DoE forges new partnership to streamline net-metering process
THE Department of Energy (DoE) is teaming up with other government agencies and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to streamline the process for net-metering program applications by cutting bottlenecks.
“We will tear down the walls of red tape, set clear and uniform rules, and fast-track approvals so households can start generating and selling clean power without being buried in paperwork. We are done talking about possibilities — it is time to deliver results,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in a statement on Monday.
The DoE held a meeting with the Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Electrification Administration, and Meralco.
The agencies said they are aiming to reimpose and enforce existing policies with strict timelines for each stage of the application process. They are also looking to introduce simplified and standardized forms, and ensure that requirements remain “relevant, necessary, and straightforward.”
“These measures are expected to empower more consumers, most especially those served by electric cooperatives to participate in the program,” the DoE said.
Meralco, the country’s largest power utility, is seeking to align its efforts with the government by streamlining the net-metering process through digitalization, accreditation of solar photovoltaic installers, and standardization of solar equipment.
Under the net-metering program, electricity end-users can install renewable energy facilities of up to 100 kilowatts, wherein the excess power can be exported to the distribution utility’s system. In return, the credit for the excess electricity comes from the customer’s electric bill.
As of May, a total of 17,175 electricity end-users registered under the program, with an aggregate installed capacity of 157 megawatt-peak.
The DoE said that in some franchise areas, applicants are required to submit as many as 15 documentary requirements, in addition to enduring lengthy processing times before energization.
“These hurdles have discouraged potential participants and delayed the program’s full potential,” the department said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
