- TANGEDCO (now TNPDCL) runs rooftop solar in Tamil Nadu under TNERC rules.
- Apply on the USRP rooftop solar portal with the service connection number.
- The net vs gross default depends on consumer category — verify which applies.
- TNERC has cited a ~30-day timeline — verify the current figure with TNERC.
- Capacity, fees, meter cost, DT loading (~30% cited) and timeline are estimates — verify with TANGEDCO/TNERC.
Tamil Nadu has a long rooftop solar history, and TANGEDCO net metering runs through the USRP portal under TNERC rules. The twist for EPCs is that the metering model is not the same for everyone — it can differ by consumer category. This guide walks through the USRP process, feasibility, the TNERC 30-day cap, net vs gross, the fees and CGRF escalation.
What TANGEDCO net metering is
TANGEDCO net metering lets a rooftop solar customer in Tamil Nadu feed extra power to the grid and get credit for it. TANGEDCO is the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation; the distribution arm is now also called TNPDCL. It runs rooftop solar under a programme commonly known as USRP.
The customer's solar feeds the building first, extra units flow to the grid, and a bidirectional meter counts both directions. How the export is valued — netted in kWh, or bought at a separate rate — depends on the consumer category and the TNERC rules in force.
Who sets the rules in Tamil Nadu
TNERC, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, writes the regulations — capacity, the metering model by category, the tariff and the timelines. TANGEDCO, the DISCOM, runs the USRP process: the portal, feasibility, the agreement and the meter.
A rule change usually starts with a TNERC order, and TANGEDCO then updates the USRP process. Always check both the TNERC regulation and the TANGEDCO USRP portal before you quote capacity, the metering model, fees or timeline. Every state-specific figure below is an estimate.
Capacity caps under TANGEDCO
The net-metering capacity cap in Tamil Nadu is set by TNERC, tied to the customer's sanctioned load and the distribution transformer. The headline cap and size bands have moved across TNERC orders, so treat any capacity figure as an estimate and verify the current cap with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation before you size a project.
Capacity is tied to sanctioned load
Your system size is tied to the customer's sanctioned load. If the solar size pushes the connection past the sanctioned load, the customer may need a load enhancement first. Read the sanctioned load off the bill before you finalise the size.
Net vs gross by consumer category
This is the key Tamil Nadu point: the metering model depends on the consumer category. TANGEDCO has applied net metering to some categories and gross or net billing to others, as decided by TNERC. So a residential customer and a commercial customer may not get the same model.
Why category matters for your quote
Net metering nets export against import in kWh, so the customer pays for net units. Gross metering sells all generation at a fixed feed-in tariff. Net billing pays export a separate rate. Because the default varies by category in Tamil Nadu, confirm which model applies to your specific customer with TANGEDCO and the current TNERC regulation before you model savings. The model and the category split change with TNERC orders. Our net vs gross vs net billing guide explains the cash difference. For larger commercial sites, also weigh net metering against open access.
The USRP application process
The TANGEDCO net-metering application runs on the USRP rooftop solar portal. Here is the flow from registration to a sealed meter.
Register on the USRP portal
Apply on the TANGEDCO rooftop solar portal (USRP) with the service connection number, and enter the system size within the sanctioned load.
Submit application & documents
Upload the SLD, equipment datasheets, ID and ownership proof. TANGEDCO screens the file before feasibility.
Feasibility study
TANGEDCO checks the distribution transformer and network. A clear DT means the system can connect; a loaded DT can cap the size or need an upgrade.
Sign the agreement
Once feasibility clears, TANGEDCO issues the agreement under TNERC rules. Both sides sign before metering.
Bidirectional meter & commissioning
TANGEDCO supplies, tests and seals the meter. After joint inspection and commissioning, settlement starts under the model for the consumer category.
Source: TANGEDCO USRP process and TNERC regulations. Portal screens change over time — verify the current steps on the TANGEDCO USRP portal.
Feasibility and DT loading
Feasibility is the technical check that decides whether the network can take the system. TANGEDCO reviews the distribution transformer (DT) that feeds the connection. A DT already loaded with rooftop solar may cap your system or need an upgrade.
The DT loading limit
A limit near 30% of DT capacity for cumulative rooftop solar on one transformer is commonly cited across India, but the exact figure varies by state and has been amended. Treat 30% as commonly cited, not a fixed Tamil Nadu number, and verify the current DT loading rule with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation. Our DT loading guide goes deeper.
