By Sheldeen Joy Talavera, ReporterSMALL-SCALE electricity end-users will be able to install solar power systems more quickly as the Department of Energy (DoE) streamlined the permitting process by removing prior approval hurdles. In a circular released on Wednesday, the DoE directed all distribution utilities (DU) to remove “administrative barriers” to installing small-scale solar generation systems, including pre-installation clearances, technical permits, or inspection fees. The new guidelines cover the use of own-use solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, namely, the self-generating facilities zero-export energy systems (SGF ZESS) and micro-solar systems (MSS), including those used by households and medical facilities. SGF ZESS end-users are not required to secure a certificate of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC). Net metering allows qualified consumers with renewable energy systems of up to 100 kilowatts to export excess electricity to the grid in exchange for credits on their monthly electricity bills.