Why Is My NER Application Taking So Long? Understanding SP Group's Approval Process

What Is the NER and Why Do You Need SP Group's Approval?

The Net Energy Rebate (NER) is SP Group's programme that pays Singapore homeowners for excess solar electricity they export to the grid. Under the scheme, your bidirectional smart meter tracks both what you draw from the grid and what you export, and SP Group credits the difference at the prevailing rate on your monthly bill.

Before you can earn NER, SP Group must:

1. Register your solar installation in their system
2. Install and configure a new bidirectional smart meter at your property (replacing your existing meter)
3. Test and confirm the meter is reading export correctly
4. Update your account to the NER billing arrangement

This process is handled entirely by SP Group — Sunollo completes the application on your behalf, but has no control over SP Group's internal processing time.

Typical Timelines

In total, the journey from installation completion to your first NER credit on your bill typically takes 6–14 weeks. During high-volume periods (e.g., after government solar incentive announcements), this can extend to 4–6 months.

What SP Group Is Checking During the Review

SP Group's review includes:

• Verifying that your EMA "Turn On" notification has been submitted and approved (Sunollo handles this)
• Confirming the system capacity matches what was approved under the EMA Building Works notification
• Checking your property's existing meter type and scheduling a replacement if needed
• Confirming your account is in the eligible residential tariff category
• Cross-referencing your address with their internal solar installation registry

Common Reasons Applications Are Delayed

• High application volume — SP Group processes applications from all solar installers island-wide; periods after policy announcements or budget measures create backlogs
• Discrepancies in documentation — any mismatch between the EMA notification, the NER application form, and your property records causes the application to be queued for manual review
• Meter installation scheduling — SP Group technicians schedule meter change appointments in batches; your appointment may not be available for several weeks
• Address or account verification issues — particularly for properties with recent ownership changes or non-standard addressing

What You Can Do While Waiting

The good news: your panels are generating and saving you money from day one, even before NER is activated. Your self-consumed solar energy is displacing grid electricity at the retail rate. Only the export credits are pending.

• Check your inverter monitoring app daily to track your generation
• Shift high-consumption appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, water heater) to daytime hours to maximise self-consumption and reduce grid dependency while NER is pending
• Sunollo will follow up with SP Group on your behalf if the application exceeds 20 working days from submission — you do not need to contact SP Group yourself
• Once SP Group schedules your meter installation, ensure someone is at home for the appointment (typically a 2-hour window)

What Sunollo Does to Track Your Application

We maintain a tracker for all pending NER applications and follow up with SP Group when applications pass the 20 working day mark. If your application is delayed beyond 8 weeks from submission, we will contact you proactively. If you have not heard from us, you can check your application status by emailing hello@sunollo.com with your property address.