- Sanctioned load is the approved load on the connection — kW for LT, kVA for HT.
- Many states tie solar capacity to sanctioned load, so it gates the system size.
- If the planned array is bigger than the load allows, you need load enhancement.
- Enhancing load means applying to the DISCOM to raise the sanctioned load.
- Deemed-enhancement limits, fees and timelines vary — verify the latest notification.
A rooftop quote can look perfect and still fail at the DISCOM, because the sanctioned load is too small for the system. Net metering rules in many states link the allowed solar size to the customer's sanctioned load. When the array is bigger, you need load enhancement first. This guide shows EPCs how to size right and avoid the rework.
What sanctioned load is
Sanctioned load is the maximum electrical load the DISCOM has approved for a connection. It is written in the connection agreement and shown on the bill. For a low-tension (LT) connection it is measured in kilowatts (kW); for a high-tension (HT) connection it is the contract demand, usually in kVA. It is the capacity the network was sized for at that site.
Sanctioned load is not the same as actual usage. A home may have a 5 kW sanctioned load but rarely draw that much. The DISCOM still plans the wires, meter and transformer share around the sanctioned figure, which is why it matters for net metering.
Where to find it
The sanctioned load sits on the electricity bill and in the connection or sanction letter. Always read it from the document, not from a customer's memory. A wrong figure at the quote stage leads to a rejected application later.
Why solar capacity is tied to sanctioned load
Solar capacity is tied to sanctioned load because many state net-metering rules cap the rooftop system at a percentage of the sanctioned load or contract demand. The logic is simple: the connection and the local network were built for that load, and the rule keeps the solar system matched to it. The exact link varies by state, so verify the current rule.
Some states allow solar up to 100% of sanctioned load, some allow more, and some measure it differently for residential, commercial and industrial categories. Because the rule moves with each amendment, never assume a single number across states. Read the live regulation or ask the DISCOM.
The DT cap is a separate check
Sanctioned load is only one gate. The distribution transformer loading cap is a second, independent check. A system can fit the sanctioned load and still be capped by the transformer, so plan for both.
What load enhancement is
Load enhancement is applying to the DISCOM to increase your sanctioned load. When a customer wants a system larger than the current sanctioned load allows, raising the load lifts the cap so a bigger system can be sanctioned. The DISCOM checks that the network can support the higher load before it approves.
Enhancement vs reduction
Enhancement raises the sanctioned load; reduction lowers it. For solar, enhancement is the common move because customers usually want a system at or near their full load. Reduction is rare and can hurt a net-metering case, so avoid trimming load just to save on fixed charges.
When you need load enhancement
You need load enhancement when the planned solar capacity is larger than the current sanctioned load and your state ties the two together. If the array fits inside the existing load, no enhancement is needed and you can proceed to feasibility. The deciding factor is always the state rule plus the customer's goal.
Typical triggers
- The customer's roof and bills justify a system bigger than the sanctioned load.
- A commercial site has grown and the old contract demand is too low.
- The customer plans to add EV charging or new machinery alongside solar.
- The DISCOM's net-metering rule caps solar at a share of sanctioned load.
The sizing decision table
Use this quick check before you finalise a design. It maps the relationship between system size and sanctioned load to the likely DISCOM outcome and whether you should plan enhancement. It is a guide, not a substitute for the state rule.
Guide only; the exact rule varies by state — verify with your DISCOM.
How to enhance sanctioned load
Load enhancement is a DISCOM application, much like a new connection change. The exact steps and fees vary, so confirm them locally, but the shape is consistent across most DISCOMs.
The usual steps
- Apply to the DISCOM for the higher load, with the connection details and ID proof.
- Technical check — the DISCOM confirms the network and transformer can support it.
- Revised deposit and charges — pay any enhancement fee and updated security deposit.
- Meter or service change if the higher load needs it (for example, a phase change).
- Updated sanction letter with the new load, which you then use for net metering.
Run the enhancement before, or together with, the net-metering feasibility request so the higher load is on record when the DISCOM sizes the system. Costs and timelines vary by DISCOM and tariff category, so treat every figure as an estimate and confirm with your DISCOM.
Watch the phase
A bigger load can push a connection from single-phase to three-phase. That changes the meter, the inverter choice and the wiring. See single-phase vs three-phase net metering before you commit a design.
