- Net metering credits the customer's exported surplus after self-consumption.
- Systems ≤10 kW are deemed feasible under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020.
- The DISCOM installs the bidirectional meter; the EPC raises the request and attends inspection.
- The net meter is on the critical path — no meter, no commissioning certificate, no subsidy.
- Meter wait is commonly 15–45 days (field estimate — verify with your DISCOM).
Net metering is the step that turns a working rooftop system into a paid, commissioned one — and it is the step most EPCs underestimate. The panels go up in a day; the meter can take six weeks. Because the commissioning certificate (and therefore the subsidy) waits on that meter, net metering quietly controls the timeline of the whole job.
How net metering fits the PM Surya Ghar flow
Net metering replaces the standard meter with a bidirectional meter that records both the electricity the home imports from the grid and the surplus it exports. Under PM Surya Ghar the home self-consumes first, and only the genuine surplus flows back to the grid as credit, lowering the bill. It is the mechanism that makes the system financially worth it to the customer.
In the scheme flow, net metering comes near the end. After installation, the EPC raises the meter-change request, the DISCOM inspects and installs the meter, and only then issues the commissioning certificate that releases the subsidy. So the net-metering step is not paperwork after the fact — it is on the critical path of getting paid.
Deemed feasibility for systems up to 10 kW
Deemed feasibility means a rooftop system up to 10 kW is treated as feasible by default under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, unless the DISCOM raises a specific, justified objection within the window the rules set. The connection is presumed grid-ready rather than waiting on a manual study.
What deemed feasibility lets the EPC skip
It removes the open-ended wait for a manual feasibility report on most home jobs, so you can move to installation without sitting in a queue. What it does not remove is the sanctioned-load check: if the proposed system exceeds the customer's sanctioned load, you still need a load enhancement first, or the file stalls regardless of deemed feasibility. For systems above 10 kW, a manual feasibility study applies and a CEIG/electrical inspector sign-off may be required, adding time.
Confirm the load before you sell the size
The single most useful thing an EPC can do with deemed feasibility is to lock the sanctioned-load question at the quoting stage. Sizing the system to the sanctioned load — or raising the load early — keeps the deemed-feasibility advantage intact instead of trading the saved time back at sanction.
The bidirectional meter install
The DISCOM installs the bidirectional (net) meter, not the EPC. After you raise the meter-change request, the DISCOM schedules an inspection of the completed installation, and on a clean inspection it fits the meter. Below is the net-metering sub-process within the job.
EPC raises the net-meter request
After installation, the EPC submits the meter-change / net-metering request to the DISCOM through the portal, with the installation details, serials and ALMM/DCR proof.
DISCOM schedules the inspection
The DISCOM assigns an inspector to verify the installation against the sanctioned design and safety norms before any meter is fitted.
Bidirectional meter installed
On a clear inspection, the DISCOM installs the bidirectional (net) meter that records both import from and export to the grid.
Commissioning certificate issued
With the net meter in place, the DISCOM issues the commissioning certificate — the document that triggers the subsidy to the customer.
How the wait blocks commissioning
The meter wait commonly runs 15 to 45 days (a field estimate that varies by DISCOM, meter stock and inspector availability). Because the commissioning certificate is only issued after the meter is in, every day of meter delay is a day the subsidy cannot move. An EPC who treats the net meter as the real finish line — not the install — quotes timelines the customer can trust.
Net-metering caps and state differences
Net-metering rules are not identical everywhere. While the central scheme and the Consumer Rules set the baseline, each state's DISCOM and regulator can differ on the net-metering capacity cap (often expressed as a share of sanctioned load), on net vs gross or net-billing treatment above certain sizes, and on the banking and settlement of exported credits.
Why this matters per state
The same system can be straightforward net metering in one state and fall under a different settlement regime in another, which changes the customer's savings story. Because empanelment and process detail are per-DISCOM, the practical net-metering rules sit at the state level too — see DISCOM empanelment by state for how this varies, and always confirm the current cap and settlement method with the local DISCOM before you promise a payback.
