Philippine solar installers waste hours every week entering Meralco and VECO rates into spreadsheets manually — then entering them again when the rates change the following month. The BGC export rate, the retail consumption rate, the self-consumption percentage, the peak sun hours for a specific city: all of these inputs must be correct and current for a financial proposal to be credible. Getting any one of them wrong produces a payback figure that either loses the sale (too pessimistic) or creates a complaint six months after installation (too optimistic). See Agricultural Solar Design for more.
This comparison covers the three platforms most commonly used by Philippine solar installers in 2026: SurgePV, Aurora Solar, and OpenSolar. The evaluation criteria focus on what matters for the Philippine market — not global feature counts. See Air Source Heat Pump Solar PV Sizing for more. See Albedo Values for Solar Design for more.
Single-Line Diagrams from Software Are Not Self-Certifying
Solar design software generates single-line diagrams that form the starting point for CFEI and DU net metering applications. However, under Philippine law, the CoC and the as-built SLD must be reviewed and signed by a PRC-licensed Registered Master Electrician (RME) or Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE). A software-generated diagram alone — without the engineer’s signature and PRC license number — does not satisfy the requirement. The software produces the diagram; the licensed engineer certifies it.
At a Glance: Feature Comparison
| Feature | SurgePV | Aurora Solar | OpenSolar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines irradiance data | Yes (city-level) | Partial (global dataset, variable PH accuracy) | Yes (PVGIS-based) |
| Meralco retail rate integration | Yes (built-in) | Manual entry required | Manual entry required |
| VECO rate integration | Yes (built-in) | Manual entry required | Manual entry required |
| Davao Light rate integration | Yes (built-in) | Manual entry required | Manual entry required |
| BGC net metering export rate | Yes (separate from retail) | Manual — single rate field only | Partial — may require manual two-rate setup |
| Single-line diagram export | Yes (Philippines PEC conventions) | Yes (US NEC conventions — needs modification) | Limited |
| Financial proposal in PHP | Yes | Yes (with manual rate setup) | Yes (with manual rate setup) |
| String sizing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shading analysis | Yes (3D) | Yes (3D — strong) | Yes (3D) |
| Self-consumption modeling | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Pricing (approx.) | Freemium + PHP-denominated subscription | USD $149–349/month (~PHP 8,500–20,000/month) | Free tier available; paid plans USD-priced |
| Philippine time zone support | Yes | Limited (US-centric support hours) | Partial |
| Proposal language localization | English + Filipino | English only | English only |
SurgePV: Built for Philippine Net Metering
SurgePV is a cloud-based solar design software platform built around the complete installer workflow — from site survey through signed proposal. For Philippine installers, the relevant differentiation is in the financial modeling layer.
BGC integration: The most common source of inaccurate Philippine solar proposals is using a single electricity rate for both self-consumed and exported energy. SurgePV separates the two — the retail rate applies to self-consumed solar generation, and the BGC applies to exported energy. Both Meralco and VECO rate tables are built in, so the installer selects the distribution utility rather than manually looking up and entering current rates. See Battery Solar System Design UK for more. See Best Direction for Solar Panels in [Complete Guide] for more.
City-level Philippines irradiance: Peak sun hours vary meaningfully across the Philippines — 5.2 hours/day in Cebu, 4.8 in Manila, 4.5 in Davao. Applying the wrong irradiance dataset overstates or understates annual yield by 10–15%. SurgePV uses irradiance datasets with Philippine city-level resolution, so a system designed for Davao City uses Davao-specific data, not a national average.
Financial proposals in PHP: Customer proposals are generated in Philippine pesos with itemized payback calculations. The proposal shows: gross system cost, estimated annual yield, self-consumed portion (savings), exported portion (BGC credit), simple payback period, and 25-year projection. This removes the manual step of transcribing calculator results into a proposal document.
Single-line diagrams: SurgePV’s SLD output follows Philippine Electrical Code conventions and includes the elements required for CFEI applications and DU net metering submissions — inverter location, string configuration, DC and AC protection, earthing, and the grid connection point. The licensed engineer reviews and signs the output rather than drafting from scratch.
Shadow analysis: The 3D shading module models roof-specific shading from nearby obstructions. In Philippine urban contexts — tight building spacing, water tanks, satellite dishes — shading frequently reduces actual yield below the no-shade calculation. SurgePV’s shading analysis quantifies this at the design stage.
