ALMM and DCR for housing societies and RWAs

For a housing society solar ALMM DCR job, two rules run side by side. ALMM List-I controls which module models a DISCOM will accept for net metering. DCR controls whether the modules must be made in India to claim a subsidy. They are not the same test, and group rooftop on apartments and RWAs is where EPCs most often confuse them. This guide keeps them separate.

Do housing societies need ALMM and DCR for solar?

Housing societies need ALMM List-I for any net-metered system and DCR only for the part funded by a domestic-content subsidy. These are two different gates. ALMM is about which module model the grid will accept. DCR is about where the module and its cells are made.

A self-funded RWA rooftop with no subsidy still needs List-I modules to get net metering. The same RWA does not need DCR, because no subsidy is in play. The moment a part of the project draws a PM Surya Ghar subsidy that requires domestic content, that part needs DCR. So one society project can have both DCR and non-DCR sections, depending on funding.

Why the two rules feel tangled on group jobs

On a single home, the subsidy usually covers the whole system, so DCR and List-I move together. On a society, the funding is mixed. Some flats may take the subsidy, the common-area load may be sized differently, and part may be self-funded. You have to apply each rule to each slice, not to the whole roof.

Does the PM Surya Ghar GHS subsidy require DCR?

The PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy has required domestic-content modules, so the group-housing society (GHS) and common-facility component has generally needed DCR. That means a module made in India with India-made cells, proven by a DCR certificate. Subsidy and DCR rules change often, so verify against the latest PM Surya Ghar guidelines before you order.

What DCR actually means here

DCR is the Domestic Content Requirement. For a subsidised society job, the module must be made in India and its cells must be made in India. You prove this with a DCR certificate, generally issued through the NISE DCR portal. Being on ALMM List-I is not enough on its own — a List-I model can still be non-DCR.

Confirm the current GHS rule before you buy

The group-housing and common-facility subsidy structure is point-in-time and has changed across scheme phases. Do not assume last year’s rule still holds. Check the live PM Surya Ghar guidelines for whether the GHS component still mandates DCR, and at what per-kW rate, before you lock the BOM.

What is the group-housing and common-facility subsidy?

The group-housing and common-facility subsidy is the part of PM Surya Ghar that funds solar for shared loads in apartments and societies — lifts, lighting, pumps and other common-area power. It sits alongside the per-flat residential subsidy and is generally calculated per kW, up to a capacity cap. The exact rate and cap are set by the scheme and change, so verify them.

In practice a society job can pull from two pots. Individual flat owners may claim the standard residential subsidy for their own consumption. The society or RWA may claim the GHS or common-facility subsidy for the shared load. Both pots have generally required DCR modules, but you must confirm the current structure against the latest PM Surya Ghar guidelines.

Who claims what

The flat owner claims the residential subsidy through their own connection. The RWA or society, as a legal body, claims the common-facility subsidy through the common-area connection. An EPC that runs both must keep two clean paper trails — separate BOMs, separate sanctioned loads, and separate DCR proof where required.

Does the "Give It Up" non-DCR waiver apply to societies?

The "Give It Up" non-DCR option lets a consumer skip the subsidy and use non-DCR modules instead. Whether it extends cleanly to society or group-housing installs is point-in-time and not uniform across states. Confirm against the latest PM Surya Ghar guidelines and your DISCOM before you rely on it for a society BOM.

The logic is simple: DCR is tied to the subsidy. If a consumer gives up the subsidy, the domestic-content rule that came with it falls away, so a non-DCR module can be used. For a society, the open question is how this works when the GHS subsidy, per-flat subsidy and self-funded portions sit on one roof.

Treat it as a verify item, not a settled rule

Do not promise an RWA that they can run non-DCR modules under "Give It Up" until you have checked the current guidelines and the DISCOM’s position. The waiver’s scope for group and common-facility installs has not been uniform, so treat it as point-in-time and confirm in writing before you order.

Do you need ALMM List-I for society net metering?

Yes — most DISCOMs require the module model to be on ALMM List-I before they sanction net metering for a society or RWA. This holds even for a self-funded RWA system with no subsidy. Net metering is a grid-connection approval, and ALMM List-I is the gate, separate from any subsidy. Verify the exact requirement with your state DISCOM.

List-I checks the exact model, not the brand

ALMM enlists modules by exact model number, not just by maker. A brand can have some models on List-I and others not. So when you build a society BOM, match the precise model number on the datasheet to the live ALMM list. A small spec variant can be a different, unlisted model.

