PM Surya Ghar Net Meter Process 2026
Understand who installs the meter, when the agreement is completed, how import and export readings work, why billing differs across States, and what to do when inspection, commissioning or solar-bill adjustment is delayed.
Last Updated: July 24, 2026
Net metering is only one stage of the wider journey. Applicants who have not yet installed their system should first follow the complete PM Surya Ghar online application process and select an installer through the registered-vendor comparison guide .
Net-Metering Questions Covered Here
- What is a net meter?
- Complete process map
- Checks before metering
- Portal and agreement process
- DISCOM inspection
- Who supplies the meter?
- Smart-meter and AMISP rules
- Net, gross and net-billing differences
- Import and export readings
- How a solar bill works
- Why the bill may not be zero
- Commissioning and first bill
- Meter-delay troubleshooting
- Wrong solar bill troubleshooting
- Safety and consumer records
- Frequently asked questions
What Is a Net Meter?
A net meter is a bidirectional electricity meter used in an approved grid-connected rooftop-solar arrangement. Unlike a basic one-way consumption meter, it can separately record electricity drawn from the grid and electricity exported from the solar system to the grid.
Import Reading
Electricity taken from the DISCOM when household demand is higher than current solar generation, or when solar is not generating.
Export Reading
Surplus electricity sent to the grid when rooftop-solar generation exceeds household use at that moment.
Billing Adjustment
The DISCOM applies the State-approved settlement method to import, export and any carried-forward credit.
Generation Is Different
The inverter or a separate generation meter may show total solar generation. The net meter records grid exchange, not necessarily all electricity generated.
PM Surya Ghar Net-Meter Process From Installation to Billing
- The registered vendor completes the rooftop-solar plant, safety checks and agreed installation work.
- The consumer updates the National Portal with system details, relevant documents and required geo-tagged photographs. The vendor may assist through the consumer login.
- The application moves to the DISCOM for physical inspection and checklist-based verification.
- The appropriate metering agreement is completed according to the current National Portal workflow and State regulations.
- The approved net meter, smart meter or other permitted metering system is installed through the DISCOM process.
- The DISCOM commissions or approves grid connection and updates the application.
- Import and export readings begin to appear in subsequent electricity bills according to the applicable billing cycle and settlement rules.
Checks to Complete Before the Metering Stage
- The rooftop-solar application is linked to the correct residential consumer number.
- The installed module capacity matches the invoice and portal record.
- The vendor has uploaded or provided the Project Completion Report and required photographs.
- DCR and technical records are available for a subsidised installation.
- AC and DC protection, earthing and inverter safety functions have been checked.
- The connection phase and proposed inverter are compatible with the approved design.
- The meter location is accessible, safe and ready for replacement or additional equipment.
- Any pending consumer or vendor observation has been resolved before inspection.
Prepare the installation, invoice, equipment and bank files using the PM Surya Ghar documents-required checklist . A metering request can remain pending when the physical plant is complete but the completion evidence is not correctly submitted.
Net-Metering Agreement and the National Portal
The original residential CFA guidelines described the DISCOM and consumer signing the appropriate net-meter or other metering agreement after system inspection. A later Government update reported that the net-metering agreement had been made part of the National Portal application to simplify the approval process.
This means applicants should follow the live portal workflow rather than relying on old instructions that show a completely separate paper application in every State. The actual legal terms still follow the relevant State regulations and the agreement displayed or accepted for the concerned DISCOM.
| Agreement item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Consumer and connection details | Identifies the residential account receiving the solar-billing treatment |
| Approved rooftop-solar capacity | Connects the metering arrangement to the inspected installation |
| Metering mechanism | States whether the arrangement is net metering, net billing, gross metering or another approved model |
| Billing and settlement | Defines how import, export, credit and settlement are treated under State regulations |
| Safety and disconnection | Sets responsibilities for safe grid operation and access |
| Meter access and testing | Allows reading, inspection, testing and replacement according to utility rules |
| Agreement period and changes | Explains validity, amendment and termination conditions |
What the DISCOM May Check Before Meter Installation
The concerned DISCOM conducts a physical, checklist-based inspection before approving the application for CFA. The exact inspection form can vary, but the review generally connects the physical system with portal records and technical rules.
| Inspection area | Typical verification | Who should be ready? |
|---|---|---|
| Installed capacity | Module count, wattage and total DC capacity | Vendor and consumer |
| Equipment identity | Module and inverter details, labels and serial information | Vendor |
| Protection and wiring | Isolation, earthing, cable route and applicable safety equipment | Vendor |
| Inverter grid safety | Approved specifications and anti-islanding or relevant protection | Vendor |
| Metering readiness | Meter location, phase arrangement and connection suitability | DISCOM and vendor |
| Portal evidence | Invoice, completion information and required photographs | Consumer and vendor |
| Connection details | Correct consumer number, service address and applicable load information | DISCOM and consumer |
Who Provides and Installs the Net Meter?
The scheme guidelines state that the meter is installed by the DISCOM after the rooftop installation is complete. The net meter may be provided by the DISCOM, or the consumer may procure it from an enlisted meter vendor where the local process permits that option.
DISCOM-Supplied Meter
The consumer follows the utility’s fee, inventory, scheduling and installation process. Keep the payment receipt and meter-installation reference.
Consumer-Procured Meter
Purchase only a model and source accepted by the concerned DISCOM. Independent purchase does not permit self-installation or bypass testing.
Vendor Assistance
The solar vendor may coordinate procurement and paperwork if included in the written agreement, but the DISCOM controls final acceptance and installation.
Testing and Sealing
The applicable utility process may include testing, configuration, sealing, recording initial readings and issuing a commissioning record.
