- Most UTs run net metering through a state-style power department, not a private DISCOM.
- For several UTs the regulator is the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
- The path is standard: register → feasibility → agreement → meter → commission.
- Chandigarh, Goa and Puducherry have working schemes; smaller UTs differ.
- JERC and UT rules are niche and shift — verify each power department and order.
Chandigarh net metering, like net metering in the other Union Territories, lets a rooftop solar owner export extra power and net it against the units they draw. UTs are run by power departments rather than private DISCOMs, and several share the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission. For an EPC, the first job is to confirm which rules apply.
Net metering in the UTs in short
Net metering nets the solar units you export against the units you import, so the consumer pays for the net difference on a bidirectional meter. This core model is the same across India. In the UTs, the body you file with is usually a government electricity department, and the rules for several UTs come from the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).
UT rules are niche and shift more than the big states get covered. Treat every figure here as an estimate and verify the current order and the power-department process before you quote.
The UT power departments and their regulators
Here is who runs distribution and who regulates it across the main UTs. Use this to know where to file and where to escalate. Verify each one's current net-metering status.
Source: UT power departments and the JERC. Roles and which regulator applies are summarised; verify each UT's current net-metering status before you rely on it.
Chandigarh and CREST
In Chandigarh, the UT Electricity Department runs distribution and net metering, under JERC rules. CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society) is the nodal renewable agency that drives rooftop solar and PM Surya Ghar.
What to watch in Chandigarh
Chandigarh has pushed rooftop solar hard, so the process is comparatively well run, but caps and fees are still order-specific — verify the current JERC order and the department circular. CREST can be the first point of contact for subsidy-linked jobs.
Goa
In Goa, the Goa Electricity Department runs distribution and net metering as a single government body, under JERC rules. The process follows the standard path, but caps, fees and the settlement method are department and JERC figures — verify them before you size and quote a system.
Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar
Puducherry runs distribution through its Electricity Department across its scattered regions — Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam — which sit inside other states. JERC rules apply; verify the current order. Because Puducherry borders Tamil Nadu, see our TANGEDCO Tamil Nadu guide for the neighbouring process.
Island and small UTs
In Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu and similar small UTs, the grid is thin and net metering may be limited, new, or not yet live. Do not assume an operational scheme; confirm with the power department first. If there is no current regulation, tell the customer plainly. For Daman & Diu, our Gujarat GUVNL/GERC guide covers the neighbouring mainland process.
The application process step by step
The application process across the UTs follows the standard India path: register, clear feasibility, sign the agreement, install and inspect, then meter and commission. The body you file with is the UT power department.
Register the application
Apply to the UT electricity department with consumer details, sanctioned load, system size and documents. Use the National Portal for PM Surya Ghar subsidy jobs.
Feasibility check
The department studies the local transformer and feeder to confirm it can take the export. Small systems may get deemed feasibility — verify the threshold per UT.
Sign the agreement
After feasibility clears, the consumer signs the net-metering agreement with the department. This fixes the metering model and settlement terms.
Install & inspect
Build to CEA safety standards. The department and the electrical inspector check earthing, isolators and inverter anti-islanding protection.
Meter & commission
The department supplies, tests and seals the bidirectional meter, then commissions the plant. Export now nets against import.
For PM Surya Ghar subsidy jobs, much of this runs through the National Portal. See the National Portal workflow for how the portal and the department steps connect.
Feasibility and distribution-transformer loading
Feasibility is where the power department confirms the local network can absorb your export. The engineer checks the distribution transformer (DT) feeding the site and the solar already on it.
Small systems may get deemed feasibility under the national Rights of Consumers Rules, but the exact threshold has been amended between 2024 and 2026 — verify the current limit with the department. The DT loading cap is commonly cited near 30 percent but varies. In small island grids, that cap can bite sooner. Our DT loading rule guide explains the cap.
Metering model and surplus settlement
Most UTs use net metering for smaller rooftop systems, where export nets against import in units on a bidirectional meter. How leftover surplus is settled — carried forward in units or paid at a set rate — is fixed by each order and can differ for larger systems.
Where the model can change
Above a size threshold, a system can fall under net billing (export paid a separate, usually lower rate) or gross metering (all generation sold at a feed-in tariff). The threshold and rates are order figures, so confirm which model applies with the department. See net vs gross vs net billing and surplus settlement by state.
Documents and safety compliance
A clean document set is the fastest way through any UT power department. Most rejections are paperwork problems, not technical ones. Have the consumer's identity and address proof, the latest electricity bill, the sanctioned-load proof, the system design and the inverter and module datasheets ready before you file.
The papers a department expects
The exact list is set by each department and can change, so verify the current checklist. As a general guide you will need the application form, the consumer's electricity bill, identity and ownership proof of the premises, a single-line diagram (SLD) of the plant, and the technical sheets for the inverter and modules. Our documents checklist covers every paper a DISCOM asks for and how to keep names matching across them.
