- The National Portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in) links the consumer, EPC and DISCOM.
- You must be an empanelled vendor to appear in the consumer's vendor list.
- The flow is apply → feasibility → vendor pick → install → net meter → commission → subsidy.
- The DISCOM still runs feasibility, the net meter and commissioning — the portal just orchestrates.
- The subsidy is paid by DBT to the consumer, not to the EPC, after commissioning.
The National Portal for rooftop solar is where the whole subsidised job lives now. A homeowner applies, picks you, and tracks the money — all in one place. But the portal does not replace the DISCOM. As an EPC, you work both at once: the portal for the paperwork and the DISCOM for feasibility, the net meter and commissioning.
What the National Portal for rooftop solar is
The National Portal for rooftop solar is the government site at pmsuryaghar.gov.in where a homeowner applies for rooftop solar, picks an empanelled vendor, and tracks the subsidy. It ties the consumer, the EPC and the DISCOM into one workflow. But the DISCOM still does the real grid work — feasibility, the net meter and commissioning all sit with the DISCOM.
Think of the portal as the front desk and the DISCOM as the engine room. The consumer sees a clean, single application; behind it, your DISCOM is approving load, supplying the meter and signing off the system. An EPC who treats the portal as the whole job misses the DISCOM steps that actually gate the subsidy.
Where the EPC fits in the workflow
An EPC fits in once the consumer reaches the vendor-selection step — and only if the EPC is already empanelled. You cannot pick up portal jobs cold. First you become an empanelled vendor with the DISCOM; then your firm shows up in the consumer's vendor list for that area, and a homeowner can choose you.
Empanelment comes first
Empanelment is the gate. Without it, the consumer never sees your name. With it, you appear in the list for every DISCOM area you registered for. This is why a multi-state EPC has to register per DISCOM — the portal lists you only where you are empanelled.
The stage-by-stage National Portal flow
The National Portal job runs through seven clear stages, from the consumer's first login to the subsidy landing in their bank account. Here is the full sequence an EPC tracks on every job.
Consumer registers & applies
The homeowner registers on the National Portal, picks the DISCOM, enters the consumer number and applies for rooftop solar.
DISCOM feasibility approval
The DISCOM checks the sanctioned load and the local grid, then issues feasibility approval. Work should not start before this.
Consumer picks a vendor
From the portal list of empanelled vendors for that area, the consumer selects an EPC. You are now assigned the job.
Installation & details upload
You install the system and upload the plant details, panel and inverter make, capacity and photos to the portal.
Net-metering application
You file the net-metering application with the DISCOM. The DISCOM supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter.
Inspection & commissioning
A joint inspection checks the install against the standards. On pass, the DISCOM commissions and energises the system.
Subsidy claim & release
The commissioning report and consumer bank details go to the portal. The central subsidy is paid by DBT to the consumer.
National Portal stage flow for an EPC. Exact step names and timelines vary by DISCOM and scheme amendment — verify the current process with your DISCOM and the portal.
The order matters. Feasibility before installation, installation before the net-metering application, commissioning before the subsidy. Skip a step or run them out of order, and the job stalls at the next gate. Most delays trace back to a stage that was started early or filed with a missing document.
The net-metering handoff to the DISCOM
The portal starts the net-metering request, but the DISCOM does the real work. After you install, you file the net-metering application, and the DISCOM supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter. The meter is DISCOM-supplied and sealed — an EPC does not install its own net meter.
Net-metering rules are state rules
The portal is national, but net metering is local. Capacity caps, fees, the settlement period and the metering model are all set by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and run by your DISCOM. These figures change with each amendment, so treat any number as an estimate and verify the current figure with your DISCOM. The net-metering process guide walks through the full DISCOM side in detail.
What the portal and DISCOM ask for
The portal and the DISCOM together ask for a standard document set across the job. Have it ready so no stage waits on a scan. The exact list moves with the scheme, so confirm the current requirement on the portal.
- Consumer details — the latest electricity bill and consumer number for the DISCOM.
- Sanctioned-load proof — the system size is tied to the sanctioned load on the connection.
- Plant details — panel and inverter make, model, capacity and serial numbers.
- Installation photos — geo-tagged photos of the finished install, as the portal requires.
- Net-metering application — the single-line diagram and the DISCOM's net-metering form.
- Bank details — the consumer's account for the direct benefit transfer of the subsidy.
The full, current set lives in the net-metering document checklist. Build the file once at the start of the job and you avoid the back-and-forth that stretches a two-week job into two months.
How the subsidy is released through the portal
The subsidy is released after commissioning, not before. Once the system is inspected, commissioned and the net meter is installed, the commissioning report and the consumer's bank details are submitted on the portal. The central subsidy is then paid by direct benefit transfer (DBT) to the consumer's bank account.
