- Net metering charges India break into three line items: application fee, meter cost, security deposit.
- The bidirectional meter is the biggest line — commonly ₹3,000–₹12,000 (indicative, varies by state).
- The application or processing fee runs from nil to a few thousand rupees, set by the SERC.
- Every figure is DISCOM and SERC specific and changes with each tariff order — verify before quoting.
- List each charge as a labelled DISCOM pass-through in your quote, not a hidden mark-up.
Net metering charges in India are not one number. They are a small stack of fees the DISCOM sets, and they change every time the state regulator revises its tariff order. For an EPC, quoting them right keeps your proposal honest and your margins clean.
This guide breaks the net metering charges a customer pays into clear line items, gives an indicative range for each, and shows how to put them in a quote without guessing. Treat every figure here as a starting point. The real amount sits in your DISCOM's current schedule and the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) order. We say "verify with your DISCOM" often, because the numbers move.
What net metering charges should you expect?
You should expect three core charges for a standard rooftop net metering connection: a small application or processing fee, the cost of the bidirectional meter, and a security deposit tied to the sanctioned load. Most small residential and commercial jobs stop there.
Bigger commercial and industrial (C&I) sites can face extra charges — grid support, banking, wheeling and cross-subsidy surcharge — which we cover in the grid support and banking charges guide. A few jobs also trigger a distribution-transformer upgrade, billed separately and explained in the DT upgrade cost guide.
The charges are set by the DISCOM and the SERC
India has no single national net metering fee table. The Ministry of Power sets the broad framework through the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules. The numbers — meter price, deposit formula, application fee — come from each state's SERC order and the DISCOM's own schedule. So two customers in two states pay different amounts for the same system size.
How much is the net metering application fee?
The net metering application or processing fee is usually small, ranging from nil to a few thousand rupees depending on the DISCOM. Some states charge nothing for a rooftop application; others charge a fixed processing fee per kilowatt or per application.
This fee covers the DISCOM's cost of reviewing your feasibility request and processing the agreement. It is a one-time charge at the application stage. Because it is fixed by the SERC tariff order, it can change at the next revision. Always confirm the current application fee with your DISCOM before you put a number in front of a client.
Watch for "facilitation" fees that are not official
Some agents add a "facilitation" or "liaison" fee on top of the official charge. That is your service charge, not a DISCOM fee. Keep the two separate in your quote so the customer can see what the government charges and what you charge. Mixing them looks like padding.
How much does the bidirectional net meter cost?
A bidirectional net meter commonly costs about ₹3,000 to ₹12,000, depending on the state, the meter make and whether the connection is single phase or three phase. The meter records both the units you import from the grid and the units you export to it.
In most states the DISCOM supplies, tests and seals the meter, then bills the customer for it — either upfront or as a line on the electricity bill. A three-phase meter costs more than a single-phase one, which is one reason the single-phase vs three-phase choice matters to the quote. This range is indicative; verify the current meter cost with your DISCOM.
Who supplies the meter?
The DISCOM usually supplies the meter, because the meter is the billing instrument and the utility needs to trust it. A few DISCOMs let the customer buy an approved meter from a listed vendor. Either way, the meter must be on the DISCOM's approved list and be sealed by the DISCOM after testing. Never let a customer fit any meter and assume the DISCOM will accept it.
What is the security deposit for net metering?
The security deposit is a refundable amount the DISCOM holds against the connection, and for net metering it is normally linked to the sanctioned load, not the solar size. If a job raises the sanctioned load, the deposit can rise too.
The deposit formula is set by the SERC and differs by state and by consumer category. For most small rooftop jobs it is modest. For larger loads it can be a real number, so include it in the customer's upfront cost. If the customer already has a high sanctioned load, the extra deposit for solar may be small or nil. Check the load enhancement and sanctioned load guide when a system pushes past the existing load.
Net metering charges by state — indicative table
The table below is a planning aid, not a price list. It shows the shape of charges across major DISCOMs so you know what to look up. Every cell is indicative — verify the current figure with the DISCOM and the SERC order before you quote.
Caption: Indicative structure of net metering charges by major DISCOM. Source: state SERC tariff orders and DISCOM schedules, summarised by the SuryaHub team. Every figure is indicative and changes with each tariff order — verify the current amount with the DISCOM and the SERC.
Which charges are one-time, and which recur?
Most net metering charges are one-time: the application fee, the meter cost and the security deposit (which is refundable). The deposit sits with the DISCOM until the connection closes.
