Many Filipinos still find it difficult to benefit directly from renewable energy. The cost of installing solar panels or other renewable energy systems is beyond the reach of most households—ranging from Php150,000-Php300,000—or several years worth of electricity bills for an ordinary family. Small communities meanwhile often lack access to financing, technical assistance, and government support—requirements are stringent. At the same time, many renewable energy projects are planned and implemented by large corporations with limited participation from affected communities.

Communities also face other barriers, including complicated regulations, limited information, and the lack of programs that prioritize small-scale or community-owned renewable energy. This means that while renewable energy is expanding, many people remain consumers rather than active participants in producing and managing their own energy. 

In October 2022, 14 years after the enactment of the RE law, only over 7,700 households were recorded to have been electrified by solar power. By March 2026, the Energy Regulatory Commission has monitored just over 22,000 households that have adopted solar photovoltaic (PV) technology nationwide.

For renewable energy to become more inclusive, policies must make it easier—not harder—for ordinary people to participate.