qualifying export credit
at the gazetted domestic energy rate
Sabah · Sabah Electricity
Solar savings—with an option for real backup.
Use solar first, receive programme credit for eligible surplus and add a correctly designed battery system for selected essential loads during an outage.
Solar Rakyat Sabah
1-for-1export credit at the gazetted domestic energy rateSubject to programme eligibility, approval and availability.At a glance · reviewed 19 July 2026
How does home solar work in Sabah?
Under Solar Rakyat Sabah, eligible domestic customers can self-consume rooftop solar and receive bill credit for qualifying surplus exports at the prevailing gazetted domestic energy rate. Published caps are 5 kWac for single-phase and 10 kWac for three-phase homes, with a 12-year contract. The 20 MW quota is first-come, first-served until 30 June 2028 or full subscription. Battery storage is allowed for self-consumption, but stored energy cannot be exported for programme credit.
Official programme information:ECoS · Solar Rakyat Sabah ↗ECoS · Solar Rakyat Sabah FAQ ↗MKN · Sabah supply rationing notice ↗
programme quota
first-come, first-served
single / three-phase cap
subject to assessment
programme contract
under official programme terms
Media coverage does not imply endorsement. Client and collaboration logos are selected from the wider Progressture Solar project portfolio and do not imply that every relationship was residential.
Hornbill policy guide · SabahSolar Rakyat Sabah explained
Use solar first. Credit the surplus.
Your home consumes solar as it is generated. A bidirectional smart meter measures imports and eligible exports, while unused export credits can roll forward for up to 12 months under programme rules.
- 01
Solar powers the home
Generation first reduces electricity imported from Sabah Electricity.
- 02
The smart meter records the balance
Imports and eligible surplus exports are measured separately for billing.
- 03
The bill is netted
Approved exports receive credit at the prevailing gazetted domestic energy rate.
- 04
Unused credit can roll forward
Programme credit may carry for up to 12 months before it expires; it is not paid as cash.
What changes the economics
Understand the programme before choosing the system.
Headline incentives are useful, but your net investment, self-consumption and approved design determine the real return.
A defined residential pathway
Domestic homes can apply through EEISy using an ECoS-registered solar contractor, subject to assessment.
A 12-year export arrangement
The contract creates a clear period for eligible solar-export credit, while self-consumption starts from day one.
Battery is a separate resilience decision
Storage can protect selected loads, but battery energy is for self-use and cannot be exported for Solar Rakyat credit.
Solar Rakyat energy flow
Solar credit and battery resilience are two different value paths.
During the day, solar lowers grid purchases and eligible surplus can earn programme credit. An optional battery sits behind the meter to increase self-use or support backup—it does not create export credit.
Illustrated guide · Solar Rakyat SabahSolar serves the home
Active household loads take priority whenever the roof is generating.
Eligible surplus reaches the grid
The bidirectional smart meter records qualifying solar exported under Solar Rakyat.
The grid fills the gap
Sabah Electricity supplies the home when demand exceeds solar generation.
Battery stays behind the meter
Stored energy can serve the home or backup circuit, but it cannot be exported for programme credit.
Illustrative flow only. Battery operation, export control and backup capability depend on the approved design, inverter, battery and programme rules.
A practical first check
Is solar likely to make sense for this home?
We use your bill, roof and priorities to answer this before asking you to choose a package.
Check my home →Usually a strong fit when…
- You want to lower grid purchases and make use of export credit
- Your home has essential loads that should stay on during an outage
- You value remote monitoring and a planned path to battery storage
Know this before signing…
- Solar alone normally switches off during a blackout for safety
- Backup requires a compatible hybrid inverter, battery and isolated essential-load circuit
- Backup duration depends on battery charge, capacity and the appliances running
Eligibility starting point
Is this programme likely to fit your home?
- ✓A Sabah Electricity domestic-category customer
- ✓A private residential premises with a suitable roof
- ✓A design within the 5 kWac or 10 kWac phase limit
- ✓An application submitted by an ECoS-registered ECCPV-GC contractor
- ✓Available capacity within the 20 MW programme quota
This checklist is an initial guide. Final eligibility is determined under the official programme and utility assessment.
What Hornbill handles
One accountable path from bill to switch-on.
- 01
Check the bill and phase
The single- or three-phase supply determines the maximum programme capacity.
- 02
Design solar and backup separately
We model bill savings first, then identify essential loads and battery runtime if resilience is needed.
- 03
Submit through EEISy
Hornbill coordinates the assessment and application workflow as the registered contractor.
- 04
Install, commission and monitor
After approval, the system is installed, tested and handed over with clear operating guidance.
GridOFFEssentials stay powered
Sabah outage resilience
When the grid goes dark, a backup-ready home can stay on.
Sabah has experienced scheduled load rationing and supply interruptions. Rooftop solar is valuable, but a normal grid-tied inverter must shut down during an outage. Continuity comes from a purpose-designed hybrid inverter, battery and protected backup circuit.
Automatic safe isolation
The backup system disconnects from the utility grid so it cannot energise external lines during an outage.
Selected loads keep running
Lighting, Wi-Fi, security, fans, refrigeration or other agreed essentials can be placed on a dedicated backup circuit.
Fast transition
A compatible hybrid inverter can move supported loads to battery supply quickly; exact switching performance depends on the selected model and wiring.
Black-start capability
Some compatible systems can form a local supply and restart without the grid. We confirm this against the exact inverter, battery, firmware and site configuration before promising it.
Backup is not automatically whole-home power. Runtime depends on battery state of charge, usable capacity and connected load. Under Solar Rakyat Sabah, stored battery energy must remain for self-consumption and cannot be exported for programme credit.
What is Solar Rakyat Sabah?+
It is Sabah’s residential rooftop solar programme. Eligible domestic customers can self-consume solar and receive bill credit for qualifying surplus exports under a 12-year agreement, subject to the 20 MW quota and programme approval.
What does 1-for-1 export credit mean?+
Qualifying solar energy exported to the grid is credited at the prevailing gazetted domestic energy rate used by the programme. Unused credit can roll forward for up to 12 months but is not paid out as cash.
How large can my system be?+
The published caps are 5 kWac for a single-phase supply and 10 kWac for a three-phase supply, subject to technical assessment and approval.
How long can approval take?+
ECoS states that a complete application is expected to receive an outcome within 14 working days. Missing information, technical issues or quota status can affect the actual timeline.
Will ordinary rooftop solar work during a blackout?+
Usually no. A standard grid-connected inverter shuts down for anti-islanding safety. Backup requires a compatible hybrid inverter, battery, correct protection and an isolated backup or EPS circuit.
What does black start mean for a home battery?+
It means a compatible system can establish a safe local electricity supply after the grid is absent, without relying on the grid to start. Capability varies by inverter, battery, firmware and wiring, so it must be confirmed for the quoted system.
Does electricity exported from a battery earn credit?+
No. The programme states that stored energy is for self-consumption and cannot be exported for Solar Rakyat credit. The battery’s value is therefore resilience and increased self-use, not export income.
One Malaysia. Three grid programmes.Compare another region
A clear answer, before any commitment
Send us one electricity bill. Get your solar plan in one working day.
We'll estimate the right system size, likely savings, applicable incentive, simple payback and next steps for Sabah.