- The net-metering security deposit, meter cost and fees sit with the DISCOM, so quotes often miss them.
- The bidirectional meter is DISCOM-supplied in many states, consumer-paid in others.
- An additional security deposit (ASD) may apply, set by a Supply Code formula.
- There may be small application, testing and stamp charges too.
- Meter-supply responsibility and the ASD formula are DISCOM-specific and revised in tariff orders — verify per state and treat numbers as illustrative.
A net-metering quote that only lists panels, inverter and labour is incomplete. The security deposit, meter cost and registration fees live on the DISCOM side, so estimators forget them — and the customer gets a surprise bill after sign-off. This guide lists every line item so your quotes are honest and complete.
The fees that hide in quotes
The hidden fees in a net-metering quote are the charges the DISCOM raises, not the kit you supply. Because they are billed separately by the utility, an estimator who focuses on the system price can leave them out. The customer then sees extra charges and feels misled, even though the EPC never pocketed those amounts.
The honest fix is to list these as DISCOM pass-through items in the quote, with a clear note that the figures are estimates to be confirmed with the DISCOM. Every number on this page is illustrative — meter supply, deposits and fees are set in each state's Supply Code and tariff orders, and they get revised, so verify per state before you commit a figure.
The bidirectional meter cost
The bidirectional meter (also called the net meter) records both the units you import from the grid and the units you export to it. Net metering cannot work without it, and its cost is the line item EPCs most often miss.
Who supplies the meter
In many states the DISCOM supplies, owns and installs the meter and recovers the cost through its charges. In other states the consumer must buy an approved meter that the DISCOM then tests and seals. The supply rule is DISCOM-specific and revised in tariff orders, so verify it for your pilot state and label any price as illustrative.
Check the meter type too
Some connections also need a solar check meter in addition to the main net meter, which adds cost. The bidirectional and check meter guide explains what each meter does and when both are required, so you can quote the right hardware.
The additional security deposit (ASD)
The additional security deposit (ASD) is an extra deposit a DISCOM may take against a net-metering connection. It is not a fee you lose — it is held by the DISCOM — but it still ties up the customer's money, so it belongs in the quote.
The amount follows a formula in the state's Supply Code or tariff order, often linked to the sanctioned load or the connected capacity. Because the formula and the rate differ by state and change with each tariff order, treat any ASD figure as illustrative and verify the current one with your DISCOM.
When the deposit can change
If the system pushes the customer to enhance their sanctioned load, the deposit can rise with the new load. Flag this early so the customer is not surprised by a larger deposit at the connection stage.
Application and processing fees
Some DISCOMs charge a small application or processing fee for a net-metering request, and some charge nothing at all. The amount, where it applies, is usually modest, but it should still appear in the quote so the customer sees the full picture.
There can also be inspection or processing charges in some states, plus stamp duty or charges on the net-metering agreement itself. None of these are large on their own, but together they add up, and they vary by state. List them as estimates and confirm the live figures with the DISCOM.
Meter testing and sealing fees
Before a net meter goes live, the DISCOM tests, calibrates and seals it. Some DISCOMs charge a testing and sealing fee for this step, and some fold it into other charges.
The cost and who bears it differ by DISCOM and Supply Code. If a meter later proves faulty and needs a re-test, there may be a separate re-test fee, and who pays depends on whether the meter was at fault. Treat any testing fee as illustrative and verify the current charge per state. The meter testing and sealing guide covers the process in detail.
The line-item fees table
Use this table as a checklist when you build a net-metering quote. Every figure here is illustrative and must be confirmed with your DISCOM, because supply rules and formulas are set in state Supply Codes and tariff orders and get revised.
Source: built from MoP Rights of Consumers Rules, CEA metering regulations and state Supply Codes/tariff orders. Illustrative — meter-supply responsibility and the ASD formula are DISCOM-specific and revised in tariff orders. Verify per pilot state.
Who pays each item
In most states the consumer carries the security deposit, the application fee and the agreement charges, while the meter cost falls to whoever the Supply Code names — the DISCOM in many states, the consumer in others. The EPC's job is to make this split clear in the quote.
Keep the EPC scope and DISCOM scope separate
Show your supply-and-install price as one block, and the DISCOM charges as a clearly labelled pass-through block. That way the customer understands which money goes to you and which goes to the utility. It also protects you if a DISCOM charge changes after you quote.
Quoting without surprises
A clean net-metering quote lists the system price, then a separate DISCOM-charges section with the meter, deposit and fees, each marked "estimate — confirm with DISCOM". Add the recurring charges too, because banking and wheeling charges can apply after go-live.
The banking and wheeling charges guide covers the ongoing costs, and the charges and fees by state guide shows how the one-time numbers move across DISCOMs. Quoting with both in view keeps your customer's trust.
How SuryaHub helps you quote accurately
Missed fees are usually a template problem, not a knowledge problem. SuryaHub lets you build a quotation template with a DISCOM-charges section per state, so the meter cost, deposit and testing fees are always shown, never forgotten. It keeps each state's net-metering workflow and fee notes in one place, so estimators quote from current figures. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and all fee figures must be verified with the DISCOM.
Quote every fee, every time
See how SuryaHub builds DISCOM charges into the quote template.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for the bidirectional net meter?+
Who pays for the bidirectional net meter depends on the state. Many DISCOMs supply and own the meter and recover the cost, while others ask the consumer to buy an approved meter. The meter supply rule is DISCOM-specific and revised in tariff orders, so verify per state and treat any price as illustrative.
What is the additional security deposit for net metering?+
The additional security deposit is an extra deposit a DISCOM may take against a net-metering connection. The amount follows a formula set in the state Supply Code or tariff order, so it varies by state and load. The ASD formula is revised in tariff orders, so verify the current figure with your DISCOM.
Is there a registration fee for net metering?+
Some DISCOMs charge a small application or processing fee for net metering, and some charge nothing. There can also be inspection, stamp or agreement charges depending on the state. These fees are DISCOM-specific and change with tariff orders, so verify the current charges with your DISCOM before quoting.
Is there a fee to test and seal the net meter?+
Some DISCOMs charge a meter testing and sealing fee before the system goes live, and some include it in other charges. The cost and who bears it differ by DISCOM and Supply Code. Treat any testing fee as illustrative and verify the current charge per state before you finalise a quote.
Why do EPC quotes miss net-metering fees?+
EPC quotes miss net-metering fees because the meter cost, security deposit and testing charges sit with the DISCOM, not the panel and inverter line items. These charges vary by state and change with tariff orders. Listing them as DISCOM pass-through items keeps the quote honest and avoids a surprise for the customer.
How does SuryaHub help with net-metering fees in quotes?+
SuryaHub lets EPCs build a quote template with DISCOM fee line items per state, so the meter cost, deposit and testing charges are shown clearly and not forgotten. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and all fee figures must be verified with the DISCOM.
Sources & references
Fee and deposit rules come from the Rights of Consumers Rules, CEA metering regulations and each state's Supply Code and tariff orders. Always confirm the current figures with your DISCOM before quoting.
- Ministry of Power ↗
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules covering metering and connection charges.
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Metering regulations and standards for bidirectional meters.
- State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (e.g. MERC) ↗
Tariff orders and Supply Code that set deposit and fee formulas.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, CEA & SERC sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Fee line items are taken from the Rights of Consumers Rules, CEA metering rules and state Supply Codes/tariff orders, re-checked every 30 days. All numbers are illustrative — meter-supply responsibility and the ASD formula are DISCOM-specific and revised in tariff orders. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.