- Net metering nets export against import; net-billing and gross pay export separately.
- The job: file with the DISCOM, pass feasibility, get the bidirectional meter, commission.
- Feasibility fails most often on transformer loading and sanctioned load.
- Rules, caps and credit rates are set by each state SERC — confirm per DISCOM.
- Net metering is on the critical path of every grid-tied job — track it like a milestone.
Net metering is what turns a rooftop solar system into a grid-connected one that pays the customer back. For an EPC, it is also the step most likely to stall a job. This guide explains net metering from the installer's side: the models, the application, feasibility, the meter, and why the rules look different in every state.
What net metering means for an EPC
Net metering lets a rooftop system export the power it does not use to the grid, and credits that export against the units the customer later draws. The customer pays only for the net units. For you, the installer, net metering is a regulated approval you obtain from the customer's electricity distribution company (DISCOM) before the system can legally export.
The approval is set by each State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and delivered by the DISCOM. You apply, the DISCOM checks feasibility, you sign an agreement, and the DISCOM installs a special meter. Only then is the system commissioned. Get this wrong and the system cannot export — the customer loses the savings they were sold.
Why the installer carries this, not the homeowner
Most net-metering guides online speak to homeowners. Your reality is different. You file the application, draw the single-line diagram, chase feasibility, attend the joint inspection, and manage the wait for the meter. Across many states and DISCOMs, that is a real operational load — and the part of a solar job most likely to run late.
Net metering vs net-billing vs gross metering
Before you quote, know which metering model the state actually offers. The three models pay the customer very differently, and many states are moving away from full net metering.
The thresholds that decide which model applies — often a system-size limit like 500 kW — change with each SERC order. Quote the model the state offers today, and read our full net vs gross vs net-billing guide before you promise export earnings.
The net-metering application process
The path is broadly the same across states, even though the portal and the timelines differ. It runs in five steps, and the EPC drives every one.
The five stages
You register the application on the DISCOM or National Portal, the DISCOM grants feasibility (confirming the grid can take the export), you sign the net-metering agreement, the DISCOM installs and seals the meter, and finally the system is commissioned. Each stage has its own document set and its own wait. Our step-by-step process guide walks through every one.
The documents you submit
Most DISCOMs ask for the same core set: the application form, proof of identity and the latest electricity bill, the system's single-line diagram, equipment datasheets, and the structural and electrical details. Missing or inconsistent documents are a common reason an application is sent back. Keep a per-DISCOM document checklist ready before you file.
Feasibility and the distribution-transformer limit
Feasibility is where most applications fail, and the usual cause is the distribution transformer (DT). A DISCOM limits how much rooftop solar can connect to one transformer so the local grid stays stable.
The DT loading cap
Many states cap connected solar at around 30% of the transformer's capacity, though the exact figure is set by each state's regulation and is not a single national number. When a transformer is already near its limit, feasibility is refused until the DISCOM upgrades it — which can mean cost and delay. Our DT loading guide explains how to read the headroom before you quote.
Sanctioned load
The system size is also tied to the customer's sanctioned load. If the proposed kW exceeds it, the customer usually has to apply for a load enhancement first. Checking sanctioned load and transformer headroom before signing is the single best way to avoid a feasibility rejection.
The bidirectional meter and commissioning
A net-metered system runs on a bidirectional meter that records both the units imported from the grid and the units exported to it. The DISCOM supplies, tests and seals this meter — the customer cannot fit their own. Larger systems may also need a separate check meter.
The subsidy or commissioning step completes only after the net meter is in place, so a slow meter installation holds up the whole job. Track the meter request as its own milestone, and read our guide on what to do when the meter is delayed.
Why net metering varies by state
Net metering is a state subject. Each SERC writes its own regulation and each DISCOM runs its own portal, so the capacity caps, the credit treatment, the fees and the timelines differ — sometimes sharply — across India. A playbook that works in Gujarat will not match Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh line for line.
That is why this hub carries a dedicated guide for each major state and DISCOM, from MSEDCL in Maharashtra to BESCOM in Karnataka and beyond. If you work across states, start with the multi-state operating playbook.
Timelines and charges
Across states, net-metering approval commonly runs from about two to six weeks end to end, and several states set a statutory cap on feasibility and processing. In practice, delays are common, so set the customer's expectations in writing. See the timeline-by-state guide for the current numbers.
Charges vary too. Depending on the state and system size, the customer may pay an application fee, a meter cost, a security deposit, and — for some C&I cases — banking or grid-support charges. Our charges-by-state guide lays out what to expect. Treat every figure as something to confirm with the DISCOM, because fees move with each order.
Delays, rejections and escalation
When an application stalls, you have routes. A refused feasibility can often be fixed by resizing the system, applying for a load enhancement, or waiting for a transformer upgrade. A meter that never arrives, or a sanctioned-but-not-energised system, can be escalated through the DISCOM's grievance process and, if needed, the consumer grievance forum.