For which installers: SurgePV suits residential and commercial installers who need accurate financial proposals without spending 30–60 minutes per project on manual rate entry and spreadsheet calculations. The generation and financial tool handles the yield and ROI modeling automatically.
Aurora Solar: Global Platform, Philippine Limitations
Aurora Solar is a US-built platform widely used in North America. Some Philippine installers use it, primarily those who learned the tool while working abroad or through US-affiliated contractors.
What works for the Philippines:
- Strong 3D roof modeling and shadow analysis — Aurora’s shading simulation is well-regarded globally
- Good satellite imagery coverage for Metro Manila and Cebu City metropolitan areas
- Reasonable irradiance data for major Philippine cities through its global weather dataset integration
- AUD/PHP proposal output through customizable incentive and rate fields
Where Aurora falls short for the Philippines:
- Pricing in USD: Aurora’s plans start at approximately USD $149/month (Entry) and reach USD $349/month (Professional). At PHP 58/USD, this is PHP 8,600–20,200/month — three to five times the cost of PHP-denominated alternatives. For smaller Philippine contractors, this is prohibitive.
- No built-in Philippine DU rates: Aurora does not maintain Meralco, VECO, or Davao Light rate tables. Installers must manually enter the retail rate and BGC rate for each project — and must remember to update them monthly as rates change.
- No BGC-specific net metering modeling: Aurora’s financial model has a single feed-in or export rate field. Correctly modeling Philippine net metering — where the export credit (BGC) is different from the retail savings rate — requires a workaround or manual calculation outside the tool.
- US NEC conventions on SLDs: Aurora’s single-line diagram output follows US NEC 690 conventions. Philippine DU applications and LGU permit processes expect Philippine Electrical Code conventions. The SLD typically requires manual redrawing or significant annotation before submission.
- Support time zone: Aurora’s customer support is US-based. Philippine installers report limited support responsiveness during Philippine working hours.
Best for: Philippine installers who prioritize Aurora’s 3D design and shading simulation quality and are willing to handle financial modeling, rate entry, and SLD modification manually. Not cost-effective for high-volume residential installers.
OpenSolar: Free Tier Tradeoffs
OpenSolar offers a free tier with no project cap, which is why it has traction among smaller Philippine solar contractors and new entrants.
What works for the Philippines:
- Free access removes the software cost barrier entirely — a meaningful consideration for smaller installers
- PVGIS-based irradiance data with reasonable Philippine coverage
- 3D design and shading analysis at no cost
- AUD/PHP proposal output through manual rate entry
- Growing international user community including Southeast Asia
Where OpenSolar requires additional work for the Philippines:
- No built-in Philippine DU rates: Like Aurora, OpenSolar does not maintain Meralco, VECO, or Davao Light rate tables. The installer manually enters rates per project. Without a BGC-specific field, correctly modeling the two-rate Philippine net metering structure requires a manual workaround.
- Financial modeling depth: OpenSolar’s free tier financial model is less granular than paid platforms. Self-consumption profiling, degradation curves, and 25-year projection detail are more limited than SurgePV’s dedicated generation and financial tool.
- SLD limitations: OpenSolar’s diagramming capability is less complete than Aurora or SurgePV for producing permit-ready Philippine documents. SLDs may require manual completion before submission to the LGU or DU.
- Paid plan pricing: OpenSolar’s paid plans (for advanced features) are USD-priced, which reintroduces the exchange rate cost for installers who need the full feature set.
Best for: Smaller Philippine installers, new market entrants, or installers whose primary need is 3D design visualization and basic yield estimation. Works for installers who are comfortable supplementing with manual Philippine net metering financial calculations. Not ideal for high-volume operations where per-project time savings matter.
Which to Choose
| Installer Type | Best Option | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Residential installer (Metro Manila or Cebu), 10+ projects/month | SurgePV | Built-in Meralco/VECO BGC modeling eliminates per-project rate entry; PHP pricing |
| Commercial installer, complex shading sites | SurgePV + shadow analysis validation | Strong 3D shading + accurate Philippine financial modeling |
| New installer, limited budget | OpenSolar (free) | Zero cost to start; acceptable for basic design and yield estimation |
| Installer already trained on Aurora (returning from abroad) | Aurora if budget allows, SurgePV for financial modeling | Use Aurora for 3D design quality; supplement financial proposals in SurgePV |
| Multi-DU operation (Luzon + Visayas + Mindanao) | SurgePV | Single platform with Meralco, VECO, and Davao Light rates |
| Installer targeting commercial/industrial above 100 kWp | SurgePV for proposals + manual engineering validation for yield | For large systems, engineering-grade simulation may require supplementation |
The central decision for most Philippine installers is simple: the time cost of manually entering and updating DU rates for every project. For an installer processing 20 projects per month, spending 30–45 minutes per project on manual rate entry and spreadsheet financial modeling adds 10–15 hours per month of avoidable work. Solar software with built-in Philippine utility data eliminates this entirely.
