Philippines customers are increasing rooftop solar installations as electricity costs climb amid an energy supply disruption linked to conflict in the Middle East. One account says Meralco, a major power distributor, has raised electricity prices by about 10% since late February, when the conflict began. Using household usage of roughly 200 kilowatt-hours per month, the reports estimate that a median household’s electricity spending is around 12% of monthly income. Data cited from China customs compiled by Reuters shows Philippine purchases of solar panels total $407 million between March 1 and May 31, making the country the world’s largest spender during that period. The same reporting notes that the Netherlands spent more, but as a transshipment hub it is not treated as a direct measure of consumer demand.
Additional context from energy analysts indicates distributed solar in the Philippines has nearly doubled over the past 12 months. Reuters-style summaries also say demand is being pulled by high prices and improved payback expectations, while supply chain issues and upfront costs continue to pose challenges. Overall, the sources describe a rapid pivot toward distributed solar generation during a wider regional energy crunch.
