House leaders have filed legislation aimed at making it simpler and faster for households and businesses to set up rooftop solar panels, battery storage, and other self-consumption energy systems.
House Bill No. 10431, titled the Sariling Kuryente Act, was introduced by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos.
The bill seeks to grant consumers greater freedom to generate and store their own power without being burdened by regulations built for commercial power producers.
“President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. wants energy policy to give people real choices, and Speaker Bojie Dy and I believe those choices should begin at home,” Marcos, the son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Sunday, August 2.
”Kung kaya ng isang pamilya o negosyo na gumawa at mag-store ng sariling kuryente, government should clear the path instead of treating them like a commercial power producer,” stressed the presidential son.
Key Reforms and Regulatory Exemptions
The bill proposes amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 to clearly separate self-consumption power generation from commercial power distribution.
- Exemption from ERC Approval: Systems equipped with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)-certified non-exporting technology will no longer require a Certificate of Compliance or prior ERC approval.
- Post-Installation Notification Only: Utility companies will be barred from requiring advance permits, technical studies, meter replacements, or extra fees for eligible non-exporting systems. Owners will simply notify their local provider after setup.
- 10-Day Approval Window for Grid Exporters: For systems that export excess electricity, distribution utilities must process interconnection requests within 10 working days. Unresolved applications within this timeframe will be automatically approved.
- Prohibition on HOA Bans: Property managers, subdivision developers, and homeowners’ associations will be prohibited from restricting installations on private property, except for legitimate structural or safety concerns.
Expanding Access and Consumer Rights
Under the proposed law, the Department of Energy (DOE) will work to remove administrative barriers, enhance consumer access to financing, and promote reliable installers and equipment.
“This bill protects consumers from needless delays without compromising safety, which is the balance President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has consistently demanded and Speaker Bojie Dy has helped us pursue in the House. Ang mensahe nito ay malinaw: families should be free to invest in their own power supply under fair and uniform rules,” noted the presidential son.
Once enacted, the DOE, ERC, and relevant stakeholders will have 90 days to establish the bill’s implementing rules and regulations. The law will take effect 15 days following its publication.