The Department of Energy (DOE) has scrapped permits and fees for households and businesses installing small-scale solar panels. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin signed the new policy to make clean energy easier and cheaper to adopt.
Distribution utilities can no longer ask for pre-installation clearances, technical permits, or inspection fees for zero-export or micro-solar systems. They are also barred from lowering transformer or service capacity when solar is installed, so backup power stays the same.
Micro-solar systems, or plug-and-play units up to 1kW DC or 0.8kW AC, are now exempt from building permits and compliance certificates. Owners only need to notify their utility after installation. Larger zero-export setups for homes, clinics, hospitals, and medical facilities are also exempt from ERC compliance certificates.
The DOE said this move supports the government’s plan to raise renewable energy’s share to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. The agency will also work with housing authorities to allow solar panels on balconies, rooftops, and building walls in cities.
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This policy clears the way for more Filipinos to adopt solar, giving households and businesses easier access to clean power and lower electricity costs.
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