Safety standards the plant must meet
The inverter must meet CEA and relevant standards, with built-in anti-islanding protection so it shuts down safely if the grid goes off. The plant needs proper earthing and an accessible AC isolator. The electrical inspector checks these where required. Our earthing and isolators guide and inverter standards guide explain what an inspector looks for. On small island grids, anti-islanding behaviour matters even more.
The single-line diagram
A clear single-line diagram (SLD) speeds up both feasibility and inspection. It shows how the array, inverter, isolators, meter and grid connect. A vague SLD is a common reason a file gets sent back, so make it clean and labelled. Our SLD guide shows what a net-metering SLD should contain.
Timeline and fees
UT net metering commonly takes a few weeks from a complete file to a sealed meter, but island and scattered UTs can stretch the timeline. Treat any timeline as an estimate and confirm with the department.
Fees, deposits and meter cost
Application fees, the meter charge and any security deposit are set by each UT regulator and department, and they differ. Verify the current figures before you quote. Our fees and deposit guide and charges by state show how these line items work.
How the PM Surya Ghar subsidy interacts
Net metering and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy are two separate things that meet on the same job. The subsidy is the central money for a residential rooftop system; net metering is the grid arrangement that lets the owner export surplus. In each UT, the nodal renewable agency — CREST in Chandigarh, for example — supports the subsidy side while the power department runs the net-metering and meter steps.
For a residential job, the system is registered on the National Portal, the net meter is installed by the department, and the subsidy is released after commissioning and meter installation. The PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy is up to ₹78,000 at 3 kW — a national figure to verify against the current scheme. Our subsidy and net-metering interaction guide explains how the two fit together so neither delays the other.
Why the order of steps matters
The subsidy depends on the net meter being installed and the system commissioned, so a stalled department meter step holds up the subsidy too. Treat the net-metering steps as part of the subsidy timeline, not a separate task, and keep both moving together.
If the process stalls: escalation
If an application sits past a reasonable time, escalate inside the power department first — to the divisional office handling the connection. Keep your application number and dates ready.
If that does not move it, the consumer can raise a grievance with the regulator's consumer grievance forum and, beyond that, the Electricity Ombudsman that covers the UT. The national Rights of Consumers Rules also give service timelines. See our delay and escalation guide. Verify the current forum details for each UT before you file.
How SuryaHub helps with UT jobs
Running jobs across several territories means many logins, forms and timelines. SuryaHub keeps every application, document and meter date in one place, and runs each job from lead through DISCOM and net-metering steps to commissioning — so nothing stalls quietly. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the figures here are scheme facts to verify, not guarantees.
Run every UT power department in one place
See how SuryaHub tracks applications across several territories.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Who runs net metering in Chandigarh?+
Net metering in Chandigarh is run by the UT Electricity Department, under rules set by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the UTs. CREST is the nodal renewable agency that supports rooftop solar. The department processes the application, checks feasibility and installs the meter. Verify every figure with the department.
Which regulator sets net metering rules in the Union Territories?+
For several Union Territories the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the UTs sets net-metering rules, but some UTs sit under a different regulator and rules vary. Treat any figure as an estimate and verify which regulator and which order apply to your UT before you apply.
Is net metering available in all Union Territories?+
Net metering is not uniform across all Union Territories. Chandigarh, Goa and Puducherry have working schemes through their power departments, but smaller and island UTs differ and rules are niche and shifting. Verify each UT power department and the relevant regulator order before you commit to a project.
Which metering model do the UTs use for rooftop solar?+
Most Union Territories use net metering for smaller rooftop systems, where export is netted against import in units on a bidirectional meter. Larger systems can fall under net billing or gross metering depending on the order. Confirm the model and size threshold with the UT power department.
How does SuryaHub help with UT net metering?+
SuryaHub keeps the power-department application, documents, feasibility status and meter dates for every UT job in one place, so an EPC can run jobs across several territories without losing track. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
The roles, process and rules below come from primary UT and national sources. UT figures are niche and shift, so always confirm the current numbers with the relevant power department and regulator before you apply or quote.
- Ministry of Power — Rights of Consumers Rules ↗
National baseline, including deemed feasibility for small systems. Verify current thresholds.
- JERC for UTs (Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission) ↗
Regulator for several UTs; sets net-metering rules where it applies. Verify which UTs it covers.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Rooftop solar and PM Surya Ghar scheme guidance. Verify UT-specific implementation.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against UT power departments, JERC & MoP sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Process and roles are drawn from the sources above and re-checked every 30 days. UT caps, fees, timelines, settlement and even availability are estimates that vary — verify each power department and regulator. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.