- Agricultural net metering is a DISCOM billing model; PM-KUSUM is a separate MNRE subsidy scheme.
- A grid-connected farm rooftop can use net metering like any consumer.
- Off-grid KUSUM pumps cannot export — there is nothing to net.
- Feeder solarisation (Component C feeder mode) is a DISCOM-side scheme, not consumer net metering.
- Every capacity, tariff and category rule is state-specific — verify with your DISCOM/SERC.
Farmers ask one simple question: can my solar sell power back to the grid? The answer depends on the connection, not the crop. This guide separates agricultural net metering from the PM-KUSUM scheme so you can quote the right model the first time.
Agricultural net metering vs PM-KUSUM
Agricultural net metering and PM-KUSUM are two different things that people mix up. Net metering is a billing model: your DISCOM nets the units a farm exports against the units it imports, and the farmer pays for the net. PM-KUSUM is a subsidy scheme from MNRE that funds solar pumps and feeder solar.
The key point for EPCs: a farm rooftop can use net metering with no link to PM-KUSUM at all. And a PM-KUSUM pump may not use net metering at all, because many KUSUM pumps are off-grid. Treat the two as separate decisions on every quote.
What PM-KUSUM is — in plain terms
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a national scheme run by MNRE to bring solar power to farms. It does not run net metering. It funds three kinds of farm solar, called components.
The three KUSUM components
Component A supports small ground-mount solar plants near substations. The farmer or developer sells the power to the DISCOM under a power-purchase tariff — this is a feed-in sale, not net metering.
Component B funds standalone off-grid solar pumps. These pumps run on solar with no grid connection, so there is no export and no net meter. The farmer simply uses the power to lift water.
Component C supports solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps, in two modes. Individual pump mode adds solar to one pump connection. Feeder mode solarises a whole agricultural feeder, which is a DISCOM-side arrangement, not a single consumer's net meter.
KUSUM capacity multiples, subsidy shares and the central-state split change through MNRE guidelines and state orders. Treat any KUSUM number you have seen as out of date and verify the current figure with MNRE and your state nodal agency / DISCOM.
Who qualifies — segment eligibility table
Eligibility for net metering on a farm depends on the connection type, not on whether KUSUM is involved. Use this table to place a customer before you quote. Every rule below is state-specific — verify with the DISCOM/SERC.
Source: MNRE PM-KUSUM guidelines and state SERC net-metering regulations. Categories and rates vary by state — verify with DISCOM/SERC.
How export works on a farm connection
Export works on a farm the same way it works for any consumer: a bidirectional meter records both the units the farm draws and the units it pushes to the grid. The DISCOM then settles the difference under the state's model.
The catch with farm load patterns
Farm load is seasonal and often daytime-heavy, especially where pumps run during sunlight. When a farm uses most of its solar on site, there is little export to net. That can make net metering less valuable than it looks. Walk the customer through their real day-by-day use before promising big savings.
Agri tariff makes the maths different
Many states give agricultural connections a low or subsidised import tariff. When import is cheap, the value of avoiding it is smaller, and exported surplus may settle at a lower rate. So the same system pays back faster on a commercial roof than on a subsidised agri connection. Model both cases honestly. The exact tariffs change every year, so verify the current figure with the DISCOM.
Capacity and sanctioned load
System size on a farm net-metering connection is tied to the sanctioned load of that connection, just like any other consumer. If the planned solar exceeds the sanctioned load, the farmer usually needs a load enhancement first.
States also cap the share of a distribution transformer that rooftop solar can take up. A figure of around 30% is commonly cited, but the real cap varies by state and is debated, so verify the current loading cap with the DISCOM. Our capacity limits by state table and load enhancement guide cover this in detail.
Settlement and tariff for exported units
Settlement decides what the farmer actually earns from surplus. Under net metering, surplus units are carried forward and netted in kWh. Under net billing, the DISCOM pays a separate, usually lower, export rate. Under KUSUM Component A, the developer sells at a power-purchase tariff.
