Frequently Asked Questions

Most locations across the Philippines receive strong year-round sunlight, making solar viable almost everywhere. During your free site assessment, our team evaluates your roof orientation, shading, and local grid setup to confirm your property's solar potential.

Cost depends on your system size, energy usage, and property type. We offer package tiers starting with the Solar Elite Package (48V 5kW) up through larger commercial systems — get in touch for a tailored quote based on your average monthly bill.

In selected regions, we offer flexible financing options and help you navigate available government incentives and tax credits to make going solar more affordable upfront.

Yes — we design both on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems depending on your goals. Off-grid setups pair solar panels with battery storage for full energy independence, even during outages.

Most residential installations are completed within a few days once your custom design and proposal are approved, followed by testing to ensure everything runs safely and efficiently.

Yes. SolarSwitch systems are designed to comply with the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) Net Metering Program, allowing you to export excess solar power to the grid and receive credit on your electricity bill, subject to your local utility's application process.

Savings vary by system size, roof orientation, and household usage, but most residential customers see a significant reduction in their monthly electricity bill. During your free consultation, we'll estimate your specific savings based on your actual consumption.

Yes. Our panels and mounting systems are rated to withstand strong winds and heavy rainfall typical of the Philippine climate, and are installed following manufacturer wind-load guidelines for added safety.

Most residential installations require a building permit from your local government unit (LGU) and approval from your electric utility for grid connection. Most customers handle the permit and utility application themselves, and we'll gladly guide you on what's needed. If you'd prefer not to deal with the paperwork, we can prepare and file the documentation for you as an optional service.

Most residential systems pay for themselves within 4 to 7 years, depending on system size, electricity rates, and household usage, after which the energy produced is essentially free.

At the moment, our standard payment term is 50% down payment and 50% upon project completion. We’re also exploring financing and installment options to make solar more accessible in the future.

Solar panels typically last 25+ years with minimal maintenance. In the Philippines' humid climate, we recommend periodic cleaning to remove dust and debris, which our after-sales maintenance plan covers.

A standard grid-tied solar system shuts off during a grid outage for safety, unless paired with a battery storage system, which can continue powering your home. Ask us about hybrid systems if backup power during outages is a priority for you.

Yes, though output is reduced compared to sunny days. Solar panels still generate electricity from diffused daylight even when cloudy, and your system is typically sized to account for the Philippines' seasonal weather patterns over the full year.

Renters generally need landlord approval since panels are a permanent installation. For condos or subdivisions with a homeowners' association, HOA approval may be required before installation — we can help you understand what documentation is typically needed.

Most residential households in the Philippines are well-served by a 3kW to 6kW system, depending on monthly electricity consumption and roof space. We assess your actual usage and roof during a free consultation to recommend the right size.

The Philippines' Renewable Energy Act provides certain incentives for renewable energy investments, and net metering allows bill credits for excess power exported to the grid. Availability and eligibility can vary, so we recommend confirming current incentives with your local utility or a tax professional.

Most residential installations are completed within 1 to 3 days once permits and materials are ready, though the full process — including site assessment, permitting, and utility coordination — can take several weeks.

Yes. Grid-connected solar systems need your utility's approval for interconnection and net metering enrollment. Most customers file the net metering application themselves, and we'll gladly guide you through it. If you'd prefer not to deal with the paperwork, we can prepare and handle the application for you as an optional service.

We work with reputable, quality-tested solar equipment brands, and our installations are backed by manufacturer warranties on components plus our own workmanship warranty. Ask your SolarSwitch representative for the specific warranty terms on your chosen package.

It depends on the type of system. A standard grid-tied system automatically shuts off during a brownout for safety (so it can't feed power back into lines a utility crew may be working on), so it won't keep your lights on. A hybrid system with battery storage can keep your essential appliances running through an outage. If backup during brownouts matters to you, tell us and we'll design a hybrid system sized to your essentials.

Panels still generate power on cloudy and rainy days, just less than on bright sunny days — modern panels work with diffused light, not only direct sun. When properly engineered and mounted, systems are built to withstand strong winds. We assess your roof and use appropriate mounting so the array is secure through Philippine weather.

Quality solar panels are designed to last well over 25 years. Their output declines very gradually over time rather than stopping suddenly, and manufacturers back this with long-term performance warranties. Inverters typically have a shorter service life than the panels and may be replaced once during the system's lifetime.

