- BESCOM runs rooftop solar in Karnataka under the SRTPV programme and KERC rules.
- Apply on the SRTPV portal with the RR number and SLD.
- BESCOM has used both net metering and a PPA model, set by KERC — verify which applies.
- The KERC tariff and the long-term agreement change with each KERC order.
- Fees, meter cost, DT loading (~30% cited) and timeline are estimates — verify with BESCOM/KERC.
Karnataka, and Bengaluru in particular, is a strong rooftop solar market for both homes and C&I sites. Almost every job runs through BESCOM net metering under the SRTPV programme. This guide takes an EPC liaison through the SRTPV portal, feasibility, the KERC tariff and PPA, the fees, and the realistic timeline.
What BESCOM SRTPV net metering is
BESCOM net metering lets a rooftop solar customer in Karnataka feed power to the grid and get credit for it. BESCOM stands for Bangalore Electricity Supply Company. It runs rooftop solar under a programme called SRTPV — Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic — which covers the registration, feasibility, agreement and meter.
The customer's solar feeds the building first. Extra units flow to the grid. A bidirectional meter counts both directions. Depending on size and category, BESCOM either nets the export against import or buys it under a power purchase agreement. The SRTPV portal is the single front door for the whole process.
Who sets the rules in Karnataka
KERC, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, writes the regulations — capacity caps, the metering or PPA model, the tariff and the timelines. BESCOM, the DISCOM, runs the SRTPV process: the portal, feasibility, the agreement and the meter.
For an EPC, that means a rule change usually starts with a KERC order or tariff revision, and BESCOM then updates the SRTPV process. Always check both the KERC regulation and the BESCOM SRTPV portal before you quote capacity, tariff, fees or timeline. Every state-specific figure below is an estimate.
Capacity caps under BESCOM
The net-metering and SRTPV capacity caps in Karnataka are set by KERC, tied to the customer's sanctioned load and the distribution transformer. The headline cap and the size bands have moved across KERC orders, so treat any capacity figure as an estimate and verify the current cap with BESCOM and the KERC regulation before you size a project.
Capacity is tied to sanctioned load
Your system size is tied to the customer's sanctioned load. If the solar size pushes the connection past the sanctioned load, the customer may need a load enhancement first. Read the sanctioned load off the bill before you finalise the size.
Metering model and the SRTPV agreement
BESCOM has used both net metering and a power purchase agreement (PPA) model under KERC, by system size and consumer category. The model that applies to a given project is set by KERC and changes with its orders.
Net metering vs PPA vs gross
Net metering nets export against import in kWh, so the customer pays for net units. A PPA or gross model buys the generation at a fixed tariff set by KERC. Net billing pays export a separate rate. Which one applies in Karnataka depends on the size and category, so confirm the current model with BESCOM and the KERC regulation. Our net vs gross vs net billing guide explains the cash difference.
The SRTPV application process
The BESCOM net-metering application runs on the SRTPV portal. Here is the flow from registration to a sealed meter, the way an EPC liaison handles it.
Register on the SRTPV portal
Open the BESCOM SRTPV portal, register with the RR number (consumer ID) and enter the proposed system size within the sanctioned load.
Submit documents & SLD
Upload the single-line diagram, equipment datasheets, ID and ownership proof. BESCOM screens the file before feasibility.
Feasibility & sanction
The local BESCOM office checks the distribution transformer and network, then issues a feasibility sanction. A loaded DT can cap the size or need an upgrade.
Sign the SRTPV agreement / PPA
BESCOM issues the SRTPV agreement, often structured as a long-term power purchase agreement under KERC. Both sides sign before metering.
Bidirectional meter & commissioning
BESCOM supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter. After joint inspection and commissioning, export starts counting.
Source: BESCOM SRTPV process and KERC regulations. Portal screens change over time — verify the current steps on the BESCOM SRTPV portal.
Feasibility and DT loading
Feasibility is the technical check that decides whether the network can take the system. The local BESCOM office reviews the distribution transformer (DT) that feeds the connection. A DT that already carries a lot of rooftop solar may cap your system or need an upgrade.
The DT loading limit
A limit near 30% of DT capacity for cumulative rooftop solar on one transformer is commonly cited across India, but the exact figure varies by state and has been amended. Treat 30% as commonly cited, not a fixed Karnataka number, and verify the current DT loading rule with BESCOM and the KERC regulation. Our DT loading guide goes deeper.
Deemed feasibility for small systems
The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 set deemed feasibility for systems up to 10 kW. These thresholds have been debated and amended in 2024–2026, so verify the current deemed-feasibility limit before you rely on it. See deemed feasibility.
