In late November 2025, Bernama reported PETRA's plans to implement Solar ATAP as the next-generation residential and commercial rooftop solar programme — designed to replace NEM 3.0 and broaden access. From our installer view, the November signal was the moment we knew the January launch was real and started moving customer pipelines through Q4 staging.
- Program: Solar ATAP (Akses Tenaga Atap)
- Operator: PETRA with SEDA Malaysia and Energy Commission (ST) co-execution
- Target rollout: early 2026 (subsequently confirmed for 1 January 2026)
- Replaces NEM 3.0
- Designed for both residential and commercial / industrial rooftops
Why the brand shifted from NEM to Solar ATAP
This wasn't just renaming. NEM was technically a net-metering arrangement — imported and exported energy credited against each other on the meter. Solar ATAP keeps that mechanic but signals a broader programme: the 100% MD sizing for commercial, future incentive layers (SuRIA Home arrived in May 2026), and tighter integration with the LSS and BESS pipeline running in parallel. The rebrand reflects that the rooftop scheme is now embedded in a wider national strategy, not a standalone meter trick.
What PETRA's framing told the market
The November reporting gave us roughly two months to prepare customer queues. Most SEDA-registered installers used that time the same way — pre-staging designs, gathering customer documents, scheduling site visits — so that the first weeks of January 2026 wouldn't be wasted on logistics. The programme absorbed that initial wave without quota pressure, which validated PETRA's "continuous enrolment, no fixed cap" design choice.
What this means for you as a customer
The November–December 2025 pre-launch sequence is now resolved background. For new buyers entering in 2026, the operational path is clean: pick a SEDA-registered installer, gather your TNB bills, sign the design, file the SEDA application. The complete walkthrough is in our Solar ATAP guide and how-to-apply articles. If you're a homeowner specifically, layer the SuRIA Home rebate on top while the envelope is open.
Source
This summary is based on reporting from Bernama. Read the full original report at the source link for the publisher's complete coverage.