- Assam net metering runs through APDCL, under AERC rules.
- Each North-East state has its own DISCOM and regulator — rules are not the same.
- The path is standard: register → feasibility → agreement → meter → commission.
- Net-metering caps, fees and even availability differ widely and are sparsely published.
- Verify each state's ERC and DISCOM individually; some smaller states may have no live scheme yet.
Net metering in the North-East lets a rooftop solar owner export extra power and net it against the units they draw. But the region is not one market. Assam runs through APDCL, and each other state has its own utility and regulator. For an EPC, the first job is to confirm which rules apply where you are working.
Net metering in the North-East
Net metering nets the solar units you export against the units you import, so the consumer pays for the net difference on a bidirectional meter. This core model is the same across India, but the North-East is special: it is many small states, each with its own regulator, and published rules can be thin or out of date.
That means you should treat the figures here as estimates and verify each state's order before you quote. In some smaller states a net-metering regulation may be limited or not yet live — we say so plainly below rather than implying a process that does not exist.
The DISCOMs and ERCs across the region
Here is who runs distribution and who regulates it in the main North-East states. Use this to know where to file and where to escalate. Verify each utility's net-metering status before you rely on it.
Source: state DISCOMs and ERCs. Roles and availability are summarised; verify each utility's current net-metering status before you rely on it. For Sikkim and the smallest NE states, see the dedicated guide linked below.
Assam: APDCL and AEDA
In Assam, APDCL is the single distribution company and runs net metering for the whole state. AERC sets the regulation, the capacity caps and the settlement method. AEDA, the state renewable energy agency, supports rooftop solar and PM Surya Ghar work — verify its exact net-metering role with APDCL.
What an Assam EPC files
An Assam job is the most documented of the region, so it is the cleanest place to start. You file with APDCL, clear feasibility, sign the agreement, install to safety standards, and APDCL seals the bidirectional meter. The caps and fees are AERC figures — verify the current order.
Where the process differs by state
Outside Assam, the process keeps the same shape but the details change. Meghalaya (MePDCL), Tripura (TSECL) and Manipur (MSPDCL) each have their own utility and regulator, so caps, fees and forms differ. The Joint ERC covers some states, which changes where you check the regulation.
Smaller states: confirm the scheme exists
In the smallest states, a net-metering scheme may be limited, new, or not yet operational. Do not assume a process is live. Confirm with the state power department or utility first, and if there is no operational regulation, tell the customer plainly. For the state-by-state detail on Sikkim and the remaining North-East, see our Sikkim and remaining North-East guide.
The application process step by step
The application process across the North-East follows the standard India path: register, clear feasibility, sign the agreement, install and inspect, then meter and commission. Here is the flow — the body you file with changes by state.
Register the application
Apply to the state DISCOM (APDCL in Assam) with consumer details, sanctioned load, system size and documents. Use the National Portal for PM Surya Ghar subsidy jobs.
Feasibility check
The DISCOM studies the local transformer and feeder to confirm it can take the export. Small systems may get deemed feasibility — verify the threshold per state.
Sign the agreement
After feasibility clears, the consumer signs the net-metering agreement with the DISCOM. This fixes the metering model and settlement terms.
Install & inspect
Build to CEA safety standards. The DISCOM and the electrical inspector (where required) check earthing, isolators and inverter anti-islanding protection.
Meter & commission
The DISCOM supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter, then commissions the plant. Export now nets against import.
For PM Surya Ghar subsidy jobs, much of this runs through the National Portal, which links the consumer, the vendor and the DISCOM. See the National Portal workflow for how the portal and the DISCOM steps connect.
Feasibility and hill-grid notes
Feasibility is where the DISCOM confirms the local network can absorb your export. The engineer checks the distribution transformer (DT) feeding the site and the solar already on it.
In parts of the North-East, grids are weaker and feeders longer, so a DT can be loaded sooner than in a metro. Small systems may get deemed feasibility under the national Rights of Consumers Rules, but the exact threshold has been amended between 2024 and 2026 — verify the current limit with the DISCOM. Our DT loading rule guide explains the cap, commonly cited near 30 percent but varying by state.
Metering model and surplus settlement
Most North-East states use net metering for smaller rooftop systems, where export nets against import in units on a bidirectional meter. How leftover surplus is settled — carried forward in units or paid at a set rate — is fixed by each state's order and can differ for larger systems.
Where the model can change
Above a size threshold, a system can fall under net billing (export paid a separate, usually lower rate) or gross metering (all generation sold at a feed-in tariff). The threshold and the rates are state figures, so confirm which model applies with the DISCOM. For the difference, see net vs gross vs net billing, and for carry-forward, surplus settlement by state.
Documents and safety compliance
A clean document set is the fastest way through any North-East DISCOM. Most rejections are paperwork problems, not technical ones. Have the consumer's identity and address proof, the latest electricity bill, the sanctioned-load proof, the system design and the inverter and module datasheets ready before you file.
