- KSEB runs net metering state-wide through the ekiran online portal.
- ANERT is the state nodal agency; the PM Surya Ghar subsidy links to the DISCOM.
- The metering model and caps come from KSERC orders — including draft/proposed 2025 regulations.
- Path: register → feasibility → agreement → bidirectional meter → commissioning.
- Every fee, cap and settlement rule here is an estimate — verify with KSEB / KSERC.
KSEB net metering is how a Kerala rooftop solar customer sends extra power back to the grid and gets credit for it. For an EPC, the job is to move each plant cleanly through the KSEB ekiran portal — from feasibility to a sealed bidirectional meter — without a stall. This guide walks the full process, the fees, the timeline and the rules that change.
KSEB net metering in brief
KSEB net metering lets a solar plant export surplus units to the grid and net them against the units the home or business draws. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is the single state-wide distribution utility, so you deal with one DISCOM across the whole state. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) writes the rules, and KSEB runs them.
Kerala is in a regulatory transition. KSERC has issued draft/proposed net-metering and renewable-energy regulations in the 2024–2025 cycle that change caps, the metering model for some consumer classes, and settlement. Treat those as draft/proposed — verify if notified before you quote a customer or promise an export rate.
Who runs the grid in Kerala
KSEB Limited is the main distribution licensee across Kerala. A handful of small licensees serve specific areas — for example local bodies and a few municipal undertakings — but the vast majority of rooftop solar connections go through KSEB. That keeps the process simpler than in states with several private DISCOMs.
Where ANERT fits
ANERT (the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology) is Kerala's state nodal agency for renewable energy. ANERT runs state rooftop-solar promotion and supports subsidy delivery. The actual grid connection and net meter, though, come from KSEB. Under PM Surya Ghar, the national portal links the consumer to the DISCOM, so an EPC tracks both the KSEB connection and the subsidy claim in parallel.
Net metering, net billing or gross — which applies?
KSEB has historically offered net metering, where export is netted against import in units. But the metering model is set by KSERC and has shifted between consumer classes over recent orders. You may see net metering for one category and net billing or net feed-in for another.
The three models in plain words
- Net metering — export is subtracted from import in units; you pay for the net units.
- Net billing — export is paid a separate, usually lower, rate; import is charged at the retail tariff.
- Gross metering — all generation is sold at a fixed feed-in tariff and you buy all your power at retail.
Which model and which export value apply to your customer is a live KSERC item, especially under the draft 2025 regulations. Verify the model and rate with the current KSERC order before you build a savings case. Our net vs gross vs net-billing guide explains how each one changes the payback.
Capacity caps and distribution-transformer loading
Your system size in Kerala is tied to the customer's sanctioned load and to the headroom on the local distribution transformer (DT). KSEB checks both at feasibility. If the plant would push the transformer past its allowed solar share, KSEB can cut the sanctioned size or ask for an upgrade.
The numbers that move
The net-metering capacity cap, the share of a DT that rooftop solar can occupy, and any limit tied to sanctioned load are all KSERC figures that change with each order. There is no single national DT loading number — around 30% is commonly cited, but it varies by state and by feeder. Every one of these is an estimate; verify the current cap and DT rule with KSEB / KSERC before you size the plant. If the size exceeds the sanctioned load, the customer needs a load enhancement first.
Under the national Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, systems up to a threshold (long cited as ≤10 kW) have a form of deemed feasibility — but that threshold has been debated and amended in 2024–2026, so verify the current threshold and how KSEB applies it.
The ekiran application process, step by step
KSEB takes net-metering applications online through the ekiran portal, tied to the consumer's existing electricity service number. Here is the flow an EPC follows from start to a working, metered plant.
Register on the ekiran portal
Create the consumer login on the KSEB ekiran portal and start a new rooftop-solar / net-metering application linked to the existing service connection (consumer number).
Apply for feasibility
Submit the proposed system size and site details. KSEB checks the distribution transformer (DT) loading and the local feeder before it clears the connection.
Get the sanction & sign the agreement
Once feasibility clears, KSEB issues a sanction and you sign the net-metering agreement that sets the metering and settlement terms.
Install & arrange inspection
Install the plant to CEA safety standards, then apply for the electrical inspection / Electrical Inspectorate clearance where the size requires it.
Meter install & commissioning
KSEB installs, tests and seals the bidirectional meter, then commissions the plant. Export only counts from the commissioning date.
The exact screen flow, fee waivers and the sequencing of the Electrical Inspectorate clearance change with KSEB circulars and KSERC orders. Re-check the current KSEB circular and the ekiran portal before you file, because the order of steps for the inspection and the settlement-lapse treatment have moved.
Documents you need for a KSEB application
Collect the document set before you open the ekiran application. A missing or mismatched paper is the most common reason a KSEB file sits.
Indicative set — verify the current KSEB checklist.
See our full net-metering documents checklist for the EPC-grade version that works across states.
Fees, deposits and meter cost
KSEB net metering has three money items: the application or processing charge, a possible security deposit on any extra sanctioned load, and the cost of the bidirectional meter, which the consumer usually buys. KSEB supplies, tests and seals that meter.
