How to Apply for Net Metering (Philippines)

Applying for net metering means your installer packages your system’s technical documents and submits them to your distribution utility, which under current DOE rules has 10 working days to approve or reject a complete application. The whole path from signed installer contract to a live bi-directional meter usually runs several weeks, not months, but the paperwork has a specific order — skipping a step is the most common reason applications get bounced back.

Step 1: Choose a licensed installer

Start with a PCAB-licensed installer who has actually filed net metering applications with your distribution utility before. This matters more than it sounds — an installer unfamiliar with your specific DU’s document format or portal will cost you weeks in back-and-forth corrections.

Step 2: System design and permits

Once you sign a contract, your installer designs the system and prepares the as-built single-line diagram and bill of materials, then files for your LGU electrical permit through the local Office of the Building Official. LGUs are now required to issue that permit within 3 working days of a complete application. See our permits and requirements guide for the full document checklist.

Step 3: Installation and final inspection

After installation, the LGU conducts a final electrical inspection and issues a Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI), required within 7 working days of the inspection under current rules. A PRC-licensed Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE) or Registered Master Electrician (RME) also signs off on a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) confirming the installation meets the Philippine Electrical Code, including anti-islanding protection on the inverter.

Step 4: Submit the net metering application

With the CFEI, CoC, single-line diagram, bill of materials, proof of ownership, and your latest electric bill in hand, your installer files the net metering application with your distribution utility — Meralco for most of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, or your local electric cooperative elsewhere.

These stages don’t all run back-to-back — some overlap with installation and scheduling — but the DOE’s 10-working-day mandate for the DU review itself is a firm ceiling, not an estimate. For the full regulatory background, see our DOE 2026 net metering rules guide.

Step 5: Meter swap and agreement

Once approved, your DU replaces your existing meter with a bi-directional one and you sign the net metering agreement. Recent reforms allow electronic signatures on this agreement, which has trimmed out a notarization step that used to add delay. From this point, your exports start showing up as credits on your monthly bill — see how net metering credits work for how that’s calculated.

What does it cost?

Expect processing and inspection fees in the low thousands of pesos, plus a charge for the bi-directional meter itself if you don’t already have one — exact figures vary by distribution utility and system size, so confirm current fees with your DU or installer before signing anything. This is on top of your installed system cost; see our cost calculator for what a system of your size runs installed.

What if my DU or LGU misses the deadline?

Under the current rules, a “deemed approved” mechanism kicks in if your distribution utility or LGU fails to act within its mandated window on a complete, correctly filed application. In practice this means keeping proof of submission — dated receipts, reference numbers, email confirmations — so you have something to point to if a deadline slips.

Can the application get rejected?

Yes, usually over incomplete documents, a system that doesn’t meet Philippine Electrical Code requirements, or a mismatch between what was installed and what’s on the single-line diagram. A reputable installer catches most of these before submission, which is one more reason installer choice matters as much as equipment choice.