The key is to know your rights and the clock. Several states publish statutory timelines, and missing them can trigger compensation in some regulations. Our delay and escalation guide maps the ladder so a stuck job does not cost you a customer.
The complete net metering hub
This pillar is the overview. The full topic is broken into focused guides below — each written for the installer, grouped into clusters. Start with the process, feasibility, and your state.
Start here
The concepts every net-metering job rests on.
The application process
File it right and clear it fast.
Feasibility & technical
Pass feasibility and the safety checks.
When it stalls
Fix delays, rejections and dead applications.
Charges, fees & cost
What the DISCOM actually charges.
Settlement, billing & ROI
How export turns into money.
Compare & decide
Pick the right model and size.
Lifecycle & change
Keep the connection valid over time.
By segment
Net metering for special project types.
Operate by state
Net metering is set by each SERC and DISCOM.
- → Maharashtra (MSEDCL)
- → Karnataka (BESCOM)
- → Gujarat (GUVNL/GERC)
- → Delhi (BSES/Tata)
- → Uttar Pradesh (UPPCL)
- → Tamil Nadu (TANGEDCO)
- → Rajasthan (JVVNL/AVVNL)
- → Telangana (TSSPDCL)
- → Punjab & Madhya Pradesh
- → West Bengal & eastern states
- → Kerala (KSEB)
- → Andhra Pradesh (APSPDCL)
- → Haryana (UHBVN/DHBVN)
- → Bihar (NBPDCL/SBPDCL)
- → Odisha (TPCODL)
- → Jharkhand (JBVNL)
- → Chhattisgarh (CSPDCL)
- → Assam & North-East
- → Himachal, Uttarakhand & J&K
- → Union Territories
- → Sikkim & remaining North-East
- → Multi-state operating playbook
Regulatory watch
The 2026 rule changes to track.
Templates & reference
Grab-and-go and look-it-up.
How SuryaHub runs net metering end to end
SuryaHub is the operating system for solar EPCs. It tracks each net-metering application by stage — feasibility, agreement, meter installation and commissioning — across every DISCOM you work in, so a stuck application is visible before it costs you a customer. The DISCOM and net-metering steps live in the government-workflow module, alongside project management for the rest of the job.
SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and any performance figures are early estimates, not guarantees. The regulatory facts on this page come from government sources and should always be confirmed against the current SERC or DISCOM order.
Track every application across DISCOMs
Bring a live job. We'll show net metering from feasibility to commissioning.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is net metering for a solar EPC?+
Net metering lets a rooftop solar system export surplus power to the grid and credit it against the units the customer draws. For a solar EPC, the work is to file the application with the DISCOM, pass feasibility, get the bidirectional meter installed, and commission the system. Rules and credit rates are set by each state, so the process changes by DISCOM.
What is the difference between net metering, net billing and gross metering?+
Net metering nets your export against your import in units, so you pay only for the net units used. Net billing pays you a separate, usually lower, rate for export while you pay retail for all import. Gross metering sells all your generation to the DISCOM at a fixed rate. Many states are shifting from net metering to net billing for larger systems.
How long does net metering approval take in India?+
Net metering approval timelines are set by each state and commonly run from about 15 to 45 days across feasibility, agreement and meter installation, though delays are common in practice. Some states set statutory caps. Net metering sits on the critical path of every job, so treat it as a milestone. Always confirm the current timeline with your DISCOM.
Why do net metering applications get rejected?+
Net metering applications are most often rejected at feasibility because the distribution transformer is already loaded near its solar limit, the proposed system exceeds the sanctioned load, documents or the single-line diagram are incomplete, or the equipment does not meet the standards. Pre-checking transformer headroom and sanctioned load before you quote prevents most rejections.
What is the distribution transformer loading limit for net metering?+
Most states cap how much rooftop solar can connect to one distribution transformer, with a figure near 30 percent of the transformer capacity often cited, though the exact percentage varies by state regulation. When the transformer is already near its limit, feasibility is refused until it is upgraded. Always verify the current figure in your state regulation.
How does SuryaHub help with net metering?+
SuryaHub tracks each net-metering application by stage — feasibility, agreement, meter installation and commissioning — across every DISCOM you work in, so nothing stalls unseen. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Figures on this page are regulatory facts from government sources, not guarantees.
Sources & references
The facts on this page — the metering models, the deemed-feasibility threshold and the transformer limits — come from central and state regulations. Net-metering rules change with each SERC amendment, so always confirm the current figures with your DISCOM before quoting a customer.
- Ministry of Power ↗
The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules and rooftop solar provisions.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Rooftop solar programme and National Portal rules.
- National Portal for PM Surya Ghar ↗
The consumer/vendor application path for subsidised rooftop.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, MNRE & state SERC sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Regulatory figures are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. State caps, fees and timelines vary and are labelled as such. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.