Subsidy and net metering, explained without the jargon
The two things that decide what rooftop solar actually costs you, and the two things most quotations are vaguest about.
What PM Surya Ghar pays
| System size | Central financial assistance |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 |
| 3 kW and above | ₹78,000 |
The structure is 60 per cent of benchmark cost up to 2 kW, and 40 per cent of the additional cost between 2 and 3 kW. That’s why ₹78,000 is a ceiling: a 5 kW system receives the same assistance as a 3 kW one.
The scheme also targets up to 300 free units a month for participating households. Housing societies and residential welfare associations have a separate provision for common facilities.
Commercial and industrial systems are not eligible for PM Surya Ghar. They use accelerated depreciation instead, which is frequently worth more. Ask your CA, and ask us for the generation and cost detail they’ll need.
What you need to qualify
- A residential electricity connection with a valid DISCOM account
- An on-grid or hybrid system. Off-grid systems don’t qualify
- Installation by a registered vendor, using BIS-certified and ALMM-listed equipment
- Aadhaar-based authentication, which MNRE made mandatory in 2026
- An Indian bank account for the direct benefit transfer
If you live abroad and own property here, see our page for NRIs in the Gulf, which covers how the eligibility conditions apply when the owner isn’t resident.
Net metering with KSEB and BESCOM
Net metering is what makes an on-grid system work economically. Without it, everything you generate and don’t immediately use is simply lost.
Feasibility application
Filed with KSEB in Kerala or your ESCOM in Karnataka, before installation. They check whether the local transformer can take your export.
Installation and inspection
Once approved, we install. The DISCOM then inspects the plant and its safety arrangements.
Bidirectional meter
Your existing meter is replaced with one that records import and export separately.
Commissioning and settlement
The system is commissioned, the certificate is uploaded, and your billing moves onto net settlement.
KERC has removed the requirement for a power purchase agreement for low-tension domestic consumers up to 150 kW in Karnataka, which simplifies the process considerably for most homes. Rules in both states change with tariff orders, so we work from the order in force when we quote.
Common questions
Is there a Kerala or Karnataka state subsidy on top of the central one?
For residential rooftop solar, the central PM Surya Ghar assistance is the subsidy that applies. Kerala’s earlier Soura programme no longer operates as a consumer subsidy channel, and state-level support in both states shifts with each tariff order.
We check what’s actually in force on the day we quote you, and we never put a benefit into your payback calculation unless you’ll receive it. TODO: re-verify with ANERT and the current KERC / KSERC orders
What is net metering, in plain terms?
Your meter runs both ways. During the day the system powers the building and pushes the surplus into the grid, recorded as export. At night you draw from the grid, recorded as import. You’re billed on the difference, and remaining export credit carries forward to be settled with your DISCOM.
It means you don’t need a battery to benefit from power you generate at midday and use at eight in the evening.
Who handles the DISCOM paperwork?
We do. In Kerala that’s KSEB under the KSERC framework. In Karnataka it’s BESCOM or your local ESCOM under KERC.
We file the application, chase the feasibility approval, arrange the inspection and see the bidirectional meter installed.
Why must equipment be BIS-certified and ALMM-listed?
Because your subsidy depends on it. PM Surya Ghar requires a registered vendor using approved, certified equipment. A system built from uncertified modules may generate power, but it won’t attract the assistance, and its warranties are often unenforceable in practice.
Every quotation we issue names the exact make and model, so you can check the listing yourself before signing anything.
How long until the subsidy money actually arrives?
It’s paid after commissioning and verification, into the bank account on the application. Timelines vary by DISCOM and by how complete the file is.
We upload the commissioning certificate and follow it up until it lands, rather than handing you a reference number and wishing you luck.
Find out what you qualify for
Send a recent bill. We’ll confirm your eligibility, the assistance amount, and what your DISCOM currently requires, before you spend anything.