Solar panel approval process

What the solar panel approval process settles

The solar panel approval process decides whether your rooftop solar system can be installed and connected to the grid under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. It is not a single approval but a sequence of checks: your application on the National Portal, technical feasibility from your DISCOM, installation by a vendor you choose, and finally net metering and subsidy release. The process is designed so that households can apply for subsidy through the National Portal and select a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar.

Step 1: Apply on the National Portal

Start by registering on the National Portal for PM-Surya Ghar. You will need your electricity consumer number, mobile number, and address. The portal asks for basic details about your house and your DISCOM. Once you submit the application, the DISCOM reviews it for technical feasibility. This check confirms that your roof can take the system size you have asked for and that the local grid can accept the connection.

Step 2: Get feasibility approval from your DISCOM

After you apply, your DISCOM examines the application. They look at your sanctioned load, the transformer capacity in your area, and the roof space you have. If everything is in order, the DISCOM gives a technical feasibility approval. This approval is required before you can install the system. The time taken for this step varies by state and DISCOM; the National Portal shows the status of your application.

Step 3: Choose a vendor and install the system

Once you have feasibility approval, you can select a vendor from the list of registered vendors on the National Portal. The households will apply for subsidy through the National Portal and will be able to select a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar. The vendor installs the system and helps you complete the net metering application. Net metering lets you export surplus power to the grid and get credit on your bill.

Step 4: Apply for net metering

After installation, the vendor or you submit the net metering application to the DISCOM. The DISCOM inspects the installation, checks the meter, and issues a net metering agreement. Only after this step can your system be switched on and start exporting power. The inspection may take a few days to a few weeks depending on your DISCOM.

Step 5: Claim your subsidy

After net metering is done, you submit the subsidy claim on the National Portal. You upload the installation certificate, the net metering agreement, and your bank details. The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is then processed. With all credentials entered correctly on the National Portal, the average time taken in processing the CFA is around 15 days after the redemption request made by the consumer. The subsidy amount is credited directly to your bank account.

Documents you need

Keep these documents ready before you start:

• Electricity bill or consumer number
• Proof of identity (Aadhaar, voter ID, or passport)
• Proof of address
• Bank account details for subsidy credit
• Roof ownership proof (if you own the house) or society NOC (for flats)

The National Portal may ask for additional documents depending on your state. Check the portal for the exact list.

How long does the whole process take?

The total time from application to subsidy credit depends on your DISCOM and vendor. The subsidy processing alone takes around 15 days after you submit the redemption request. Feasibility approval and net metering inspection can add a few weeks. In practice, many households complete the process in 4 to 8 weeks, but delays can happen if documents are missing or the DISCOM has a backlog.

What can go wrong

Common reasons for delay or rejection:

• Incorrect consumer number or name mismatch
• Roof area too small for the system size
• Transformer capacity already full in your area
• Vendor not registered on the National Portal
• Incomplete net metering application

If your application is rejected, the portal shows the reason. You can correct the details and reapply.

Cost and subsidy under PM-Surya Ghar

The scheme provides a CFA of 60% of system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity, capped at 3 kW. At current benchmark prices this means Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher. The subsidy is deducted from the vendor's invoice or credited to your account after installation, depending on your state.

Financing options

If you need a loan, collateral-free loans are available from nationalized banks at a concessional interest rate of repo-rate plus 50 bps, i.e., 5.75% per annum for the present, with a tenure of 10 years. You can apply through the National Portal or directly with the bank. The loan covers the system cost minus the subsidy.

What you get after approval

Once your system is approved and net metered, you start generating your own electricity. A 3 kW system will be able to generate more than 300 units a month on an average for a household. Through this scheme, the households will be able to save electricity bills as well as earn additional income through sale of surplus power to DISCOMs. The scheme has been approved with a total outlay of Rs.75,021 crore for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every month for One Crore households.

Check the official portal

Scheme rules and timelines can change. Always check the National Portal for PM-Surya Ghar for the latest application forms, vendor lists, and subsidy rates. Your DISCOM's website also has state-specific instructions.