- Size by home load and usable roof, then check against the sanctioned load.
- Load enhancement with the DISCOM is needed when the system exceeds sanctioned load (verify).
- Systems ≤10 kW have deemed feasibility under the 2020 Rules.
- 5 kW on a 3 kW connection usually needs a load upgrade first.
- Subsidy caps at ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above, no matter how big the system.
PM Surya Ghar sizing is a balance of three things: the home's electricity use, the usable roof, and the sanctioned load on the meter. Get all three to line up and the job is easy to approve and energise. This guide gives EPC design and sales teams a clear way to size systems and handle load enhancement.
The short answer
Size the system to the home's electricity use and roof, then confirm the sanctioned load can carry it — and raise the load with the DISCOM if it cannot. A common home size is 2 to 5 kWp. The subsidy caps at ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above, so bigger systems do not earn more subsidy.
How to size by load and roof
Size by matching the kilowatt-peak to the home's monthly electricity use and the usable roof area. Look at past bills to estimate yearly units, then pick a system that covers most of that use without overbuilding. Confirm the roof has enough shade-free space for the panels.
Start from the bill, then check the roof
A home using more units needs more kilowatt-peak. But the roof sets a hard limit — a small or shaded roof caps the system no matter the bill. Walk the roof, measure usable area, and design to the smaller of the two limits.
Leave room for clean wiring and earthing
Do not pack panels edge to edge. Leave space for safe walkways, earthing and surge protection, all of which the joint inspection checks. The panels and inverters guide covers the compliant equipment that fits the design.
Do not oversize past the home's real use
A system much larger than the home's use can push extra units to the grid for little gain, since net metering credits and any caps vary by DISCOM. For most homes, a system that covers the bulk of annual units is the right balance of cost and benefit. Use the customer's past bills as the anchor, and only go larger when they clearly plan to use more power, such as an electric vehicle.
Why capacity versus sanctioned load matters
Solar capacity must line up with the sanctioned load on the connection, because the DISCOM ties net metering and approval to that load. If the solar system is much larger than the sanctioned load, the customer usually needs load enhancement first.
The sanctioned load is the maximum power the connection is approved to draw. Net metering and the feasibility check both reference it. So a clean design confirms the load early, before you order parts, to avoid a stall at the net metering stage.
The load enhancement process with the DISCOM
Load enhancement is the process of asking the DISCOM to raise the sanctioned load when the system or home needs more than the current load. The customer applies to the DISCOM, pays any charges, and the DISCOM revises the sanctioned load on the connection.
When to start the load request
Start the load enhancement early, ideally alongside the solar application, so the two finish together. Steps and charges vary by DISCOM and state portal, so confirm the current process for your area. Treat any timeline as an estimate, and verify with your DISCOM before you promise a date.
What load enhancement can involve
Depending on the DISCOM, load enhancement can involve an application form, a small fee, and sometimes a change to the meter or service line if the higher load needs it. A jump from a small single-phase load to a larger one may even require a move to three-phase supply. Confirm exactly what your DISCOM requires for the target load, because the cost and time differ a lot by case.
Capture the current sanctioned load from the customer's latest electricity bill at the lead stage. That one number tells you early whether the design fits or whether a load request is coming, so you can set the customer's expectations before you order parts.
Automatic upgrade behaviour
Some DISCOMs handle load enhancement together with the solar application, so the load updates as part of the same flow, but automatic upgrade is not guaranteed everywhere. The behaviour depends on the DISCOM and the state portal.
Do not assume the load will rise on its own. Verify, for each DISCOM, whether the load is enhanced automatically with the solar application or needs a separate request, by checking the DISCOM and the National Portal. This is a flagged item to confirm, not a fixed national rule.
Deemed feasibility for systems up to 10 kW
Rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW have deemed feasibility under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, so the DISCOM should treat them as feasible for grid connection and not reject them on feasibility grounds. This makes most PM Surya Ghar home systems straightforward to approve.
Deemed feasibility helps, but it does not remove the load check or the net-metering steps. The customer still needs the sanctioned load to support the system. Verify the current rule and how your DISCOM applies it, because state implementation can differ.
The rule is most useful when a DISCOM is slow to confirm grid feasibility. For a system up to 10 kW, you can point to the deemed-feasibility provision rather than wait on a manual feasibility decision. That said, transformer or local-grid limits can still come up in practice, so keep the conversation with the DISCOM open and document any condition they attach to the approval.