Documents the EPC submits for the meter change
The net-metering / meter-change request needs a complete file the first time. Sending it back for a missing serial number or a wrong-angle photo costs days you cannot get back.
Common delays and proactive customer communication
Most net-metering delays are outside your hands — but managing them is not. The fix is to get the file perfect, then keep the customer informed so a normal wait does not read as a problem.
- Meter stock / inspector availability — the most common cause; chase the DISCOM and log every follow-up.
- Incomplete documents — a missing serial or diagram bounces the request; submit a complete file once.
- Wrong-angle photos — re-shoots add days; capture the specified angles correctly on install day.
- Load mismatch — a system above sanctioned load can stall the meter; resolve it before the request.
- Silent waiting — the customer assumes the worst; a weekly status note prevents most complaints.
Tell the customer up front that the net meter typically takes a few weeks and that their subsidy follows the commissioning certificate, not the install. Setting that expectation on day one is the cheapest way to keep a happy customer through a normal government wait.
How SuryaHub helps you clear net metering faster
SuryaHub tracks the net-metering step inside each project record, keeps the documents, serials and angle-specific photos the DISCOM needs in one place, and flags meter requests that are ageing so they do not silently block the commissioning certificate. The DISCOM and net-metering steps live in the government-workflow module, and you can route a proactive status update to the customer from the same record. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the timelines here are field estimates, not guarantees.
Never let a meter request go stale
See how SuryaHub tracks DISCOM and net-metering steps per job.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is net metering in PM Surya Ghar?+
Net metering in PM Surya Ghar uses a bidirectional meter that records both the electricity a home draws from the grid and the surplus it exports. The customer self-consumes first and earns credits on the export, lowering their bill. The net meter is installed by the DISCOM and is required before the commissioning certificate is issued.
What is deemed feasibility for rooftop solar up to 10 kW?+
Deemed feasibility means systems up to 10 kW are treated as feasible by default under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, unless the DISCOM raises a specific objection within the prescribed window. It lets the EPC skip an open-ended manual feasibility wait on most home jobs, though the sanctioned-load check still applies.
Who installs the net meter for PM Surya Ghar?+
The DISCOM installs the bidirectional net meter for PM Surya Ghar, after it inspects the completed installation. The EPC raises the meter-change request and attends the inspection, but cannot fit the meter itself. The wait for the meter commonly runs 15 to 45 days and varies by DISCOM — verify locally.
Does the net meter delay the PM Surya Ghar subsidy?+
Yes. The net meter is on the critical path because the commissioning certificate, which triggers the subsidy, is only issued after the meter is installed. A net-meter wait of 15 to 45 days delays the subsidy by the same amount, even when the installation is complete. These are field estimates — confirm with your DISCOM.
What documents does the EPC submit for net metering?+
For net metering the EPC submits the net-metering or meter-change application, installation details, module and inverter serial numbers, ALMM and DCR equipment proof, the wiring or single-line diagram, and the required site photos. Incomplete documents or wrong-angle photos are a common reason the meter request is sent back.
How does SuryaHub help with PM Surya Ghar net metering?+
SuryaHub tracks the net-metering step inside each project, holds the documents and photos the DISCOM needs, and flags meter requests that are ageing so they do not silently block the commissioning certificate. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and timelines here are field estimates.
Sources & references
The deemed-feasibility provision, the net-metering step and the commissioning requirement come from primary government sources. Always confirm the current net-metering caps and settlement method with your DISCOM before quoting a payback.
- National Portal for PM Surya Ghar ↗
The net-metering request and the commissioning step within the scheme flow.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Scheme guidelines and the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 deemed-feasibility provision.
- Ministry of Power ↗
The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, including rooftop solar feasibility timelines.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, Ministry of Power & National Portal sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The deemed-feasibility rule and net-metering process are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Timelines are field estimates. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.