The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving to accelerate the rollout of the country’s Net-Metering Program by imposing strict, time-bound permitting deadlines on local governments, simplifying utility requirements, and expanding consumer benefits. These measures are aimed at removing long-cited bottlenecks for rooftop solar and other small-scale renewable systems.

In a media release dated February 1, the DOE said a new Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) signed with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) standardizes local permitting processes and enforces prescribed turnaround times nationwide. Under the JMC, local government units (LGUs) must issue electrical permits within three working days and Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEIs) within seven working days, once requirements are complete.

If an LGU fails to act within the prescribed period, applications will be treated as “deemed approved,” allowing applicants to move forward in the net-metering process based on proof of filing and payment.

Net-metering, established under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Republic Act No. 9513), allows electricity consumers to export surplus power from eligible on-site renewable energy systems to the grid and earn credits to offset future consumption. The DOE said the program supports consumer savings, distributed generation, grid resilience, and reduced reliance on imported fuels.

On the distribution utility side, the DOE cited an Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) advisory dated September 22, 2025, directing all grid-connected DUs to standardize and limit documentary requirements for net-metering applications. 

These are now confined to four items: a completed application form containing facility information required for a Certificate of Compliance (COC), the LGU-issued CFEI, an amended net-metering agreement, and the applicable COC application fee. Notarization of the amended agreement is no longer mandatory, and electronic signatures are allowed.

In October, DOE has also broadened the economic upside for consumers through a Supplemental Policy allowing qualified end-users retain ownership of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from electricity they consume and may sell or trade these through the Renewable Energy Market, creating an additional revenue stream. The policy also introduces multi-site and aggregate net-metering, allowing credits to be shared across multiple electricity accounts within the same DU franchise area.

“In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, the President called on government to intensify, promote, and expedite the Net-Metering Program to empower Filipinos to generate clean energy and feed excess power to the grid,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said. “These coordinated measures–time-bound LGU processing under the JMC, streamlined DU requirements under ERC directives, and DOE’s Supplemental Policy that expands consumer benefits, remove bottlenecks and make net-metering faster, simpler, and more accessible to households and businesses.”

As of December 2025, DOE data showed 17,141 qualified end-users in the Luzon grid with a combined rated capacity of about 151 MWp, accounting for 73.43% of total installations. The Visayas grid recorded 3,179 qualified end-users with around 44 MWp (21.21%), while Mindanao had 904 qualified end-users with 11 MWp (5.36%).

The JMC was signed by Garin, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla, and DPWH Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon. DOE described the initiative as a whole-of-government push to accelerate renewable energy adoption by households and businesses.

Do these tighter timelines and expanded incentives finally address the biggest pain points in net-metering? Share your perspective.

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