The figures that change
KSEB fee waivers — for example for small residential systems — and the exact deposit and meter charge are set by KSERC orders and KSEB circulars, and they move. These are estimates; verify the current fee schedule and any waiver with KSEB / KSERC before you put numbers in a quote. Our deposit, meter and fee guide shows how to model these line items across states.
Timeline and commissioning
A clean KSEB net-metering case commonly runs a few weeks from feasibility to a sealed meter, but the real timeline depends on the section office, the plant size, meter stock and whether an Electrical Inspectorate clearance is needed. Larger commercial plants take longer than a small home system.
What happens at commissioning
At commissioning, KSEB installs the bidirectional meter, tests it, and seals it. Export only starts counting from that date — units generated before the meter is sealed do not earn credit. That is why getting to the meter step fast protects the customer's savings. Compare states in our timeline by state guide. All timeline figures are estimates — verify the current schedule with KSEB.
Feasibility and DT notes for Kerala sites
Feasibility is the gate that decides the plant size KSEB will allow. The section office looks at the distribution transformer (DT) the customer's connection sits on, the existing solar already feeding that transformer, and the customer's sanctioned load. A roof can be perfect, yet the size still gets cut if the transformer is already carrying its share of rooftop solar.
What an EPC should check before applying
- Sanctioned load — read it off the latest bill; if the plant is larger, plan the load enhancement first.
- Transformer headroom — ask the section office informally if the local DT has solar room before you commit a size to the customer.
- Phase match — a three-phase plant needs a three-phase connection; a single-phase home connection caps the size.
- Inspectorate trigger — larger systems need Electrical Inspectorate clearance, which adds steps; plan for it early.
The exact DT solar-share figure KSEB applies is a KSERC item and varies by feeder. Treat it as an estimate and verify the current rule with the section office before you promise a size. A quick informal feasibility check saves a formal rejection later.
When it stalls — delays and escalation
Most KSEB delays come from feasibility queries, a DT-loading limit, or a wait for the meter. First, clear the query the section office raised — a corrected SLD or a load enhancement often unblocks it. If the file still sits past a reasonable window, escalate up the KSEB hierarchy and, if needed, raise it with KSERC under the consumer grievance route.
The national Rights of Consumers Rules set time-bound expectations for connection steps, which gives you a clear basis to push. Our delay and escalation guide maps the full path. Keep a dated record of every submission so your escalation has evidence.
How SuryaHub helps Kerala EPCs
KSEB net metering is one step in a longer job. SuryaHub keeps the whole pipeline — from lead through the DISCOM and net-metering steps to handover — in one place, so a Kerala EPC can see exactly where each plant sits on the ekiran journey, which document is pending, and when the meter is due. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every state figure here is a scheme estimate, not a guarantee.
Track every KSEB job in one place
See how SuryaHub runs net metering from feasibility to commissioning.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for KSEB net metering in Kerala?+
To apply for KSEB net metering, register on the KSEB ekiran portal, start a rooftop-solar application against your consumer number, and submit the feasibility request. After feasibility clears, you sign the agreement, install the plant, and KSEB tests and seals the bidirectional meter at commissioning.
What is the net-metering capacity cap in Kerala?+
The KSEB net-metering capacity cap is set by KSERC regulation and is tied to your sanctioned load and the local transformer headroom. The exact figure changes with each KSERC order, including the draft 2025 regulations. Treat any number as an estimate and verify the current notified cap with KSEB or KSERC.
Does KSEB use net metering or net billing?+
KSEB has historically offered net metering, where export is netted against import in units, but KSERC orders have moved different consumer classes between net metering, net billing and net feed-in over time. The model that applies to your category is set by the current KSERC regulation, so verify it before you quote a customer.
How does ANERT relate to KSEB net metering?+
ANERT is the Kerala state nodal agency for renewable energy and handles state-level rooftop solar promotion and subsidy support, while KSEB runs the actual net-metering connection through its ekiran portal. For PM Surya Ghar subsidy, the national portal links to the DISCOM, so EPCs track both the KSEB connection and the subsidy claim.
How long does KSEB net metering take?+
KSEB net metering commonly takes a few weeks from feasibility to meter installation when documents are clean, but the timeline varies by section office, plant size and meter availability. Larger systems that need Electrical Inspectorate clearance take longer. Timelines are an estimate — confirm the current schedule with your KSEB section office.
What does KSEB net metering cost in Kerala?+
KSEB net-metering costs include the application or registration charge, any security deposit on the extra load, and the bidirectional meter cost, which the consumer usually pays. The exact amounts are set by KSERC orders and KSEB circulars and change over time, so verify the current fee schedule with KSEB before you quote.
Sources & references
Kerala net-metering caps, the metering model, fees and settlement come from KSERC orders and KSEB circulars and change with each amendment. Always confirm the current figure with KSEB and KSERC before you apply.
- Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) ↗
The regulations that set Kerala net-metering caps, settlement and fees. Verify the current notified order.
- Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) ↗
Runs net metering on the ground and the ekiran online connection portal.
- Ministry of Power — Rights of Consumers Rules ↗
National rules on deemed feasibility and bidirectional metering.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against KSERC, KSEB & MoP sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Process and figures are taken from KSERC / KSEB / MoP sources and re-checked every 30 days. All state-specific caps, fees and timelines are estimates that change with KSERC orders — including the draft 2025 regulations — so verify before you apply. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.