Simply typing “rooftop solar power” into any search engine brings up a heated debate: Do homeowners need to “ask EVN for permission” before installing panels? Many people find this requirement absurd, calling it an unnecessary barrier to the global green energy trend.

However, from the perspective of legal frameworks and international practice, the matter is quite straightforward: it is not about permission but about fulfilling a mandatory obligation to notify authorities for the sake of safety and grid discipline.

In Germany, for instance, a homeowner in a heritage district wishing to install a few panels on the roof must go through two layers of approval. First, local authorities assess the plan due to concerns over heritage preservation. Then comes the utility company, which requires a complete application including the system’s capacity, wiring diagram, inverter specifications, lightning protection, safety certificates, and installer credentials. No one says you must “ask permission to use solar power,” but registration is mandatory. Without it, the system is not recognized, and insurance won’t cover any damage.

The European Union goes further. In most countries, households must complete interconnection procedures with the power company. Many nations waive construction permits for small systems and shorten the processing period to 30 days, using a “silence is consent” policy. In other words, they make the process easier - but under no circumstances is unregulated installation allowed.

The United States follows a similar pattern. Homeowners must first obtain a permit from their city or county to ensure compliance with national electrical codes, fire safety standards, and structural integrity. The second step is interconnection registration with the utility company, along with a net-metering or net-billing contract. Bidirectional meters and anti-backflow protection are standard requirements. The U.S. Department of Energy even introduced the SolarAPP+ platform to streamline paperwork, sometimes approving applications within a day - but that does not mean skipping the process entirely.

Compared to these countries, Vietnam's regulations are relatively lenient. Under the 2024 Electricity Law and Government Decree 58/2025/ND-CP, households only need to notify the provincial Department of Industry and Trade and the local power utility. The required information includes name, system capacity, type of source, location, and installation timeline. Simultaneously, households must comply with construction, environmental, fire safety, and technical regulations.

This means that approval from EVN is not needed before installing a rooftop solar system. The right to install belongs to the homeowner. But notification is mandatory. Failing to do so is a violation of the law - and any subsequent penalties are the natural result.

Why is notification necessary? There are three key reasons.

First, safety. A poorly installed system lacking lightning protection, with substandard wiring or cheap inverters, could turn a roof into an electrical bomb. In Germany or the U.S., failure to meet standards means no insurance coverage in case of fire.

Second, grid security. Tens of thousands of decentralized generation points feeding unregulated electricity back into the grid can destabilize entire regions. That’s why bidirectional meters and backflow protection devices are global standards.

Third, macro-level management. The Department of Industry and Trade needs data to report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade in order to manage the national grid. A power system cannot be planned based on rough estimates.

EVN has reported that since 2020, roughly 1,300 MWp of rooftop solar capacity has been installed for self-consumption only. This means thousands of unregistered power sources are operating outside government oversight, with no clear information on location, capacity, or safety standards - posing a serious risk.

So why oppose a simple notification?

Some argue that penalizing households that fail to register is "making life difficult for the people." But let’s be clear: this is simply enforcing the law. Decree 58 outlines the obligation to notify. Failing to do so is a violation - and violations require penalties. If people are unhappy with EVN, they should criticize its monopolistic behavior, cumbersome procedures, or unclear electricity pricing policies. But notification for solar installation should not be deemed unreasonable. It is a basic regulatory practice - and, in fact, more relaxed than what many developed nations require.

France, Japan, Australia, China, and others all mandate interconnection or notification procedures. The more developed a country, the stricter the technical standards. Compared to the hundreds of pages of electrical, fire safety, and lightning protection standards in Germany or the U.S., sending a simple form to EVN is a relatively light requirement.

Renewable energy is the way forward - but freedom does not mean chaos. In a society governed by law, every electricity source, large or small, must be regulated. Registering with EVN isn’t about seeking permission - it’s about data for authorities, safety for the grid, and protection for homeowners.

The phrase “asking EVN for permission” is a misleading simplification. The more important question is: when will the electricity buyback mechanism be clarified? What incentives will be introduced? Which administrative procedures are still too burdensome and should be scrapped?

Green energy cannot advance through shortcuts. Transparency and safety in solar development cannot be overlooked. Registration with EVN is not about begging for approval - it’s about ensuring that a green roof is also a safe one, and that the national grid remains stable. Once this is understood, there should be no more noise about the term “notification.”

Tu Giang - Lan Anh