Deemed feasibility for small systems
The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 set deemed feasibility for systems up to 10 kW. These thresholds have been debated and amended in 2024–2026, so verify the current deemed-feasibility limit before you rely on it. See deemed feasibility.
Fees and meter cost
TANGEDCO charges a processing fee plus the cost of the bidirectional meter, set under the TNERC tariff order. There may also be a small agreement or testing charge.
All amounts above are estimates that change with each TNERC tariff revision. Verify the current figure with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation before you quote a customer.
The TNERC 30-day cap
TNERC has cited a target of about 30 days from a complete application to a sealed meter. That is a useful benchmark for an EPC, but the real time depends on feasibility and meter supply, and the figure can change with each TNERC order.
Treat the 30-day cap as an estimate and verify the current commitment with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation. Track the clock from the day the application is complete; if TANGEDCO misses the deadline, the timeline is your lever for escalation. Our timeline-by-state guide compares the commitments across DISCOMs.
CGRF and escalation
If feasibility drags, the agreement is delayed, or the meter is not installed, start with the local TANGEDCO office, then take the dispute to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF). The Electricity Ombudsman sits above the CGRF.
Cite the TNERC 30-day timeline and the Rights of Consumers Rules in your complaint — they back the deemed-feasibility and timeline rights. Verify the current escalation path and forum details with TNERC. Our delay and escalation guide maps the steps and the letters that move things.
How SuryaHub helps with TANGEDCO net metering
Tamil Nadu adds a category check on top of the usual tracking — you must apply the right metering model per customer. SuryaHub keeps every TANGEDCO job in one DISCOM workflow, tagged by category and linked to the project, with the TNERC 30-day clock visible so a missed deadline stands out for CGRF escalation. SuryaHub does not file with TANGEDCO for you, and it is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Figures here are scheme estimates, not guarantees.
Track every TANGEDCO job in one place
See how SuryaHub runs USRP steps and the 30-day clock by category.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for TANGEDCO net metering in Tamil Nadu?+
To apply for TANGEDCO net metering, register on the USRP rooftop solar portal with your service connection number, enter the system size within your sanctioned load, and upload the single-line diagram and equipment details. TANGEDCO runs feasibility, issues the agreement, then installs a bidirectional meter at commissioning.
Does TANGEDCO use net metering or gross metering?+
TANGEDCO has applied net metering to some consumer categories and gross or net billing to others, as decided by TNERC, so the default depends on whether you are residential or commercial. The model and category split change with TNERC orders, so verify which model applies to your customer with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation.
How long does TANGEDCO net metering take?+
TNERC has cited a target of about 30 days from a complete application to a sealed meter, but the real time depends on feasibility and meter supply. The 30-day cap is a target, so treat it as an estimate and verify the current commitment with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation before you promise a date.
How do I escalate a TANGEDCO net metering delay?+
To escalate a TANGEDCO net metering delay, raise it with the local TANGEDCO office, then take it to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, with the Electricity Ombudsman above the CGRF. Cite the TNERC 30-day timeline and the Rights of Consumers Rules. Verify the current escalation path with TNERC.
What fees does TANGEDCO charge for net metering?+
TANGEDCO charges a processing fee and the cost of the bidirectional meter, set under the TNERC tariff order. These amounts change with each TNERC revision, so treat any figure as an estimate and verify the current fee and meter cost with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation before you quote a customer.
How does SuryaHub help with TANGEDCO net metering?+
SuryaHub tracks every TANGEDCO USRP application, document, feasibility result and meter date in one workflow, with the TNERC 30-day clock visible, so nothing stalls. SuryaHub does not file with the DISCOM for you and is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Always confirm rules with TANGEDCO and TNERC.
Sources & references
The rules, capacity, the metering model, fees and the 30-day timeline on this page come from primary sources. TANGEDCO net-metering figures change with each TNERC order — always confirm the current figure with TANGEDCO and the TNERC regulation before you apply.
- Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) ↗
The regulations that set capacity, the metering model, the 30-day timeline and tariffs.
- TANGEDCO / TNPDCL ↗
The Tamil Nadu DISCOM that runs the USRP rooftop solar process and portal.
- Ministry of Power ↗
The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules that frame deemed feasibility.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against TNERC, TANGEDCO & Ministry of Power sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Process and figures are taken from the TANGEDCO USRP portal and TNERC regulations above and re-checked every 30 days. Capacity, the metering model, fees, DT loading and the 30-day timeline are estimates that move with TNERC orders — verify the current figure with TANGEDCO and TNERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.