How to Apply for Net Metering in India: State-by-State Guide 2026

Net metering is the financial heart of every rooftop solar project in India. Without it, a homeowner’s panels might generate electricity during the day, but any surplus they produce has nowhere to go — and the savings calculation falls apart. With it, the grid becomes a giant battery, storing excess daytime generation and releasing credit back to the consumer at night. For solar EPCs, mastering the net metering application process is the difference between a 60-day project and a 120-day project.

The problem is that net metering in India is not one process — it is 29 different processes, one for each state and union territory. Each DISCOM has its own portal, its own forms, its own fees, its own timelines, and its own quirks. This guide walks you through the universal framework and then drills into the five largest state DISCOMs by installation volume.

What Is Net Metering (and What It Is Not)

Net metering is a billing mechanism where a solar-powered consumer is credited for the electricity they export to the grid. The consumer’s electricity meter is replaced with a bidirectional (net) meter that records both import (grid to home) and export (home to grid). At the end of the billing cycle, the consumer pays only for the net consumption.

There are three variations you should understand:

• Net Metering: Exported units offset imported units on a 1:1 basis. This is the most consumer-friendly and the default for residential PM Surya Ghar installations.
• Net Billing: Exported units are compensated at a fixed feed-in tariff (usually lower than the retail rate), and imported units are charged at the normal retail rate. Exports and imports are tracked separately.
• Gross Metering: All generation is exported to the grid and sold at a feed-in tariff. The consumer continues to buy all their consumption from the grid at retail rate. Rare in residential but used for large commercial systems in some states.

For PM Surya Ghar residential applications, net metering is the standard across India.

Universal Eligibility Criteria

While each state has minor variations, the common eligibility rules for net metering are:

• The applicant must be an existing LT (low-tension) consumer of the DISCOM with an active electricity connection.
• The solar system capacity in kW must not exceed the sanctioned load of the connection (some states allow up to 150%).
• Residential rooftop capacity is generally capped at 10 kW for subsidised net metering; above 10 kW moves to net billing or different rules in most states.
• The system must use BIS-certified inverters and ALMM-listed modules.
• The consumer must own the rooftop or have explicit permission from the owner.

The Universal Document Checklist

Regardless of state, you will almost always need:

1. Aadhaar Card of the applicant (front and back).
2. Latest Electricity Bill showing consumer number, sanctioned load, and tariff category.
3. Site Plan / Roof Layout showing dimensions and proposed panel placement.
4. Single Line Diagram (SLD) signed by a licensed electrical engineer.
5. Structural Stability Certificate from a chartered civil engineer (for larger systems).
6. Installation Certificate from a BIS-empanelled installer after installation.
7. Inverter Test Report and datasheet confirming BIS compliance.
8. Module Datasheet with ALMM listing proof.
9. Liability Insurance (in some states).
10. Earth Resistance Test Report.
11. Bank Cancelled Cheque (for PM Surya Ghar subsidy DBT, linked to net metering application in most states).

State-by-State Deep Dive

Rajasthan (JVVNL, AVVNL, JdVVNL)

Rajasthan has three DISCOMs — Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (JVVNL), Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (AVVNL), and Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (JdVVNL). All three use a similar process through the state’s online portal.

• Processing Fee: Rs 500 for systems up to 5 kW, Rs 1,000 for 5–10 kW.
• Typical Timeline: Feasibility approval in 7–10 days, inspection within 15 days of installation, meter installation in 10–20 days post-inspection.
• Quirk: Rajasthan DISCOMs require a pre-installation feasibility survey by a DISCOM engineer for systems above 5 kW. Budget 1 extra week for this step.
• Pro tip: File your application Monday through Wednesday — Thursday/Friday submissions tend to sit until the next week.

Maharashtra (MSEDCL, BEST, TPC, Adani Electricity)

Maharashtra has the most fragmented DISCOM landscape. MSEDCL covers most of the state. Mumbai is split between BEST (Colaba to Sion), Tata Power, and Adani Electricity. Each has slightly different procedures.

• MSEDCL: Fully online via the MSEDCL portal. Processing fee Rs 100–500 depending on capacity. Feasibility approval in 7–15 days. Inspection and meter replacement can take 20–30 days combined.
• Adani Electricity: Faster than MSEDCL in urban Mumbai; typical total timeline 30–40 days.
• Tata Power (Mumbai): Known for relatively fast net metering approvals, often under 30 days for residential.
• Quirk: Maharashtra allows net metering up to 1 MW for eligible consumers, but residential with PM Surya Ghar subsidy is capped at 10 kW.
• Pro tip: MSEDCL’s inspection team is chronically understaffed in Pune and Nashik. Call the sub-division engineer personally after submission to get into the queue.

