Electricity Business Act Amendment Bill Approved by Cabinet: Third-Party Check of Solar Support Structures Before ConstructionParts that hold up solar panels will be checked by an expert body before construction
On March 24, 2026, METI announced that the Cabinet approved the bill to partially amend the Electricity Business Act, to be submitted to the 221st Diet session. To prevent accidents caused by design flaws in solar power equipment, its support structures and similar parts will be checked before construction by a third-party body (a registered conformity assessment body) against technical standards. The bill also provides for asking manufacturers, importers, sellers and contractors to cooperate when causes are hard to determine.To stop solar power equipment from causing accidents because of design mistakes, the government prepared a bill to change the law. Before construction, parts such as those that hold up the panels would be checked by an expert body registered by the government to see if they meet safety rules.
- 1. DesignDesign the support structures and similar parts
- 2. Third-party checkBefore construction, a registered body checks conformity with technical standards
- 3. ConstructionInstall after the check
- 4. If an accident occursManufacturers, importers, sellers and contractors cooperate when causes are hard to find
- ○Applies: Keep accidents from design mistakes from happening
- ○Applies: Have an expert body check before construction
- ×Does not apply: Let only the installer look for the cause of an accident