DOE drafting policy to simplify home solar panel installation ahead of Sariling Kuryente Act

The Department of Energy is drafting a policy to simplify the installation of home solar panels and battery storage systems, supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said on Tuesday.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026) on Monday, Marcos called on lawmakers to pass the Sariling Kuryente Act to further reduce the cost of electricity for Filipino consumers.

Further, DOE said that it will soon issue a policy similar to the proposed measure by the President.

"There's a new policy that we're finishing na, there are households na they want solar and battery na panggamit lang nila without the intent of selling it to the distribution utility," said Garin.

(There's a new policy that we're finishing already, there are households that they want solar and battery just for their own use without the intent of selling it to the distribution utility.)

In his annual report to the country, Marcos said, “Upang maging simple, madali, at abot-kaya ang pagpapakabit ng solar panel at battery storage systems sa kanilang mga bahay, hinihiling ko ang tulong ng Kongreso na maipasa na ang Sariling Kuryente Act,” Marcos said.

(To make the installation of solar panels and battery storage systems in their homes simple, easy, and affordable, I am asking Congress for help to pass the Sariling Kuryente Act.)

"With that policy, we want to simplify the requirements, lessen the bureaucracy para mas mabilis siya. So we will be issuing this siguro in a month or so. Pero yun po yung basic na objective ng Sariling Kuryente Act na people can put it up with less hassle sa permits nila at mabilis ang pag-install," Garin said.

(With that policy, we want to simplify the requirements, lessen the bureaucracy so that it will be faster. So we will be issuing this maybe in a month or so. But that is the basic objective of the Sariling Kuryente Act, that people can put it up with less hassle on their permits and quick installation.) –NB, GMA News