The 5 kW on a 3 kW connection case
You can usually install a 5 kW solar system on a 3 kW connection, but the customer normally needs load enhancement to 5 kW first so the sanctioned load matches the system. The subsidy still caps at ₹78,000, because it does not grow above 3 kW.
Walk the customer through the trade-off
A bigger system covers more of the home's use and can offset more units, but it costs more and earns no extra subsidy above 3 kW. Show the customer the load enhancement step, the extra cost, and the flat subsidy, so the decision is informed. Document the agreed size and load in writing.
Sequence the steps so nothing stalls
For a 5 kW on a 3 kW connection, file the load enhancement to 5 kW and the solar application so they move together, then confirm the net meter is rated for the enhanced load. If the system goes live before the load is enhanced, net metering can be held up. A clear sequence keeps the job moving and avoids a customer waiting with panels on the roof but no live connection.
A sanctioned-load mismatch — a system bigger than the sanctioned load without enhancement — is a common reason a file is held or rejected. Catching it at the design stage, not at inspection, saves the customer weeks and protects your schedule.
How sizing interacts with the subsidy cap and net metering
The subsidy is ₹30,000 per kW up to 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the third kW, which caps at ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above — so a 5 kW or 10 kW system still receives ₹78,000. Sizing above 3 kW is about energy offset and bills, not extra subsidy.
The subsidy is calculated on the MNRE benchmark cost, not your quote, and it is paid to the customer by direct benefit transfer after commissioning and net-meter installation. When a system runs above the subsidised size, see the subsidised split guide, and confirm slabs in the subsidy amount and slabs guide.
Sizing-by-load table
Use this table as a starting point. It maps a typical sanctioned load to a recommended system size, the subsidy at that size, whether load enhancement is likely, and a net-metering note.
Source: MNRE subsidy slabs and the National Portal. Sizes are EPC estimates; the subsidy amount and load rules change — verify the current figure and process with your DISCOM and MNRE.
How SuryaHub helps you size and process jobs
SuryaHub sizes the system against load, roof and the subsidy cap right in the quote, then tracks the DISCOM load enhancement and net-metering steps on the same project, so nothing falls between design and approval. Your team works from one quotation view that links to the government workflow steps. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Size and process in one place
See how SuryaHub ties sizing to load enhancement and net metering.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is load enhancement in PM Surya Ghar?+
Load enhancement in PM Surya Ghar is the process of increasing the sanctioned load on the customer electricity connection when the solar system or home needs more than the current load. The customer applies to the DISCOM, which revises the sanctioned load. Verify the current process and any charges with your DISCOM.
Can I install a 5 kW solar system on a 3 kW connection?+
You can often install a 5 kW solar system on a 3 kW connection, but the customer usually needs load enhancement with the DISCOM so the sanctioned load matches. The subsidy still caps at ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above. Verify the load enhancement steps with your DISCOM before you proceed.
Does PM Surya Ghar upgrade the sanctioned load automatically?+
PM Surya Ghar may handle load enhancement together with the solar application in some DISCOMs, but automatic upgrade is not guaranteed everywhere. The behaviour varies by DISCOM and state portal. Verify whether the load is enhanced automatically or needs a separate request with your DISCOM and the National Portal.
What is deemed feasibility for PM Surya Ghar?+
Deemed feasibility means rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW are treated as feasible for grid connection under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, so the DISCOM should not reject them on feasibility grounds. This helps PM Surya Ghar home systems get approved. Verify the current rule with your DISCOM.
How do I size a PM Surya Ghar system?+
To size a PM Surya Ghar system, match the kilowatt-peak to the home electricity use and the usable roof area, then check it against the sanctioned load. A common home size is 2 to 5 kWp. The subsidy caps at ₹78,000 for 3 kW and above. Verify sizing norms with MNRE and your DISCOM.
How does SuryaHub help with sizing and load enhancement?+
SuryaHub sizes the system against load, roof and the subsidy cap in the quote, and tracks the DISCOM load enhancement and net-metering steps on the same project. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and subsidy figures are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Sources & references
Sizing norms, the subsidy cap and the feasibility rule come from primary government sources. Load enhancement steps, automatic-upgrade behaviour and the subsidy amount change — verify the current figure and process with your DISCOM, the National Portal and MNRE.
- National Portal for PM Surya Ghar ↗
Scheme rules on system size, subsidy and the application process.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Scheme guidelines, subsidy slabs and sizing norms.
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Technical norms and the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules context.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, National Portal & CEA sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Sizing, subsidy and feasibility rules are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Load enhancement steps and automatic-upgrade behaviour are flagged to verify. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.