Meralco Net-Metering Program: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Full walkthrough of Meralco’s Net-Metering Program. Distribution Impact Study, bi-directional meter, credit accounting, timeline, and how installers handle it end-to-end.
What net-metering does
Net-metering is the mechanism that turns your solar system from a private producer into a two-way participant in the Meralco grid. When your panels produce more electricity than your home is consuming (typically midday), the excess flows out to the grid. Meralco records that export and credits it against your consumption when you’re pulling from the grid at night.
Without net-metering, a grid-tied solar system without batteries would either waste excess daytime production or shut down. Under net-metering, that excess becomes a credit that offsets your evening usage — effectively storing your solar energy in Meralco’s grid at no cost to you.
This is the framework that makes grid-tied solar economic in the Philippines. Without it, most residential solar installations wouldn’t pay back within the panel warranty period.
The 100 kW cap and who it fits
Meralco’s Net-Metering Program (NMP) is available to customers with solar systems up to 100 kW total AC capacity. That covers essentially every residential installation and most small-to-medium commercial installations in Quezon City.
For context:
- Residential: typical systems run 3-15 kWp. Well under the cap.
- Small commercial (offices, retail, restaurants): 10-50 kWp typical. All fits.
- Medium commercial (small warehouses, clinics, food processing): 50-100 kWp. At the edge; sized carefully.
- Large commercial / industrial (75-500+ kWp): exceeds the cap; moves into program-of-net-metering or separate renewable energy service contract.
For projects above 100 kW, we design under different frameworks (“program of net-metering” for slightly larger, RE service contracts for utility-scale). See our commercial solar page if this applies to you.
The DOE + ERC framework behind it
Net-metering in the Philippines is grounded in:
- RA 9513 (Renewable Energy Act of 2008) — the enabling law that mandated net-metering as a mechanism for distributed renewable energy. See our RA 9513 explainer.
- DOE DC2019-05-0006 — the Department of Energy circular that revised and refined net-metering rules, replacing earlier 2013 guidelines.
- ERC Resolutions — the Energy Regulatory Commission sets the specific rate at which exports are credited (currently at the utility’s “blended generation charge”).
- Meralco’s own program documentation — operationalizes the DOE/ERC framework for Meralco customers specifically.
Meralco’s implementation is well-documented and generally consistent. Once you’re approved and your bi-directional meter is installed, credit accounting is automatic.
Meralco’s DIS process explained
Before installing your system, Meralco requires a Distribution Impact Study (DIS). This is Meralco’s technical check that your proposed system:
- Won’t overload your local distribution transformer (small residential systems rarely trigger this)
- Won’t cause voltage or frequency issues on your feeder
- Has appropriately rated protection equipment (anti-islanding, ground fault, overcurrent)
- Will interconnect through a Meralco-approved bi-directional meter
For residential systems, the DIS is largely a paperwork exercise — Meralco reviews your single-line diagram, panel and inverter specs, and site information. Most residential DIS approvals come back in 2-4 weeks. For commercial systems above ~50 kW, Meralco may require additional engineering review that adds 4-8 weeks.
See our separate DIS process deep-dive for what documents are required and what triggers a re-study.
Documents required
The Meralco NMP application requires:
- Single-line diagram (SLD) of the proposed solar system, showing panels, inverter, disconnects, protection, and tie-in point
- Panel datasheet from the manufacturer (Canadian Solar, JA Solar, Longi, Trina, etc.)
- Inverter datasheet including anti-islanding certification (typically IEEE 1547 or UL 1741)
- Meter application form (Meralco’s form)
- Structural computation showing the roof can carry the system (typically required for QC OBO but also referenced in DIS)
- Copy of your most recent Meralco bill (proof of active service)
- QC LGU building permit (issued by the QC OBO)
- ID and authorization documents for the account holder
Every reputable installer handles this paperwork on your behalf. You should never have to file directly with Meralco — the installer does it as part of the standard project scope. If an installer asks you to file the DIS yourself, that’s a red flag.
The bi-directional meter
After DIS approval and installation, Meralco replaces your existing meter with a bi-directional meter that can measure both directions of energy flow. This meter records:
- Import — energy you pulled from the grid (at night, on cloudy days, during high-load moments)
- Export — energy your solar system fed back to the grid (midday excess production)
Both readings appear on your monthly bill. Your net consumption for the month = import – export. If import is greater, you pay for the net amount. If export is greater, you receive a credit that carries into the next month.
Meralco installs the bi-directional meter at their cost, usually within 1-3 weeks after your installation passes final inspection. Meter installation is scheduled with you — someone from the household needs to be present for a brief service interruption.
