Politics · Philippines Bureau
ERC, Meralco pledge swift approvals for residential solar installations
The Energy Regulatory Commission and Manila Electric Co. have committed to accelerating the approval and connection of rooftop solar systems following complaints of processing delays raised at a Senate hearing.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) have pledged to expedite approvals and energization of residential rooftop solar power systems amid mounting complaints of lengthy delays in the process.
The commitment was made during a Senate committee hearing on energy chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who raised concerns about the extended timelines affecting homeowners seeking to install solar systems. The delays have become a bottleneck for Filipinos interested in transitioning to renewable energy sources for their households.
Both the ERC and Meralco acknowledged the need for streamlined procedures to facilitate faster connections of distributed solar installations. The regulators and utility company indicated they would review existing processes to identify and eliminate unnecessary steps that contribute to delays in approvals and system energization.
The commitment reflects growing pressure on the country's energy sector to support the expansion of distributed solar generation, which has gained traction among Filipino households seeking to reduce electricity costs and carbon footprint. Officials have emphasized that faster approvals for net-metering systems could help accelerate the country's renewable energy adoption targets.