List-II and List-III — verify the dates

List-II covers approved cells: the idea is that cells inside a List-I module must come from an enlisted Indian maker. Its effective date was around 1 June 2026, but it faced deferment requests and court proceedings. Treat it as unsettled and confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 June 2026. List-III for wafers and ingots is planned later — verify the current timeline before you commit a long lead-time society order.

Common-area metering vs individual flats — what changes?

Common-area metering and individual-flat metering change who owns the connection and who claims the subsidy, not the ALMM rule. The common-area system connects to the society’s shared meter and the RWA claims credits and any GHS subsidy. A per-flat system connects to that flat’s meter and the owner claims the residential subsidy.

Common-area (society load)

A common-area install powers lifts, pumps and lighting through the society’s connection. The array is sized to the common load and the RWA, as a legal body, signs the net-metering and subsidy paperwork. List-I applies, and DCR applies if the GHS subsidy is claimed.

Individual flats

A per-flat install ties to each flat’s own connection and sanctioned load. Each owner applies separately on the portal and claims their own subsidy. On a shared roof this needs careful space allocation, clear ownership of each string, and a separate BOM record per flat.

How does virtual or group net metering interact with ALMM?

Virtual and group net metering change how credits are split across flats and the common meter, not the module rules. ALMM List-I is still needed for the sanction, and DCR still follows the subsidy, not the metering arrangement. Verify the state group net-metering rules, because they differ widely by DISCOM.

Group net metering

Group net metering lets one solar plant feed credits to several connections owned by the same consumer or society — for example, the RWA’s common meters across blocks. The plant still uses List-I modules. DCR depends on whether a subsidy funds the plant.

Virtual net metering

Virtual net metering splits the output of one shared plant across many flats by an agreed share, even when the panels are not on each flat’s roof. It is useful where roof space is tight. The module rules do not change: List-I for the sanction, and DCR only where the subsidy requires it. Confirm that your state allows virtual net metering for societies, as not all do.

How do you document a society BOM for the subsidy?

Document a society BOM by recording the exact module model number, its ALMM List-I status and, for subsidised sections, its DCR certificate reference. Tie each module batch to the connection and subsidy claim it serves. A clean, model-level BOM is what survives a DISCOM and subsidy audit on a group job.

What a clean society BOM holds

• Exact model number per module type, matched to the live ALMM List-I.
• DCR certificate reference for every subsidised section, from the NISE DCR portal.
• Connection mapping — which modules feed which flat or common meter.
• Serial and RFID/QR records so each module is traceable back to the BOM.
• Subsidy split — which capacity is GHS, which is per-flat, which is self-funded.

Keep DCR and non-DCR modules physically and on paper separate. If a self-funded section uses non-DCR modules, do not let them drift onto the subsidised array. Mixed arrays are a common reason a society subsidy claim is questioned.

Society install types compared

The table below maps the four common society install types to whether DCR and ALMM List-I apply. Use it as a starting checklist, then confirm each line against the live rules — the cells marked "verify" change with scheme phases and MNRE orders.

Table: SuryaHub summary of common society install types. DCR and List-I status are point-in-time — verify against the latest PM Surya Ghar guidelines, the live ALMM list and your DISCOM.

Common RWA solar compliance mistakes

Most RWA solar compliance problems come from treating the whole roof as one rule. Mixing up List-I and DCR, or mixing module types on a subsidised array, is what trips up a claim. Avoid these and your society job clears review.

How SuryaHub helps on society and RWA jobs

A society job has more moving parts than a single home — multiple connections, mixed funding and a model-level BOM that has to survive an audit. SuryaHub runs the PM Surya Ghar and government workflow from lead to subsidy claim, and its procurement and inventory module ties each module batch and its model number to the connection and DCR proof it serves. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

Subsidy, ALMM and DCR rules for societies come from primary government sources and change often. Always confirm the current rule with the National Portal, MNRE, NISE and your DISCOM before you order modules or file a claim.

• National Portal for PM Surya Ghar ↗

  Group housing society and common-facility subsidy rules, and where DCR is required. Verify the current guidelines.

• Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗

  ALMM orders, List-I/II status and DCR policy. Confirm the latest order and List-II date.

• NISE DCR portal ↗

  Where the DCR certificate is issued for domestic-content modules. Verify the live URL and process.