A representative from Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) said that requiring individuals and organizations to notify or register their rooftop solar system is not a “license/approval” process, but a necessary condition for stable grid operation.

"On sunny days, households using solar power reduce grid load. But on cloudy days or at night, demand shifts back to the grid. If authorities don’t know the solar capacity of households, it’s hard to accurately calculate load," the representative explained.

In other words, registration or notification helps restore an accurate load picture. This enables the power sector to prepare a stable supply during low-sunlight periods.

The aim is to create a simple, user-friendly process that encourages public participation.

EVN recently reported that some households have installed rooftop solar without notifying or registering with authorities. As a result, EVN has proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) add administrative penalties for violations, depending on severity.

The proposal has sparked considerable debate. Many argue that solar power is clean energy, and people install rooftop solar for self-consumption not only to save money but also to reduce pressure on the national grid. So, why penalize them for not notifying or registering?

Pham Dang An, deputy CEO of Vu Phong Energy Group, and a renewable energy expert, said that notification, even for off-grid, self-use systems with or without storage,  reflects a more mature renewable energy market.

In a national power system, it’s not just large-scale supply from power plants that matters but also the overall picture of thousands of distributed sources. Notification or registration acts like pieces of a puzzle, helping authorities see the full power demand picture, he said.

This information enables authorities to forecast demand, regulate power supply, avoid waste, and reduce local overload risks. It also helps the power sector make smart investment decisions, such as upgrading infrastructure in specific areas, preparing for trends like electric vehicles, green production, and household storage.

Equally important is safety for households. Notification/registration ensures compliance with technical and fire safety standards, reducing operational risks.

“This ‘notification’ duty should apply even when the system isn’t connected to the national grid,” An said. 

The goal is not only to manage the national power system but also to track distributed capacity for planning and load forecasting, and ensure technical and fire safety (especially for systems with storage - Battery Energy Storage System, or BESS), and limit risks of electrical leaks or unauthorized connections later.

Notification process

However, he stressed that the notification/registration process must be simple, transparent, online, and completed within 1-2 days. Penalties should only apply when there’s a real risk to the power system or community.

Additionally, there should be a clear separation between EVN’s role in managing load data and the responsibility for safety assessments (from fire and construction authorities).

“This is a necessary step to integrate clean energy into everyday life. Success doesn’t come from ‘penalties’ but from how we design a simple, friendly process that encourages people to participate in the nation’s green strategy,” An said.

Government Decree 58 released in 2025, detailing certain provisions of the Electricity Law on developing renewable and new energy, clearly outlines the registration procedure.

For rooftop solar systems not connected to the national grid, organizations or individuals only need to notify the local power units about the system’s capacity and location. The power unit will confirm receipt of the notification. Organizations and individuals have full autonomy over this power source.

For rooftop solar systems connected to the national grid, there are two cases:

For systems that do not sell surplus power, the registration process is as follows: Investors submit documents as per Decree 58; the management agency inspects the system, and for installations above 100 kW, must perform acceptance testing; and once requirements are met, documentation is archived.

For systems selling surplus power to the power company: The investor submits an application per Article 24 of Decree 58; coordinates with the power unit to inspect the metering system, remote data collection, and control monitoring; and when technical requirements are met, both parties negotiate and sign a power purchase agreement.

Tam An