Fees and meter cost
BESCOM charges a processing or registration fee plus the cost of the bidirectional meter, set under the KERC tariff order. There may also be a small agreement or testing charge.
All amounts above are estimates that change with each KERC tariff revision. Verify the current figure with BESCOM and the KERC regulation before you quote a customer.
How long BESCOM net metering takes
BESCOM SRTPV net metering commonly takes a few weeks from a clean application to a sealed meter, but the real time depends on feasibility and meter supply. The Rights of Consumers Rules set target timelines for each stage, and KERC sets the local commitment.
Treat any week count as an estimate and verify the current timeline with BESCOM and the KERC regulation. File early, send a clean SLD and document set, and chase the feasibility sanction the moment it is due. Our timeline-by-state guide compares the commitments across DISCOMs.
KERC tariff and the 25-year contract
Where BESCOM uses a PPA model, the agreement can run for a long term — often described as up to 25 years, matched to the panel life — at a tariff set in the KERC order. That long horizon makes operations and maintenance a real revenue line for an EPC.
The tariff, the PPA term and the settlement rules are all set by KERC and move with each order, so verify the current tariff and term with BESCOM and the KERC regulation. A long contract means you want a clean handover and a steady AMC and service plan so the system keeps performing and the billing stays correct. The agreement clauses guide covers what to read before signing.
When BESCOM net metering stalls
If feasibility drags, the agreement is delayed, or the meter is not installed, start with the BESCOM local office and the SRTPV portal grievance channel, then escalate within BESCOM.
If that fails, KERC and the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) handle disputes, and the Electricity Ombudsman sits above the CGRF. The Rights of Consumers Rules also back the deemed-feasibility and timeline rights. Our delay and escalation guide maps the steps.
How SuryaHub helps with BESCOM net metering
BESCOM SRTPV jobs are mostly tracking — many applications, each with its own feasibility result, agreement and meter date, plus a long PPA to service after. SuryaHub keeps every BESCOM job in one DISCOM workflow, linked to the project and the AMC, so your team sees what is due and what is stuck. SuryaHub does not file with BESCOM for you, and it is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Figures here are scheme estimates, not guarantees.
Track every BESCOM job in one place
See how SuryaHub runs SRTPV from feasibility to meter and into AMC.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for BESCOM net metering in Karnataka?+
To apply for BESCOM net metering, register on the SRTPV portal with your RR number, enter the system size within your sanctioned load, and upload the single-line diagram and equipment details. BESCOM runs feasibility, issues the SRTPV agreement, then installs a bidirectional meter at commissioning.
What is SRTPV under BESCOM?+
SRTPV stands for Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic, the programme BESCOM uses to connect rooftop solar in Karnataka. The SRTPV process covers registration, feasibility, the agreement and the bidirectional meter. The rules and tariff are set by KERC, so verify the current SRTPV terms with BESCOM and KERC.
Does BESCOM offer net metering or a PPA?+
BESCOM has used both net metering and a power purchase agreement model under KERC, depending on the system size and category. The model and tariff change with KERC orders, so confirm whether your project gets net metering or a PPA, and at what tariff, with BESCOM and the current KERC regulation.
How long does BESCOM SRTPV net metering take?+
BESCOM SRTPV net metering commonly takes a few weeks from a clean application to a sealed meter, but it depends on feasibility and meter supply. The Rights of Consumers Rules set target timelines. Timelines are an estimate, so verify the current commitment with BESCOM and the KERC regulation.
What fees does BESCOM charge for net metering?+
BESCOM charges a processing or registration fee and the cost of the bidirectional meter, set under the KERC tariff order. These amounts change with each KERC revision, so treat any figure as an estimate and verify the current fee and meter cost with BESCOM and the KERC regulation before you quote a customer.
How does SuryaHub help with BESCOM net metering?+
SuryaHub tracks every BESCOM SRTPV application, document, feasibility result, agreement and meter date in one workflow so nothing stalls. SuryaHub does not file with the DISCOM for you and is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Always confirm rules with BESCOM and KERC.
Sources & references
The rules, tariff, fees and timelines on this page come from primary sources. BESCOM SRTPV figures change with each KERC order — always confirm the current figure with BESCOM and the KERC regulation before you apply.
- BESCOM ↗
The Bengaluru DISCOM, the SRTPV process and application forms.
- Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) ↗
The regulations and tariff orders that set caps, tariff and the PPA.
- MNRE ↗
National rooftop solar scheme guidance and standards.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against KERC, BESCOM & MNRE sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Process and figures are taken from the BESCOM SRTPV portal and KERC regulations above and re-checked every 30 days. Capacity, tariff, fees, DT loading and timeline are estimates that move with KERC orders — verify the current figure with BESCOM and KERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.