The government of Bangladesh has approved updated net metering guidelines for 2025 to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar and enable all electricity consumers to become power producers.

“This progressive policy makes rooftop solar easier, smarter, and more rewarding for households and businesses,” the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) said in a statement.

One of the key changes allows 100% of a consumer’s sanctioned load to be used for net-metered rooftop solar, up from the previous limit of 70%. The sanctioned load is the maximum amount of power authorized by the utility for a consumer. The new rule is expected to encourage greater self-consumption of solar electricity.

The revised guidelines also expand eligibility by allowing single-phase consumers to participate in net metering, whereas only three-phase users were permitted previously. In addition, electricity exported to the grid will now be compensated with direct payments in Bangladeshi taka to producers’ bank or mobile banking accounts.

Other reforms include the launch of an online application system and the inclusion of prepaid and smart meter users in the scheme. Earlier, participation was restricted to consumers with postpaid meters.

Mostafa Al Mahmud, president of the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), welcomed the new rules, highlighting their potential to boost investment and adoption of rooftop solar.

“Both the producers and the developers will benefit from the new policy,” he said, describing the inclusion of single-phase consumers as a “very time-befitting decision.”