Power Bills Soar, Filipinos Rush to Install Rooftop Solar

MANILA, Philippines – Keith Cantera and his family had weighed installing their own solar power system for years. The cost—up to $5,000 for the panels—kept them waiting. But this year, when the conflict between the U.S.-Israel and Iran shook global energy markets and sent electricity prices higher, their plans changed.

From a bill of about $150 a month before the conflict erupted in late February, the Cantera family found itself paying as much as $220. Eight months later, they began installing solar panels on their roof.

“The installation cost is equivalent to three or four years of electricity at current prices. But by the fifth year, we will have recovered our investment and electricity will basically be free,” Cantera said.

He is one of a growing number of Filipino homeowners turning to solar, in a country that already has Southeast Asia's highest electricity prices, on par with Singapore—where average incomes are more than 10 times higher.

According to a report by energy think tank Ember, the number of rooftop solar panels in the Philippines has nearly doubled since the start of 2025. In the first three months of the conflict (March to May), solar panel imports reached $407 million, according to Chinese government trade data—China manufactures most of the panels. The Philippines became the largest foreign market in that period, behind only the Netherlands, which redistributes panels across Europe.

Lexus Grepo, CEO of solar supplier Solarmaxx, confirmed the boom. “The waiting time is 30 days because panel shipments can't keep up. In March we had 40 projects, nearly three times the usual monthly customer volume. Since then, we've been installing 25-30 systems a month,” Grepo said. He does not expect demand to fall even if Middle East tensions ease and energy shipping routes reopen. “I think people realize the world is very unpredictable, so they have to be ready for any scenario. Filipinos now understand they don't necessarily have to depend on the global energy market.”

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the region that does not subsidize electricity, relying on imported coal and gas for more than 70% of its power mix. The peso's slide to a record low of more than 63 to the dollar has further raised import costs. In late March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency over the war's impact and the “imminent” risk to energy supplies. Electricity prices, however, kept rising.

The shift to solar also stems partly from frustration with power companies that have been scrutinized for charging customers for so-called “system losses,” including illegal connections. Cantera said paying for other people's electricity consumption was the last straw. “Who would agree to pay for something they don't use? Electricity bills don't fall from the sky,” he said.

Despite real demand, the upfront cost of a solar system remains too high for most Filipinos. In March the government launched a home rooftop installation loan program, but it is only open to public sector employees. Officials hope dozens of renewable energy projects in the pipeline will help lower electricity prices for the wider public, including a 3,500-hectare (8,650-acre) solar farm north of Manila expected to be the world's largest. Once complete, the project will supply 850 megawatts to 2.4 million households.

However, some consumers say such projects could take years to complete, leaving their electricity bills swelling unless they act themselves. “Right now everything is too unpredictable. There's an El Nino weather pattern coming, the war continues, fuel prices are climbing and much more,” Cantera said. “So why not take advantage of a natural resource?”