Design, Simulate, and Propose Philippine Solar Projects Without Manual Rate Entry
SurgePV includes Meralco, VECO, and Davao Light rate integration with BGC net metering modeling — so your financial proposals are accurate from the first click, not after 45 minutes of spreadsheet work.
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How Software Fits the Philippines Compliance Workflow
Philippine solar compliance requires three parallel document tracks: the LGU permit track, the DU net metering track, and the on-site technical documentation. Solar design software contributes to each.
LGU permit track (electrical permit + CFEI)
Before installation, the installer files for an electrical permit from the local government unit (LGU) — the City or Municipal Engineering Office. The application requires an electrical plan (single-line diagram) and bill of materials. Solar design software generates the SLD and BOM directly from the system design. The licensed engineer reviews and signs both.
After installation, the LGU issues the Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) following a site inspection. Under the DOE April 2026 mandate, the LGU must issue the CFEI within 3 working days of the inspection. The as-built SLD — updated to reflect any field changes — is submitted at inspection.
DU net metering track
The net metering application to Meralco, VECO, or Davao Light requires: the Davao Light/Meralco/VECO application form, CoC signed by the licensed engineer, as-built SLD, bill of materials, CFEI, and the latest DU bill. The SLD from the software — reviewed and signed by the engineer — serves as the core technical document.
Under the DOE April 2026 mandate, the DU must respond within 10 working days. For more on the application processes, see Meralco net metering, VECO net metering, and the Davao Light guide.
Technical documentation
The Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is signed by the engineer of record and certifies that the installation complies with the Philippine Electrical Code and all applicable technical requirements. Solar design software supports this by providing the string sizing calculation, protection device specifications, and system configuration details that the engineer verifies — rather than requiring the engineer to recalculate from scratch.
Financial proposal
While not a compliance document, the financial proposal — showing accurate payback, annual savings, and 25-year ROI — is the document that closes the sale. An inaccurate proposal (typically caused by using a single rate for both self-consumed and exported energy) generates post-installation complaints. Using solar software with correct Philippine BGC modeling prevents this.
The practical result of integrating solar design software into the Philippine compliance workflow: the same system design that generates the financial proposal for the customer also generates the SLD for the LGU permit application and the as-built documentation for the CFEI and DU submission. The documents are consistent, and the manual transcription between stages is eliminated.
For the full Philippines compliance framework, see the Philippines solar compliance hub. For the net metering financial formula and payback calculations, see the Philippines solar ROI calculator. For the ERC rules governing net metering, see the ERC net metering rules guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What solar design software do Philippine installers use?
Philippine solar installers primarily use SurgePV, Aurora Solar, and OpenSolar. SurgePV is cloud-based with built-in Meralco, VECO, and Davao Light rate integration. Aurora Solar is used by some installers but requires manual Philippine rate entry and is USD-priced. OpenSolar offers a free tier used by smaller contractors.
Which solar software supports Meralco net metering BGC calculations?
SurgePV includes built-in Philippine utility rate data and separates the BGC export credit rate from the retail consumption savings rate — producing correct net metering financial proposals without manual rate entry. Aurora and OpenSolar require manual configuration to model the two-rate Philippine structure.
Is Aurora Solar available in the Philippines?
Yes — Aurora is available but USD-priced at approximately $149–349/month (PHP 8,500–20,000/month at current rates). Its Philippines-specific utility rate data and BGC modeling require manual setup, and its SLD output follows US rather than Philippine conventions.
What features matter most for Philippine solar installers?
Philippines irradiance data by city, BGC net metering financial modeling, PHP peso proposals with correct two-rate calculation, single-line diagram output for permits, and Philippine Electrical Code string sizing checks.
Can I use solar design software to generate the single-line diagram required for a CFEI?
SurgePV and Aurora Solar generate single-line diagrams. The diagram must be reviewed and signed by a PRC-licensed RME or PEE before submission — software-generated SLDs are not self-certifying. OpenSolar’s SLD capability is more limited for permit-ready Philippine documentation.