Recurring charges to flag for C&I clients
C&I customers can face recurring charges that residential customers do not. Grid-support charges, banking charges and wheeling charges are levied per unit or per kilowatt and show up on the monthly bill. These are actively contested at SERCs and change often. If you sell to factories, malls or large offices, read the grid support and banking charges guide and quote these as a recurring cost, clearly labelled and verified against the latest order.
How should an EPC quote net metering charges?
An EPC should quote net metering charges as separate, labelled pass-through lines, never folded into the system price. This keeps the proposal transparent and protects you when the DISCOM's number turns out different from your estimate.
List each charge separately
Show application fee, meter cost and security deposit as their own lines, not one lump. The customer can see exactly where the money goes.
Mark them as DISCOM pass-through
Note that these are government charges paid to the DISCOM, indicative and subject to change. That phrase protects you if the figure moves.
Verify the current figure first
Check the DISCOM schedule and SERC order before each quote. A six-month-old number can be wrong after a tariff revision.
Mistakes EPCs make with net metering charges
The common mistakes all come from treating charges as fixed. Avoid these and your quotes hold up.
- Using a stale number — a fee from last year may be wrong after a tariff order; re-check each time.
- Hiding charges in the system price — the customer cannot tell the DISCOM fee from your margin, and it looks like padding.
- Forgetting the deposit can rise — a load enhancement raises the deposit; quote the new figure, not the old.
- Ignoring C&I recurring charges — grid-support and banking charges hit factory bills monthly; missing them breaks the ROI you promised.
- Promising a refund timeline — the security deposit is refundable but the DISCOM controls when; do not guarantee a date.
How SuryaHub helps you quote charges right
SuryaHub keeps your DISCOM and net-metering workflow and your quotation in one place, so the charges you verified for a DISCOM carry straight into the proposal as labelled pass-through lines. When a tariff order changes a fee, you update it once and every new quote uses the right number. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Quote DISCOM charges without guessing
See how SuryaHub keeps verified fees in your quote template.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What charges apply for net metering in India?+
Net metering charges usually include a small application or processing fee, the cost of the bidirectional meter, and a security deposit linked to sanctioned load. C&I sites may also face grid-support, banking or wheeling charges. Every figure is set by the DISCOM and SERC and is indicative — verify the current amount with your DISCOM.
How much does a bidirectional net meter cost in India?+
A bidirectional net meter commonly costs about ₹3,000 to ₹12,000, depending on the state, the meter type and whether it is single or three phase. The DISCOM usually supplies and bills the meter. This range is indicative only — verify the current meter cost with your DISCOM before quoting a client.
Is there an application fee for net metering?+
Some DISCOMs charge a small net metering application or processing fee, often from nil to a few thousand rupees, while others charge nothing. The exact fee is set by the SERC tariff order and changes with each revision. Treat any fee as indicative and verify the current amount with your DISCOM.
Who pays for the net meter, the EPC or the customer?+
The customer normally bears the net meter cost, billed by the DISCOM either upfront or on the electricity bill. The EPC should list the meter as a pass-through charge in the quote, not absorb it. Meter cost and the billing method are set by the DISCOM, so verify them before quoting.
Why do net metering charges differ between states?+
Net metering charges differ because each State Electricity Regulatory Commission sets its own tariff order, and each DISCOM applies its own meter, deposit and fee schedule. There is no single national fee table. Charges also change with each tariff revision, so always verify the current figure for the specific DISCOM.
How should an EPC present net metering charges in a quote?+
An EPC should list each net metering charge as a separate, labelled line — application fee, meter cost and security deposit — and mark them as DISCOM pass-through charges that are indicative and subject to change. This keeps the quote honest, avoids disputes, and shows the customer where their money goes.
Sources & references
Charge structures and fee heads come from primary government and regulator sources. Every figure is indicative — confirm the current amount with your DISCOM and the SERC tariff order before you quote.
- Ministry of Power — Rights of Consumers Rules ↗
The national framework for connection charges and timelines.
- State DISCOM tariff & charge schedules ↗
Each DISCOM publishes its own meter cost, deposit and fee schedule.
- State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) orders ↗
Tariff orders set the fees and revise them periodically.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, SERC & DISCOM sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Charge heads and ranges are drawn from SERC tariff orders and DISCOM schedules and re-checked every 30 days. All figures are indicative and change with each tariff order — verify with your DISCOM. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.