Very little. Rain rinses off most dust, and an occasional cleaning plus a periodic check of the wiring and inverter is usually all that's needed. Every SolarSwitch installation includes 5 years of after-sales maintenance, and we can advise on simple upkeep for the years beyond that.

Not when it's done properly. We assess your roof's type and condition first, use mounting hardware suited to it, and seal every penetration so it stays watertight. A correct installation protects the roof underneath the panels — the shaded area is actually sheltered from sun and rain.

Often, yes — if your system is built around a hybrid-ready inverter, you can add battery storage later without replacing everything. If you think you might want backup power down the line, tell us up front and we'll design the system so it's ready to expand.

Grid-tied is the most affordable — it works alongside your utility and can substantially cut your bill, but it switches off during a brownout. Hybrid adds a battery, so your essentials keep running during outages and you store daytime energy for the evening. Off-grid runs entirely on solar and batteries with no utility connection, best for sites with no reliable grid. We'll recommend the right one based on your goals and location.

A well-sized system can substantially reduce your bill, and with net metering the energy you export earns credits against what you draw at night. Whether it gets close to zero depends on how much power you use, when you use it, and how large a system your roof can fit. Share a few months of your bills and we'll give you a realistic estimate for your home or business.

The Green Energy Option Program lets a business buy electricity directly from a renewable energy supplier instead of taking the distribution utility's generation charge. In 2026 the Department of Energy lowered the eligibility threshold from 100 kW to 50 kW of average monthly peak demand, and now allows multiple end-users within the same franchise area to aggregate their demand with no limit on group size — so tenants in a shared estate, or a business with several branches, may qualify collectively even if no single site reaches 50 kW. The DOE has said it will review the threshold annually with a view to lowering it further. Check the demand (kW) figure on your bill; distribution utilities notify qualifying customers, but notifications are often missed.

They reach different parts of your bill and can be combined. GEOP and RCOA replace the generation charge — about 91% of your energy cost per kilowatt-hour, but only the energy cost. Solar removes kilowatt-hours entirely, so it takes generation, system loss and distribution-energy together. Neither reduces your demand charge, which is billed on peak capacity. On a 60 kW facility we modelled, solar alone reached 42% of the bill and a 10% generation discount reached 7.6%; together about 46%. If a large share of your bill is demand charges, neither option touches it and operational changes should come first.

Load factor is your monthly consumption divided by your peak demand multiplied by 720. It measures how evenly you use the capacity you are billed for, and it tells you which cost-reduction levers can actually reach your bill. Above 0.6 means steady draw, mostly energy charges, and solar is usually the best first move. Below 0.4 means short bursts against a small base — demand charges become a large share of the bill, and sequencing equipment start-up or shifting deferrable work will return more than generation will. Both figures are on your bill.

Meralco's headline figure — currently around ₱14.78 per kWh — is for a household consuming 200 kWh a month. The distribution charge is bracketed and the applicable rate applies to your entire consumption, not just the portion above each threshold. So a household using 400 kWh pays roughly ₱15.41, and one using 600 kWh or more pays closer to ₱15.95. Any home running air conditioning is well past 200 kWh. Our calculator uses the higher-tier figure because it reflects what most people evaluating solar actually pay — and you can set your own rate from your bill.

Fifty percent on signing and fifty percent on completion. Completion is defined in the contract as the system being fully installed, energised, demonstrated to you, and the handover package delivered — the as-built drawings, equipment serial numbers, warranty certificates, monitoring access and operating instructions. Tying the balance to the documentation rather than just to the last panel going up protects both sides, because it gives "completion" a defined meaning rather than leaving it open to argument.

Usually because of heat. Anything that heats or evaporates water is enormously energy-hungry — evaporating a kilogram of water takes about seven times the energy of heating it from cold to boiling. In a self-service laundromat we modelled, the dryers alone were 54% of consumption and heat-producing loads together were 64%, while the motors doing the actual washing were a minor line. The same applies to commercial kitchens, water heating and refrigeration. Equipment count is a poor guide; what matters is which machines produce or remove heat, and for how many hours.

Often yes, provided the inverter has spare capacity and roof space remains. This is worth planning at the design stage — specifying an inverter with headroom costs little at the outset and makes expansion straightforward, whereas a fully loaded inverter means replacing the most expensive component to add a few panels. If you expect your consumption to grow, for example with an additional air conditioner or an electric vehicle, tell us at the survey and we will size the inverter accordingly.