How credits accumulate
Under DOE DC2019-05-0006, exports are credited at the utility’s blended generation charge — not the retail rate you’d otherwise pay. In practice, this means:
- You pay Meralco’s full retail rate (₱12+/kWh) for energy imported at night
- You receive a credit at the generation charge component only (currently ~₱6-7/kWh) for energy exported at midday
- The difference reflects transmission, distribution, and taxes that Meralco doesn’t refund on exports
Credits are applied against your next month’s bill automatically. Excess credits (if you exported more than you consumed) carry forward month to month within a single billing year. At the end of the billing year, unused credits typically zero out — so oversizing your system beyond what you consume annually has diminishing returns.
For most QC households: a well-sized system (5-6 kWp on a ₱10,000/month bill) covers 80-90% of your monthly consumption net-of-credits, leaving a small monthly bill of ₱1,000-₱2,500 (mostly fixed charges + residual import).
Reading a post-NMP bill
Once your system is switched on and the bi-directional meter is installed, your monthly Meralco bill looks slightly different:
- Kilowatt-hours delivered by Meralco — what you imported from the grid
- Kilowatt-hours delivered to Meralco (export) — what your solar exported
- Net kWh billed — import minus export (if positive)
- Export credit — peso value of your exports (if you exported more than you imported, this becomes a carry-forward credit line)
- Fixed monthly charges — unchanged from before solar (distribution demand, meter charge, franchise tax)
If your bill shows a negative net (more export than import), you’ll see a credit line that reduces the next month’s bill. This is common in months with heavy sun and low household consumption (e.g., when the family is on vacation).
See our general Meralco bill guide for the pre-solar version — the post-solar version adds the two lines above.
Common rejections and how to avoid them
Most Meralco NMP applications are approved. When they’re rejected, the usual reasons:
- Inverter not on Meralco’s approved list — the inverter must have IEEE 1547 or UL 1741 anti-islanding certification. Off-brand inverters without proper certification are the most common rejection.
- Missing structural computation — Meralco cross-references with QC OBO permit; if structural docs are missing, the application stalls.
- System capacity above 100 kW — triggers a different program. Split the system into two sub-100 kW systems or move to program-of-net-metering.
- Distribution transformer overload risk — rare for residential but occasionally flagged for large commercial in older feeders. May require transformer upgrade (which Meralco may or may not cover).
- Incomplete or unsigned paperwork — the most avoidable rejection. A good installer double-checks before submission.
Reputable installers with QC experience know Meralco’s approval bar and won’t submit anything that would trigger these rejections. If your installer has done 50+ QC installations, they’ve seen every rejection scenario.
Timeline: contract to switch-on
For a typical QC residential installation, here’s how the NMP process fits into the overall timeline:
- Weeks 1-2 — On-site assessment, proposal, contract signing
- Weeks 2-4 — QC LGU building permit filing (parallel with DIS)
- Weeks 2-4 — Meralco DIS application filed
- Weeks 4-6 — Physical installation on-site (1-3 working days actual roof time)
- Weeks 6-8 — Meralco final inspection, bi-directional meter installation
- Week 8+ — System switched on; net-metering credits begin appearing on next billing cycle
Full timeline: 4-8 weeks from signed contract to first zero-bill month. Some installations move faster (fast-tracked permits, simple roof, quick DIS turnaround). Some move slower (complex properties, seasonal permit backlogs, HOA delays). Plan for 8 weeks and be pleasantly surprised if you switch on sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be present during meter installation?
Yes — briefly. Meralco needs someone at the property to authorize the service interruption (usually 30-60 minutes) and confirm the new meter’s location. Schedule this at a convenient time; Meralco typically offers several time slots.
Can I export as much as I want to the grid?
Not indefinitely. Meralco can technically limit exports if your local distribution transformer is heavily loaded, though this is rare for residential customers. Practically, a residential system sized to your consumption will never trigger export limits.
What if my system is producing but the bi-directional meter hasn’t arrived yet?
You can operate the system before the bi-directional meter arrives, but any exports won’t be credited until the new meter is installed. Some installers time the switch-on to coincide with meter installation to avoid uncredited production. Others let you start producing immediately for self-consumption.
Do exports transfer if I sell my house?
No — net-metering agreements are tied to the account holder. The new homeowner would need to reapply for net-metering under their name. The system itself stays with the property, but the paperwork resets.
What happens to unused credits at year-end?
Meralco’s current implementation zeros unused credits at the end of the annual billing period (12-month cycle from your NMP start date). Well-sized systems don’t accumulate large excess credits; oversized systems may leave value on the table. This is one reason we size systems to consumption rather than to maximum roof area.
Is net-metering going away?
Not currently. DOE and ERC have periodically reviewed and refined the program (DC2019-05-0006 was the last major revision) but there’s no active proposal to remove net-metering for systems under 100 kW. Political shifts could change this, but the framework has been stable for over a decade.
Related guides
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Let Us Handle the Meralco NMP Paperwork
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