Karnataka (BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC, HESCOM, GESCOM)

Karnataka has five DISCOMs. BESCOM covers Bangalore and is the most experienced with rooftop solar. The others vary widely.

• BESCOM: Online application via the BESCOM portal. Processing fee Rs 300–1,000. Feasibility approval in 7 days is common in Bangalore metropolitan area.
• HESCOM (Hubli): Slower than BESCOM due to lower application volume and less familiarity. Budget 45–60 days total.
• Quirk: Karnataka has additional state-level incentives for rooftop solar in some tariff categories. Check the current KERC (Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) notification.
• Pro tip: BESCOM accepts batched applications from empanelled vendors — if you submit 10 installations in one cluster, they process them together.

Gujarat (GUVNL subsidiaries: UGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL, DGVCL)

Gujarat is a mature solar market with high-volume processing capacity. GUVNL is the holding entity; the four subsidiaries handle different regions.

• Processing Fee: Nominal — Rs 100–500.
• Typical Timeline: One of the fastest in India. Feasibility in 5–7 days, total timeline often 30–45 days.
• Quirk: Gujarat has additional state subsidies on top of PM Surya Ghar for certain categories. Track the latest GEDA (Gujarat Energy Development Agency) notifications.
• Pro tip: Gujarat DISCOMs strongly prefer empanelled vendors. Get your empanelment done first — unempanelled vendors face longer queues.

Tamil Nadu (TANGEDCO)

TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) handles the entire state. It is historically one of the slower DISCOMs for net metering.

• Processing Fee: Varies by capacity; typically Rs 500–2,000.
• Typical Timeline: 60–90 days end to end is common. Some urban areas are faster.
• Quirk: TANGEDCO has historically had a net billing preference over net metering for systems above a certain size. Check the latest TNERC (Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission) order.
• Pro tip: Personal relationships with the circle engineer are critical in Tamil Nadu. Online portal submissions without follow-up often languish.

Common Rejection Reasons

Here are the top reasons net metering applications get rejected across states:

1. System capacity exceeds sanctioned load without a load enhancement application running in parallel.
2. Inverter not BIS-certified or not on the approved list.
3. Module not on the ALMM list at the time of installation.
4. Incomplete SLD or SLD not signed by a licensed electrical engineer.
5. Site photos mismatch between application and actual installation.
6. Pending electricity bill dues on the consumer account.
7. Structural stability certificate missing for rooftop installations.
8. Earthing system non-compliant with IS 3043 standards.

Meter Testing, Synchronization, and Commissioning

Once your application is approved and installation is complete, the final three steps are:

1. Meter Testing: The DISCOM tests the bidirectional meter’s accuracy, either at their testing lab or on site.
2. Synchronization: The inverter is synchronised with the grid. The DISCOM engineer witnesses and certifies this.
3. Commissioning Certificate: Issued after successful synchronization. This is the legal document that authorises grid-connected operation.

From the commissioning date, the consumer’s electricity bill starts reflecting net consumption. The first bill cycle is always an adjustment period — make sure the customer understands this to prevent panic calls.

How SolarNeo Tracks the Net Metering Lifecycle

Net metering is a sub-process inside the larger project lifecycle in SolarNeo. When a project reaches the “Net Metering” stage, the system tracks five sub-statuses: Applied, Inspection Done, Meter Installed, Synchronized, Agreement Signed. Each sub-status has:

• A timestamp capturing when it was set.
• An assignee responsible for moving it forward.
• Custom fields for application number, reference number, inspector name.
• Document uploads for each DISCOM acknowledgement.
• Automatic reminders if a sub-status has been stuck too long.

When Agreement Signed is set, the project automatically advances to the Handover stage. The customer gets a WhatsApp message: “Your solar system is now officially net-metered. Your next bill will show reduced consumption. Welcome to solar living!”

Final Thoughts

Net metering is the single step where most solar projects in India get stuck. It is also the step that most EPCs treat as a black box. If you want to cut your average project duration by 30–40%, invest in three things: clean documentation, strong DISCOM relationships, and a CRM that tracks every sub-stage. The combination wins every time.