Although these permits are intended to ensure electrical safety, they are often held up by additional, non-essential requirements.
