More Meralco customers are adopting net metering, with over 200 customers in 2015 growing to 392 currently. The number of installations increased 7% month-to-month as the cost of solar panels decreases. Under net metering, electricity users with renewable energy systems up to 100kw can sell excess power they generate back to the grid. The government is also discussing making it more attractive for building owners to install solar panels on rooftops in business districts to help reduce power requirements. This could provide significant relief for the country's power supply if implemented in Makati and Manila. While still being planned, no financing mechanisms have been identified yet.

1. More Meralco customers shift to net metering
By Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 25, 2016 - 12:00am
Under the net metering program, electricity end-users with renewable energy installations — such
as solar, wind or biomass — not exceeding 100 kw can sell electricity they generate in excess of
what they can consume directly to their distribution utility (DU). Philstar.com/File photo
MANILA, Philippines - More electricity customers are shifting to the net metering program and the
trend is expected to continue as the cost of solar panels keep going down, a ranking Manila Electric
Co. (Meralco) official said.
Meralco started with one customer under the net metering program in 2013. By end-2015, the
power distributor has over 200.
And as of May 16, Meralco has 392 customers, with rooftop installations at an average capacity of
four kilowatts (kw), under net metering, said Anna Maria Reodica, program manager and specialist
for Meralco’s Renewables Program Management.

2. “In the past few months, we saw a seven percent month-to-month increase in installations. You can
see that the trend is going up and this means the net metering program is consistently growing,” she
said.
Based on the group’s market research, Reodica attributed the growing trend to the lower cost of the
solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and the price of electricity.
“There are several factors like the price of electricity and the cost of the solar photovoltaic system,”
she said. “It could be economic but there are also other factors driving.”
Under the net metering program, electricity end-users with renewable energy installations — such
as solar, wind or biomass — not exceeding 100 kw can sell electricity they generate in excess of
what they can consume directly to their distribution utility (DU).
“There are customers who are exporting because its beyond their requirements. For example, no
one is at home, solar panels continue to generate power so it is fed into the Meralco network and
they are compensated for that,” Reodica said.
While Meralco has not set a target number of customers under net metering, Reodica said the
franchise area “is reaching down south of Laguna and Bulacan with scattered [solar PV]
installations.”

3. Government pushes solar power in buildings
By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 11, 2016 - 12:00am
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said increased use of solar power in business
centers would help reduce the country’s power requirements. File photo
MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is in discussions
with the Department of Energy (DOE) on the possibility of making it attractive for building owners in
business districts to use solar power.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said increased use of solar power in business
centers would help reduce the country’s power requirements.
“Solar power and renewables are faster to implement than coal fired power plants but also has
limited power capacity and are space intensive,” he said.
“But solar panels can be strapped on rooftops. So if solar panels are installed in buildings in Makati
and Manila, that would be a lot of relief on our power supply requirements,” he added.
He said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has not opposed the idea.
“I’ve been talking to the DOE secretary already and he does not seem to be averse toward it,” said
Pernia.

4. This still being a plan, Pernia said there are no identified financing mechanisms for the program yet.
The DOE, however, has an existing program for providing solar power for at least 100,000
households in the country.
In September last year, the NEDA board approved the Access to Sustainable Energy Program of the
DOE which would provide households electricity and energy services through a grant assistance of
solar home systems and rural power generation facilities.
The project cost of P4.89 billion is financed through official development assistance.
Pernia, however, said it would be more feasible if this would be done for commercial buildings
whose owners could afford the cost.