Solar EPC glossary.
Plain-English definitions of the terms Indian solar EPCs use — schemes, compliance, finance and field work, in dead-simple words.
A solar EPC glossary lists the everyday terms Indian solar companies meet from the first enquiry to the 25-year service. It covers schemes like PM Surya Ghar, the DISCOM and net-metering steps, compliance like DCR, ALMM and GST, and ops words like BOM, AMC, the two-quote cycle and handover — each explained in plain language.
24 terms, plainly defined.
Listed alphabetically. Where a term maps to part of the platform, the card links to it.
ALMM
The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, kept by the government. For subsidy and many government projects, the solar panels you install must come from a maker on this list.
AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract)
A yearly service deal where the EPC checks and cleans a solar system, fixes small faults and keeps it running well. It is steady income for years after the install is done.
See AMC service →BOM (Bill of Materials)
The full list of every part a solar job needs — panels, inverter, cables, mounting structure, switches and more. It is used to price the job and to order stock.
BOS (Balance of System)
Everything in a solar system apart from the panels themselves — the inverter, wiring, structure, meters and safety gear. People often size BOS cost separately from panel cost.
CAPEX / OPEX
CAPEX is when the customer pays the full cost up front and owns the system. OPEX is when someone else owns the system and the customer pays for the power or a monthly fee instead.
Commissioning
The step where a finished solar system is switched on, tested and confirmed to work safely and correctly. After commissioning the system is ready to generate power for the customer.
DCR (Domestic Content Requirement)
A rule that says the solar cells and modules must be made in India to qualify for certain subsidies and schemes. Jobs are often marked DCR or non-DCR because the panels and prices differ.
DISCOM
The local electricity distribution company that supplies power and approves grid connection. For a rooftop solar job the DISCOM checks the work and fits the net-meter.
See government workflows →EPC
Engineering, Procurement and Construction — the company that designs the solar system, buys the parts and installs it for the customer. SuryaHub is built for these companies.
GST (CGST / SGST / IGST)
Goods and Services Tax, the tax added to solar sales and services in India. CGST and SGST apply to sales inside one state, while IGST applies to sales across states.
See finance & GST →Handover Certificate
The signed document that records the EPC handing the finished, working system over to the customer. It marks the official end of the install and often the start of the AMC period.
Job File
The single record that holds everything about one solar project — the customer, the quote, the survey, the materials, payments and service history. In SuryaHub it opens automatically when a lead is qualified.
kW vs kWp
kW (kilowatt) measures power at a moment in time. kWp (kilowatt-peak) is the rated size of a solar system under standard test conditions, so a "5 kWp system" describes how big the panels are.
MNRE
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the central government body for solar and other clean energy in India. It registers EPCs and sets many of the rules and schemes the industry follows.
Net-metering
A billing setup where extra solar power your system sends back to the grid is credited against the power you draw at night. The DISCOM fits a special meter that counts both directions.
See government workflows →PM Surya Ghar
A national scheme that gives subsidies to homes that fit rooftop solar, aiming to reach one crore homes. Most residential rooftop jobs in India now run through its portal and DISCOM steps.
See government workflows →PPA (Power Purchase Agreement)
A contract where a customer agrees to buy the power a solar system produces, usually at a fixed rate per unit for several years. It is common in OPEX deals where the customer does not own the system.
Rate Card
A ready price list for parts, system sizes or services that an EPC uses to build quotes quickly. SuryaHub quotes from rate cards instead of designing the array, so prices stay consistent.
See quotation software →RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
A way of controlling who can see and do what in the software, based on each person’s role. A field surveyor, a manager and an owner each get only the access their job needs.
RESCO
A Renewable Energy Service Company that owns and runs the solar system on a customer’s site, while the customer just pays for the energy. It is the OPEX model put into practice.
Subsidy
Money the government pays toward the cost of a solar system to make it cheaper for the customer. The amount depends on the scheme, the system size and rules like ALMM and DCR.
Technical Survey
The site visit where the EPC measures the roof, checks the wiring and shading and records what the job needs, with photos as proof. SuryaHub captures this survey but does not design the array itself.
See project management →Tier-2 / Tier-3 Cities
Smaller and medium Indian cities and towns beyond the largest metros. Much of India’s rooftop solar growth is happening here, which is why mobile-first and Hindi-ready tools matter.
Two-Quote Cycle
The common Indian practice of giving a first quote before the site survey and a second, firmer quote after it. SuryaHub supports both quotes on one job so nothing gets lost between them.
See quotation software →