Login / Register ID | EN
This page has no official English version. It was translated automatically and may contain errors. Read the original in Indonesian →
PLTS Atap Terpasang Belum Tentu Boleh Menyala: Aturan SLO dan Tenggatnya
Foto: Pexels
Industri Perizinan

Installed Rooftop Solar Power Plants (PLTS) May Not Necessarily Be Allowed to Operate: SLO Regulations and Their Deadlines

Tim Taalenta · 21 September 2026

The panel has been installed, the inverter is set up, and the installer has left. The next question often comes too late: when can this system be truly connected to the grid? The answer is not determined by the completion of the installation, but by a series of permits, each with its own deadlines. Some of these deadlines not only delay but can also cancel the approvals you already hold.

The reference is the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 2 of 2024, effective from January 31, 2024, which revokes Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 26 of 2021.

Capacity is calculated from the inverter, not from the panel

Article 19 and Article 27 state the same thing: the capacity of the Rooftop Solar Power System (PLTS) is determined based on the total capacity of the inverter. Many people calculate from the total peak power of the solar modules, placing themselves in the wrong category from the start. It is the inverter's figure that determines the licensing pathway, certification obligations, and the amount of fines.

The 500 kW threshold splits two pathways

It is mandatory to have a Certificate of Feasibility for Operation (SLO) (Article 24): systems above 500 kW connected in a single electrical installation system, and systems up to 500 kW with control panel specifications that are a separable part. The SLO is issued by a technical inspection agency.

Beyond that, there is a lighter pathway available (Article 25). Systems up to 500 kW with a non-separable control panel that can operate plug and play are declared to have met the mandatory SLO requirements, as long as all these conditions are fulfilled: using one inverter, or more than one inverter with a total capacity smaller than 10 kW; the solar module circuit is within the same construction part of the building; is grounded in the same way; and serves a single utilization installation.

However, this alternative is not without conditions. A statement of responsibility for electrical safety aspects is required, along with product certificates, valid manufacturer warranties, commissioning test results from distributor technicians or business entities, or maintenance documents. These documents are evaluated and must receive a registration number from the Minister.

Deadlines that cancel approvals

This section is often overlooked. Article 26 establishes two deadlines calculated from the issuance of the IUPTLU holder's approval: if the SLO is not obtained within 6 months, or if the registration number is not issued within 3 months. If either of these is exceeded, the IUPTLU holder cancels the approval.

Cancellation means starting over, and this repetition cannot be done at any time. Applications can only be submitted in January or July each year (Article 14). Upon application, the IUPTLU holder must provide approval or rejection no later than 30 calendar days from the application deadline. If not responded to within that deadline, the application is considered approved. If rejected due to unavailable development quotas, the applicant is placed on a waiting list for the next period.

Connecting first has its calculations

Article 23 regulates systems that have been operating connected to the grid before obtaining approval. Customers are asked to disconnect the system from the grid and pay a penalty calculated from the total inverter capacity multiplied by 240 hours multiplied by the electricity tariff. If this is not fulfilled within one month from the notification letter, the IUPTLU holder may temporarily disconnect customer service.

Before reaching that point, there are upstream obligations that are also often overlooked. Construction and installation must be carried out by a certified business entity in the electrical field (Article 21). Systems above 500 kW must have a business license for electricity supply for their own interests, while systems up to 500 kW only need to submit a report to the Minister or governor once before construction begins (Article 17 and Article 18).

What happens after passing

After the SLO or proof of registration number is received by the IUPTLU holder, an Advanced Meter must be provided and installed no later than 15 working days, with the cost borne by the IUPTLU holder (Article 28). Rooftop Solar Power Systems built and installed by customers are also not subject to parallel operation fees (Article 29).

Two closing notes that change the economic calculations. Excess electricity entering the grid is not counted in the billing determination (Article 13). Systems that have been operating under the export-import mechanism before these regulations take effect will continue to use that mechanism for 10 years from the date of approval (Article 47).

Since all classifications above rely on the total inverter capacity, measuring the system size from the start will determine which pathway applies. The rooftop solar power size calculator can be used to estimate the starting point.

Sources

Read also:

Ditulis oleh Tim Taalenta