- The DISCOM usually supplies and fixes the bidirectional net meter, not the EPC.
- Most delays are stock shortage, missing work order, pending payment, or open inspection.
- Close the inspection and clear dues first — the meter cannot be scheduled otherwise.
- Escalate in writing: nodal officer → CGRF → ombudsman, keeping every acknowledgement.
- Until the meter is in, surplus may export free with no credit — confirm the DISCOM rule.
A net meter not installed after commissioning is one of the most frustrating delays in solar, because the work is done and the customer can see the panels — but the bill will not change until the DISCOM fixes the meter. The good news: this is almost always a process gap you can chase and clear. This guide shows the causes, the escalation path and what to do for the client meanwhile.
Why the net meter is delayed
The net meter is delayed because it is the DISCOM's step, not the EPC's, and it sits at the end of a chain of internal actions. The DISCOM usually supplies the bidirectional meter, raises a meter-fixing work order, schedules a technician, then tests and seals it. A gap anywhere in that chain stalls the whole thing.
Net metering is governed by each State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and run by each DISCOM, so the meter-fixing process, timelines and any compensation differ by state and amendment. Treat any timeline here as an estimate and verify the applicable state SLA with your DISCOM or the SERC regulation before you quote a right or a deadline to a customer.
Causes and fixes
Match the likely cause to its fix. Most pending net meters are stock or scheduling, and they move with steady, documented follow-up.
Source: compiled from DISCOM metering SOPs and the Rights of Consumers Rules 2020. Processes vary by state — verify the current rule with your DISCOM.
Who installs the net meter — EPC or DISCOM?
The DISCOM usually supplies and installs the net meter, because the meter is a billing instrument the utility must own, test and seal. The EPC builds the system, completes the wiring up to the metering point, and supports the joint inspection — but the bidirectional meter itself is the DISCOM's to fit and certify.
Some states differ — confirm the split
In a few states or schemes the consumer pays for the meter or the empanelled vendor supplies an approved meter for the DISCOM to test and seal. The split affects who chases what. Confirm the exact arrangement with your DISCOM so you are escalating to the right party. See bidirectional and solar check meters for what the meter records.
Escalation steps
If steady follow-up does not produce a fixing date, escalate in order. Keep a paper trail at every step — it is what wins a grievance case.
Confirm the commissioning is closed
Make sure the joint inspection and any test report are complete and uploaded. The DISCOM will not schedule a meter against an open inspection, so close that first.
Write to the section / nodal officer
Send a dated written request (email or portal) naming the consumer account, the commissioning date and the pending net meter. Ask for the work-order number and a fixing date. Keep the acknowledgement.
Follow up on a fixed cadence
Chase weekly with the reference number. Most genuine delays are stock or scheduling and move with steady, documented follow-up.
Escalate to the consumer grievance forum
If there is no response in a reasonable window, file with the consumer grievance redressal forum (CGRF). Attach every dated request and acknowledgement you kept.
Use the electricity ombudsman if needed
If the CGRF does not resolve it, the matter can go to the state electricity ombudsman. This is rare for meter-fixing but is the final route.
The delay and escalation guide goes deeper on the CGRF and ombudsman process, including what to write and what to attach.
Interim steps to protect the client
While the meter is pending, manage the client's expectation and the system's status carefully. The wrong move here can create a safety or billing problem.
Do not energize against the DISCOM's instruction
Some DISCOMs require the system to stay off until the net meter is in and sealed. Others allow self-consumption. Follow the DISCOM's written instruction — do not run the system into the grid against it, because that can count as unauthorised export.
Explain the credit gap honestly
If the system is allowed to run before the meter, any surplus it exports is given to the grid free, with no credit until the bidirectional meter records it. Tell the client this plainly so they understand why their first bill may not show the savings yet. Set the array to favour self-consumption where the inverter allows it.
Consumer rights and timelines
Many states set a service timeline for fixing the net meter under the Rights of Consumers Rules and the SERC regulation, and some provide compensation for breaches. But the exact window, the triggers and any payout vary by state and notification.
Treat every timeline and compensation figure as an estimate, and verify the applicable state SLA with your DISCOM or the SERC before you quote it to a customer. Quoting a wrong "right" can damage trust if the DISCOM applies a different rule. A case that is genuinely past the state SLA is a strong basis for a grievance filing.
Prevention checklist
You cannot control DISCOM stock, but you can remove every other reason for delay before commissioning day.
- Inspection closed — joint inspection and test report complete and uploaded.
- Dues cleared — meter cost and any security deposit paid, receipt posted.
- Work order asked — request the meter-fixing work-order number in writing.
- Account correct — consumer account and address match the meter record.
- Date requested — ask for a fixed meter-fixing date, not an open promise.
- Client briefed — they know the meter is the DISCOM's step and what the gap means.
How SuryaHub helps you chase pending meters
A commissioned job with no net meter is the easiest job to forget — it looks finished. SuryaHub keeps each pending net-meter case with its commissioning date, the DISCOM workflow status, every dated follow-up and the escalation stage in one record, so nothing sits silent. The service and handover view keeps the client informed without your team re-explaining the wait. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and any timelines here are scheme estimates, not guarantees.
No commissioned job left without its meter
See how SuryaHub tracks every pending meter and escalation.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Why is my net meter not installed after commissioning?+
A net meter is usually not installed because the DISCOM is out of bidirectional-meter stock, the meter-fixing work order was never raised, a payment is pending, or the inspection is not closed. Confirm the commissioning is complete, then chase the DISCOM in writing for a fixing date.
Who installs the net meter, the EPC or the DISCOM?+
The DISCOM usually supplies and installs the bidirectional net meter, then tests and seals it, because the meter is a billing instrument the utility must own and certify. The EPC completes the system and inspection; verify the exact split with your DISCOM, as some states differ.
How do I escalate a delayed net meter installation?+
Escalate a delayed net meter by first writing to the section or nodal officer with the consumer account and commissioning date, asking for the work-order number and a fixing date. If there is no response in a reasonable window, file with the consumer grievance redressal forum (CGRF).
Can the customer use solar before the net meter is fixed?+
In many cases the system can self-consume solar before the net meter is fixed, but any surplus is exported free with no credit, and some DISCOMs require the system to stay off until the meter is in. Confirm the rule with your DISCOM and do not energize against its instruction.
Is there a deadline for the DISCOM to install a net meter?+
Many states set a service timeline for installing the net meter under the Rights of Consumers Rules and the SERC regulation, but the exact window and any compensation vary by state and notification. Treat any timeline as an estimate and verify the applicable state SLA before quoting it.
How does SuryaHub help track a pending net meter?+
SuryaHub keeps each pending net-meter case with its commissioning date, follow-up history and escalation status in one place, so no commissioned job sits forgotten without its meter. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
Metering service obligations and the rules behind them come from primary government sources. State service timelines and compensation differ — always confirm the current rule with your DISCOM and the SERC before quoting a right.
- Ministry of Power — Rights of Consumers Rules 2020 ↗
Connection and metering service obligations; state SLAs vary (verify current).
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Metering and technical standards for grid-connected systems.
- National Portal for Rooftop Solar ↗
Installation, inspection and meter-fixing stage for residential systems.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP / CEA / National Portal sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Causes and escalation steps are compiled from DISCOM metering SOPs and the Rights of Consumers Rules, re-checked every 30 days. State timelines and compensation are estimates — verify the applicable SLA with your DISCOM or SERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.