Filipino households, medical facilities, and small enterprises can now install own-use solar systems through a simpler process with fewer regulatory requirements, following a new Department of Energy (DOE) policy aimed at expanding access to clean energy and helping consumers reduce electricity purchased from the grid.
Through Department Circular No. DC2026-08-0017, the DOE streamlined the rules governing Self-Generating Facility Zero-Export Solar Systems (SGF ZESS) and Micro-Solar Systems (MSS), allowing consumers to generate electricity for their own use without exporting excess power to the distribution grid.
The Circular establishes two categories of own-use solar installations. SGF ZESS covers solar photovoltaic systems connected to a household or facility’s electrical system and equipped with safeguards that prevent excess electricity from being exported to the distribution grid. MSS covers smaller, consumer-grade plug-and-play solar systems of up to one kilowatt designed for direct connection to a consumer’s electrical system, subject to applicable technical and safety requirements.
Under the streamlined rules, MSS are no longer required to secure a Building Permit or a Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and will instead be subject to a notification process with their distribution utility (DU). For qualifying SGF ZESS installed in homes, clinics, and hospitals, the COC requirement is likewise waived, while a Building Permit will no longer be required where the structure already has the applicable clearance for such installation.
The Circular also directs DUs to remove unnecessary pre-installation clearances, technical permits, and inspection charges as conditions for connection. Existing analog meters may continue to be used during a 12-month transition period while scheduled metering upgrades are undertaken, allowing qualified consumers to begin using their solar systems without waiting for immediate meter replacement.
“For many consumers, the requirements involved in installing even a small solar system can discourage adoption. This policy addresses those barriers,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said. “By simplifying the process and removing unnecessary costs and requirements, we are opening the door for more households, clinics, and small businesses to generate clean electricity for their own use and reduce their dependence on electricity from the grid.”
The measure directly supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his 2026 State of the Nation Address to expand renewable energy adoption and make rooftop solar and battery storage more affordable and accessible to Filipino households. It also helps the country reach its renewable energy target of 35 percent of the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040, building on the 25 percent already achieved, by enabling more consumers to participate directly in the clean energy transition.
Developed following a public consultation held on 15 June 2026 and inputs from stakeholders, the policy retains technical safeguards to protect consumers and maintain the reliability of the distribution system.
Under the Circular, DUs must maintain the transformer and service-drop capacity assigned to customers with these systems, ensuring adequate grid support when solar generation is unavailable or insufficient. DUs will also submit quarterly reports to the DOE on the number and installed capacity of SGF ZESS and MSS installations to track their growth and support power system planning.
The DOE will work with the ERC, distribution utilities, and local government units to support consistent implementation of the new rules nationwide, advancing Enerhiyang Matatag at Makatao, a secure, affordable, resilient, and people-centered energy system for every Filipino.