The subsidy goes to the consumer, not the EPC
This is the point most installers get wrong in a quote. The subsidy lands in the consumer's account by DBT — it does not come to you. Your commercial terms with the homeowner have to account for that flow, so the cash collection and the subsidy timing line up. Promising the consumer "we deduct the subsidy upfront" can leave you exposed if the claim is delayed. The PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy is capped (₹78,000 at 3 kW), so confirm the current slab on the PM Surya Ghar hub.
Where applications stall — and how to avoid it
Most portal jobs stall at a DISCOM gate, not on the portal itself. Plan for the common ones.
- Started before feasibility — installing early risks a rejected net-metering application and a re-design.
- Sanctioned-load mismatch — a system bigger than the sanctioned load needs a load enhancement first.
- Net meter not supplied — the DISCOM-supplied meter can lag; chase it so commissioning is not blocked.
- Failed joint inspection — earthing, isolators or anti-islanding gaps send the crew back.
- Bank or Aadhaar mismatch — DBT fails if the consumer's bank seeding is wrong, holding the subsidy.
When a job sits idle, find the exact stage it is stuck at and the owner of that stage — usually the DISCOM. Chasing the wrong gate wastes weeks. A clear status per job is the single biggest lever an EPC has over portal turnaround.
Working the portal across several DISCOMs
A multi-state EPC works several DISCOMs at once, and each one runs the portal a little differently. Empanelment is per DISCOM, the net-metering rules are per SERC, and the timelines vary. The portal is the same site, but the engine room behind it changes with every state line you cross.
Keep one view across them
The risk in multi-DISCOM work is losing track — a feasibility waiting in one state, a net meter pending in another, a subsidy claim half-filed in a third. Keep one view across every DISCOM and every job, with the stage and the owner of each, and the portfolio stops leaking jobs. The multi-state operating playbook covers this in depth.
How SuryaHub helps with National Portal jobs
A portal job touches the consumer, the portal and the DISCOM, and any one of them can stall it. SuryaHub tracks each job from feasibility to subsidy on one platform, holding every DISCOM login, document set and net-metering and portal step so nothing waits unseen. Across many jobs and many DISCOMs, the project view shows the exact stage and owner of each one. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Track every portal job in one place
See how SuryaHub runs feasibility, net metering and subsidy across DISCOMs.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Portal for rooftop solar?+
The National Portal for rooftop solar is the government site at pmsuryaghar.gov.in where a homeowner applies for rooftop solar, picks an empanelled vendor, and tracks the subsidy. The portal connects the consumer, the EPC and the DISCOM in one workflow, but the DISCOM still runs feasibility, net metering and commissioning.
How does an EPC get jobs through the National Portal?+
An EPC gets jobs through the National Portal by first becoming an empanelled vendor with the DISCOM. Once empanelled, the EPC appears in the consumer vendor list for its area. The homeowner applies, gets feasibility approval, and then selects the EPC from that list to do the installation.
Does the National Portal handle net metering?+
The National Portal starts the net-metering request, but the DISCOM handles the actual net metering. After installation, the EPC files the net-metering application, and the DISCOM supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter, then commissions the system. Net-metering rules and fees are set by the state SERC, so verify them with the DISCOM.
How is the rooftop solar subsidy released through the portal?+
The rooftop solar subsidy is released after commissioning. Once the system is inspected, commissioned and the net meter is installed, the commissioning report and the consumer bank details are submitted on the portal. The central subsidy is then paid by direct benefit transfer to the consumer bank account, not to the EPC.
Can the EPC start installation before feasibility approval?+
No, the EPC should not start installation before the DISCOM grants feasibility approval. Feasibility confirms the sanctioned load and that the local grid can take the system. Starting early risks a rejected net-metering application, a re-design, or a system that cannot be commissioned, which delays the subsidy.
How does SuryaHub help with National Portal jobs?+
SuryaHub tracks every National Portal job from feasibility to subsidy on one platform, holding each DISCOM login, document and net-metering step so nothing stalls. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Sources & references
The workflow, subsidy route and net-metering framework below come from primary government sources. The portal process and scheme figures change with each amendment, so confirm the current process on the portal and with your DISCOM before you apply.
- National Portal for Rooftop Solar ↗
The official portal for consumer application, vendor selection and subsidy.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
PM Surya Ghar scheme guidelines and the central subsidy structure.
- Ministry of Power ↗
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 and the net-metering framework.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, MNRE & National Portal sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The portal stages and subsidy route are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Net-metering caps, fees and timelines are state-specific estimates — verify the current figure with your DISCOM or the SERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.