Common sizing mistakes to avoid
Most sizing failures trace back to a few avoidable errors. Catch these and your applications clear faster.
- Quoting from roof area alone — the roof may fit a system the load will not allow.
- Using the customer's stated load instead of the figure on the bill.
- Forgetting the DT cap — load can be fine while the transformer is full.
- Designing before feasibility — quote a range until the DISCOM confirms the size.
- Ignoring future plans — if the customer will add EV or machinery, enhance once, not twice.
If the customer later wants to grow the system, see adding panels to an existing net-metered system, which has its own approval path.
Sequencing enhancement with feasibility
Timing matters. If you know the customer wants a system bigger than their current load, start the load enhancement early, ideally before or with the net-metering feasibility request. That way the higher load is on record when the DISCOM sizes the system, and you avoid two rounds of approval. Doing them in sequence — feasibility first, then discovering you need enhancement — adds weeks and can mean re-applying. Plan the order at the design stage.
Commercial and industrial cases
For commercial and industrial sites, the figure to watch is the contract demand, usually in kVA. A site that has grown since its connection may already be running near its demand, leaving little headroom for solar under a sanctioned-load rule. Here, enhancement can serve two goals at once: more capacity for the business and room for a larger solar system. For HT consumers, the process and charges differ again, so see industrial and HT net metering.
Keep the paperwork consistent
When the sanctioned load changes, the new figure has to flow through every document — the updated sanction letter, the net-metering application and the single line diagram. A stale load figure on one form against the new one on another is a common cause of a DISCOM query. Use the updated sanction letter as the single source of truth and copy the figure from it everywhere, so the file is internally consistent.
How SuryaHub helps you size and enhance load
Sizing is where margin and approvals are won or lost, and SuryaHub keeps the inputs straight. SuryaHub stores the sanctioned load and connection details on each project, links them to the quoted system size, and runs load-enhancement and net-metering steps through one DISCOM workflow so the right figure follows the job from quote to commissioning. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every figure here is a scheme or technical fact, not a guarantee.
Size to load, not to surprises
See how SuryaHub keeps sanctioned load and system size in sync.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is sanctioned load in net metering?+
Sanctioned load is the maximum electrical load the DISCOM has approved for a connection, set in the connection agreement and measured in kW for LT supply or kVA for HT supply. In net metering, the allowed solar capacity is often tied to this sanctioned load, so it matters to system sizing.
Why is solar capacity tied to sanctioned load?+
Solar capacity is tied to sanctioned load because many state net-metering rules limit the rooftop system to a percentage of the sanctioned load or contract demand. This keeps the system matched to the connection the network was built for. The exact link varies by state, so verify the current rule.
What is load enhancement for net metering?+
Load enhancement is applying to the DISCOM to increase your sanctioned load. EPCs use it when the customer wants a solar system larger than the current sanctioned load allows. Enhancing the load lifts the cap so a bigger system can be sanctioned, subject to network capacity and DISCOM approval.
When do I need to enhance the sanctioned load?+
You need to enhance the sanctioned load when the planned solar capacity is larger than the current sanctioned load and your state ties the two together. If the array fits within the existing load, no enhancement is needed. Always confirm the sizing rule with the DISCOM before you design.
Does load enhancement cost extra?+
Load enhancement can carry fees, a revised security deposit and sometimes a higher fixed charge, and the figures vary by DISCOM and tariff category. Treat any amount as an estimate and confirm the current charges and timeline with your DISCOM before you commit the customer.
How does SuryaHub help with load and sizing?+
SuryaHub stores the sanctioned load and connection details on each project, links them to the quoted system size, and runs any load-enhancement and net-metering steps through one DISCOM workflow. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
Load and connection rules come from the Rights of Consumers Rules and CEA standards, with the sizing link set by each state regulator. Confirm the current sizing rule and enhancement charges with your DISCOM before you design.
- Ministry of Power ↗
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules — connection, load and metering.
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Technical standards for connectivity of distributed generation.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Rooftop solar programme guidelines applied by DISCOMs.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, CEA & SERC sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Sizing and enhancement rules are taken from the sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Deemed-enhancement thresholds, fees and timelines vary by notification and DISCOM and must be verified. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.