MANILA – Households with solar panels that are not applying for the government’s net metering program will only need to secure an electrical inspection under a new policy framework expected to be implemented by the third quarter of 2026.

Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the proposed streamlined process is intended to make compliance easier for households that do not plan to export excess electricity to the power grid.

“We are accelerating the new framework. We will release a new framework to make it easier. It’s just information instead of clearance,” Marasigan told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday night.

According to Marasigan, the Department of Energy (DOE) is currently consulting with stakeholders, including distribution utilities, local government units, and consumers, and has already prepared a draft of the policy framework.

“If we could have a positive response from the stakeholders, maybe in a month’s time or two, we might release the framework,” he said.

Under the current net metering program, households with solar panels are required to register with local governments and coordinate with distribution utilities to allow excess electricity generated by their systems to be transmitted to the grid.

Households participating in the program receive credits or refunds reflected in their electricity bills for excess power supplied to the grid.

Marasigan said residential solar systems usually have limited capacities and are mainly designed for personal use, making it unnecessary for them to undergo the same process imposed on net metering participants.

The Energy Regulatory Commission has also introduced measures aimed at improving the system, including setting minimum requirements for distribution utilities and local governments to accelerate application processing.

Marasigan added that many homes, particularly in areas outside Metro Manila, already use solar power systems that still need inspection and registration to ensure public safety.