The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is preparing its biggest overhaul yet of rooftop solar and distributed energy rules to make it easier and cheaper for consumers to generate their own electricity.

Under a draft framework released for comment, the regulator said over the weekend it wants to slash approval timelines, cut compliance costs, and widen access to net-metering and distributed energy resources (DER) as it pushes faster renewable energy adoption.

ERC chairperson Francis Saturnino C. Juan said the reforms are meant to remove long-standing barriers to consumer participation in the energy transition.

“We are removing the barriers that have long prevented consumers from participating in the energy transition. These reforms make it faster, more affordable, and more accessible for Filipinos to generate their own power, while ensuring that the system remains fair, reliable, and responsive to the needs of the public,” Juan said.

Among the biggest proposed changes are cutting the interconnection period for net-metering applications to 10 working days from 20, introducing automatic approvals if distribution utilities fail to install bidirectional meters on time, and allowing fully digital applications with legally valid e-signatures to eliminate notarization requirements.