The Energy Regulatory Commission has issued the 2025 Amended Rules Enabling the Net-Metering Program for Renewable Energy to streamline the process and make renewable energy adoption more accessible to qualified end-users.
Under the net-metering program, solar power facility owners with less than 100 kilowatts peak capacity can export their excess supply to the grid in exchange for electricity bill credits that can be in the form of rebates.
Among key changes to ERC rules is the banking and rollover of net-metering credits toward a QE’s electricity usage across current and future billing periods, the agency said in a statement on Monday.
In the event of a property ownership change, the credits may be transferred to the new owner, subject to conditions such as a letter of conformity from the original owner, the regulatory body said.,
ERC noted that the amendment was made following a series of public consultations and careful review of stakeholders’ inputs; it was formalized through Resolution No. 15, Series of 2025 dated August 27, 2025.
The regulatory body added that the move is expected to strengthen consumer protection by simplifying processes for availing of the program.
Another amendment cited by the ERC is that distribution utilities are now mandated to publish on their websites detailed information on their net-metering programs, including application forms, processes, and posting on a quarterly basis their hosting capacities on a per-distribution transformer basis.
ERC said that the installation of Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) meters for net metering becomes voluntary.
When the installation of REC meter is waived by an owner, energy generated from the RE Resource shall be computed using a formula made by the ERC.
Last month, the Department of Energy assured that it also has a dedicated office that can address consumer concerns in relation to the government’s current goal to improve net metering connections.
At that time, Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol said that the DOE’s Consumer Welfare and Protection Office was prepared to resolve issues on the matter.
The DOE said that as of end-May 2025, a total of 17,175 electricity end-users were registered under the net metering program, with an aggregate installed capacity of 157 megawatts.
However, the agency said that in some franchise areas, applicants are required to submit as many as 15 documentary requirements, in addition to enduring lengthy processing time before energization which have discouraged potential participants.
DOE said that among the biggest sources of delay is the prolonged issuance of Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection and Electrical Permits from the local government units which are often held up by additional, non-essential requirements that have no direct relevance to electrical compliance.