The papers a DISCOM expects
The exact list is set by each DISCOM and can change, so verify the current checklist. As a general guide you will need the application form, the consumer's electricity bill, identity and ownership proof of the premises, a single-line diagram (SLD) of the plant, and the technical sheets for the inverter and modules. Our documents checklist covers every paper a DISCOM asks for and how to keep names matching across them.
Safety standards the plant must meet
The inverter must meet CEA and relevant standards, with built-in anti-islanding protection so it shuts down safely if the grid goes off. The plant needs proper earthing and an accessible AC isolator. The electrical inspector checks these where required. Our earthing and isolators guide and inverter standards guide explain what an inspector looks for. On weaker NE grids, anti-islanding and clean earthing matter even more.
The single-line diagram
A clear single-line diagram (SLD) speeds up both feasibility and inspection. It shows how the array, inverter, isolators, meter and grid connect. A vague SLD is a common reason a file gets sent back, so make it clean and labelled. Our SLD guide shows what a net-metering SLD should contain.
Timeline and fees
North-East net metering commonly takes a few weeks from a complete file to a sealed meter, but step-wise limits are sparsely published and can stretch where staff and meters are thin on the ground. Treat any timeline as an estimate and confirm with the DISCOM.
Fees, deposits and meter cost
Application fees, the meter charge and any security deposit are set by each state's regulator and DISCOM, and they vary across the region. Verify the current figures before you quote. Our fees and deposit guide and charges by state show how these line items work.
How the PM Surya Ghar subsidy interacts
Net metering and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy are two separate things that meet on the same job. The subsidy is the central money for a residential rooftop system; net metering is the grid arrangement that lets the owner export surplus. In Assam, AEDA supports the subsidy side while APDCL runs the net-metering and meter steps.
For a residential job, the system is registered on the National Portal, the net meter is installed by the DISCOM, and the subsidy is released after commissioning and meter installation. The PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy is up to ₹78,000 at 3 kW — a national figure to verify against the current scheme. Our subsidy and net-metering interaction guide explains how the two fit together so neither delays the other.
Why the order of steps matters
The subsidy depends on the net meter being installed and the system commissioned, so a stalled DISCOM meter step holds up the subsidy too. In the North-East, where meters can be slow to arrive, plan the net-metering steps as part of the subsidy timeline, not a separate task.
If the process stalls: escalation
If an application sits past a reasonable time, escalate inside the DISCOM first — to the division or circle office handling the connection. Keep your application number and dates ready.
If that does not move it, the consumer can raise a grievance with the state ERC's consumer grievance forum and, beyond that, the Electricity Ombudsman. The national Rights of Consumers Rules also give consumers service timelines. See our delay and escalation guide. Verify the current forum details for each North-East state before you file.
How SuryaHub helps with North-East jobs
Running jobs across several small state utilities means many logins, forms and timelines. SuryaHub keeps every application, document and meter date in one place, and runs each job from lead through DISCOM and net-metering steps to commissioning — so nothing stalls quietly across states. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the figures here are scheme facts to verify, not guarantees.
Run every NE DISCOM in one place
See how SuryaHub tracks applications across multiple state utilities.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Who runs net metering in Assam?+
Net metering in Assam is run by APDCL, the state distribution company, under rules set by AERC, the state regulator. APDCL processes the application, checks feasibility, signs the agreement and installs the bidirectional meter. AEDA supports rooftop solar and subsidy work. Verify every figure with APDCL.
Is net metering available across all North-East states?+
Net metering is not uniform across all North-East states. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur have distribution utilities and regulators, but caps, fees and even availability differ widely and are sparsely published. Some smaller states may have limited or no operational scheme, so verify each state ERC and DISCOM individually before you commit.
What is the net metering capacity limit in Assam?+
The net metering capacity limit in Assam is set by AERC and is tied to the consumer sanctioned load, with a transformer loading cap on top. The exact figures are order-specific, so treat any number as an estimate and verify the current AERC regulation with APDCL before you apply.
Which metering model do North-East states use for rooftop solar?+
Most North-East states use net metering for smaller rooftop systems, where export is netted against import in units on a bidirectional meter. Larger systems can fall under net billing or gross metering depending on the state order. Confirm the model and size threshold with each state DISCOM.
How does SuryaHub help with North-East net metering?+
SuryaHub keeps the DISCOM application, documents, feasibility status and meter dates for every North-East job in one place, so an EPC can run jobs across several state utilities without losing track. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
The roles, process and rules below come from primary state and national sources. North-East figures are sparsely published and vary by state, so always confirm the current numbers with the relevant DISCOM and ERC before you apply or quote.
- APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company) ↗
The DISCOM for Assam: processes net-metering applications and installs meters. Verify the current circular.
- AERC (Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission) ↗
Sets the net-metering regulation, caps and settlement for Assam. Verify the latest order.
- Ministry of Power — Rights of Consumers Rules ↗
National baseline, including deemed feasibility for small systems. Verify current thresholds.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against APDCL, AERC & MoP sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Process and roles are drawn from the sources above and re-checked every 30 days. North-East caps, fees, timelines, settlement and even availability are estimates that vary by state — verify each ERC and DISCOM. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.