DOE eyes more solar installations

The installation of solar power systems is now easier for households, small businesses, and medical facilities, as the Department of Energy (DOE) has reduced regulatory requirements and simplified the application processes. 



In a news release on Thursday, the DOE said Department Circular DC2026-08-0017 covers two categories of own-use solar installations – the Self-Generating Facility Zero-Export Solar Systems (SGF ZESS) and the Micro-Solar Systems (MSS).



The SGF ZESS covers solar photovoltaic systems connected to a household or facility’s electrical system and equipped with safeguards that prevent excess electricity from being exported to the distribution grid.

The MSS, meanwhile, are for “smaller, consumer-grade plug-and-play solar systems of up to one kilowatt designed for direct connection to a consumer’s electrical system, subject to applicable technical and safety requirements.”

Following the issuance of the DOE circular, applicants for MSS will not be required to present building permits or certificates of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Instead, they will be “subject to a notification process with their distribution utility (DU).”

For those with SGF ZESS, both the COC requirement and the building permit are no longer required, as the DOE noted that a building permit has already been secured before building construction.  

DUs are also mandated to “remove unnecessary pre-installation clearances, technical permits, and inspection charges as conditions for connection.”



“Existing analog meters may continue to be used during a 12-month transition period while scheduled metering upgrades are undertaken, allowing qualified consumers to begin using their solar systems without waiting for immediate meter replacement,” the news release said.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the issuance of the circular addresses factors that discourage more people from installing their own solar power systems.   (PNA)