Each state sets its own carry-forward window and surplus rate, and these change with every tariff order. Do not promise a number — show the model and tell the farmer to confirm the current rate with the DISCOM. Our net vs gross vs net billing guide explains which model leaves the farmer better off.
Documents for agricultural net metering
The document set mirrors a standard net-metering application, with a few farm-specific extras. Confirm the exact list with the DISCOM, because farm cases sometimes need extra land or category proof.
- Connection details — the agricultural connection number and sanctioned load.
- Identity & ownership — proof the applicant holds the connection and the land.
- Single-line diagram — signed by a licensed electrical contractor.
- Equipment datasheets — inverter with anti-islanding protection per CEA standards.
- Category proof — confirmation of the agricultural tariff category if export is allowed there.
Common pitfalls in the agri segment
Most agri net-metering deals fail for one of a few reasons. Knowing them keeps your pipeline clean.
- Assuming KUSUM means net metering — off-grid KUSUM pumps cannot export at all.
- Promising export value on a low agri tariff — cheap import means small savings.
- Ignoring the category rule — some states do not allow net metering on the agri category; verify first.
- Oversizing past sanctioned load — triggers a load-enhancement delay.
- Mixing feeder solar with consumer net metering — Component C feeder mode is a DISCOM scheme.
How SuryaHub helps in the agricultural segment
Agri jobs mix two rulebooks — the DISCOM net-metering process and the MNRE KUSUM scheme — and that is where projects stall. SuryaHub runs each job from lead through the DISCOM and net-metering steps in one place, so the right model, document set and settlement basis are tracked for every farm. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; its only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Run farm and rooftop jobs in one place
See how SuryaHub tracks net metering and KUSUM steps side by side.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is agricultural solar net metering the same as PM-KUSUM?+
No. Agricultural net metering is a grid-connected billing model run by your DISCOM under the state SERC, where farm export is netted against import. PM-KUSUM is a separate MNRE subsidy scheme for solar pumps and feeder solarisation. A farm rooftop can use net metering even without PM-KUSUM.
Can a farmer get net metering on an agricultural pump connection?+
Sometimes. A grid-connected agricultural pump connection may allow net metering if the state SERC permits it for the agri tariff category, and the system stays within the sanctioned load. Many off-grid PM-KUSUM pumps have no grid link, so they cannot export. Verify the category rule with your DISCOM and SERC.
What is PM-KUSUM Component C?+
PM-KUSUM Component C supports solarisation of agricultural pumps, either by individual pump solar or by feeder-level solarisation. Feeder mode solarises a whole agricultural feeder rather than one consumer meter, so it is a DISCOM-side scheme and not consumer net metering. Verify the current Component C rules with MNRE and your state.
How is exported farm solar paid for?+
Exported farm solar is paid under whichever model the state uses: net metering nets export against import in units, net billing pays export at a separate rate, and PM-KUSUM Component A uses a power-purchase tariff. The rate and model differ by state and category, so verify the current figure with your DISCOM and SERC.
Does SuryaHub support agricultural net metering projects?+
SuryaHub helps EPCs run agricultural net metering and PM-KUSUM jobs in one place, tracking each application, document set, DISCOM step and settlement model so nothing stalls. SuryaHub is pre-revenue, and its only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Sources & references
Scheme rules and net-metering models come from primary government sources. KUSUM capacity multiples and net-metering rates change with each amendment, so always confirm the current figure with your DISCOM and SERC before you quote.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
PM-KUSUM scheme guidelines and component rules.
- Ministry of Power ↗
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules and grid-connection policy.
- PM-KUSUM National Portal ↗
Component-wise application and state implementation status (verify current).
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, MoP & SERC sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Scheme and net-metering rules are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Capacity, tariff and category figures are state-specific estimates — verify with your DISCOM/SERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.