Smart Meter Rules in AMISP and Non-AMISP Areas
The residential CFA guidelines distinguish areas where smart-metering work has already been awarded under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme from areas where it has not.
| Area type | Guideline position | Consumer implication |
|---|---|---|
| AMISP area | DISCOM or Power Department should have the smart meter installed through the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider | The consumer should follow the utility’s assigned smart-meter process rather than purchasing an unrelated meter |
| Non-AMISP area | Net meters should be installed according to the accepted manufacturer list and CEA technical specifications, preferably using suitable smart-meter capability | Confirm the accepted model and procurement process with the DISCOM before purchase |
A smart meter does not automatically mean that net metering is active. The meter must be configured, approved and connected to the correct solar-billing arrangement.
Net Metering, Net Billing, Gross Metering and Other Arrangements
PM Surya Ghar can cover different metering mechanisms when the relevant State or Union Territory Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved them. The scheme does not require one identical settlement mechanism for all DISCOMs.
| Metering arrangement | Basic concept | What the consumer must verify |
|---|---|---|
| Net metering | Imported and exported electricity are adjusted under the applicable net-metering rules | Billing period, carry-forward, settlement and credit treatment |
| Net billing | Imported electricity and exported electricity may be valued separately | Import tariff, export compensation rate and billing formula |
| Gross metering | Solar generation or export may be accounted for separately instead of first offsetting household import | Sale rate, agreement term and consumption billing |
| Virtual net metering | Credits from an eligible common or remote rooftop installation may be allocated across participating connections under approved rules | Allocation percentages, participating meters and society records |
| Group net metering | Generation from one eligible installation may be adjusted across more than one connection of the same consumer or group under approved rules | Connection eligibility, allocation method and DISCOM approval |
| Approved behind-the-meter hybrid | The grid-connected system may be configured not to export, subject to regulator and DISCOM approval | Reverse-power protection, inspection and CFA eligibility conditions |
How to Read Import, Export and Solar Generation
A consumer may see three different energy values. Understanding them prevents the common mistake of expecting the export reading to equal total solar generation.
| Reading | What it measures | Where it may appear |
|---|---|---|
| Solar generation | Total electricity generated by the rooftop plant | Inverter display, monitoring app or separate generation meter |
| Direct self-consumption | Solar electricity used by the home at the time it is generated | Usually calculated from generation, import and export data rather than shown directly on a simple bill |
| Grid import | Electricity drawn from the DISCOM | Bidirectional meter and electricity bill |
| Grid export | Surplus solar electricity sent to the DISCOM network | Bidirectional meter and electricity bill |
| Carried-forward credit | Eligible surplus retained for later adjustment under State rules | Electricity bill or DISCOM consumer portal |
Direct solar use = Total solar generation − Grid export
Total household use = Direct solar use + Grid import
This relationship is a practical energy-accounting method. The official bill may use a different display format and should remain the source of truth for financial settlement.
Illustrative Net-Meter Bill Example
The following example is educational and does not represent one State’s tariff or legal settlement formula.
| Monthly energy item | Illustrative units |
|---|---|
| Total rooftop-solar generation | 300 units |
| Solar power used directly in the home | 180 units |
| Solar power exported to the grid | 120 units |
| Electricity imported from the grid | 170 units |
| Total household use | 180 + 170 = 350 units |
Under a simple unit-adjustment illustration, 120 export units may be considered against 170 import units, leaving 50 net imported units before fixed charges and other billing items. Under net billing, the 170 imported units and 120 exported units may instead be valued at different rates. That is why a consumer must know the applicable State mechanism.
Why an Electricity Bill May Not Become Zero
- Grid import remains higher than eligible export adjustment.
- Household use increased after the solar system was installed.
- Generation was lower because of weather, shade, dust or equipment downtime.
- The State uses net billing rather than one-for-one unit adjustment.
- Fixed, meter, demand or minimum charges remain payable.
- Electricity duty, tax, cess or another regulated charge applies.
- Past arrears, late fees or security adjustments appear in the bill.
- The first solar billing cycle covers only part of a month.
- Meter commissioning or billing-system mapping was completed after installation.
- Surplus is carried forward or settled according to a separate period.
The scheme’s objective of free or low-cost electricity up to 300 units is linked to rooftop-solar generation and the applicable billing framework. It is not an automatic waiver of every line item on every household bill.
Commissioning Date and the First Solar Electricity Bill
The physical meter-installation date, system-commissioning date and first bill that reflects solar can be different. Keep all three records.
| Record | Why to preserve it |
|---|---|
| Old meter final reading | Establishes the closing value before replacement |
| New meter number | Confirms that the bill is mapped to the installed bidirectional meter |
| Initial import and export readings | Creates the baseline for future billing checks |
| Meter installation or test report | Shows when the utility completed the meter action |
| Commissioning certificate or approval | Identifies when the grid-connected plant became officially operational |
| First solar bill | Confirms import-export display and applicable settlement |
Photograph the meter display after commissioning without breaking any seal. Learn how to cycle through readings using only the approved display button or instructions; do not open, rewire or reconfigure the meter.
Net-Meter Installation Delayed: Step-by-Step Response
- Log in to the National Portal and confirm that the installation details and required documents have been submitted.
- Check whether the application is waiting for a consumer correction, vendor action, inspection or meter request.
- Ask the vendor for the portal submission acknowledgement, Project Completion Report and any meter-application reference included in the agreed scope.
- Contact the concerned DISCOM with the consumer number, application ID, installation date and latest portal screenshot.
- Ask whether the delay concerns inspection scheduling, meter availability, testing, AMISP coordination, agreement completion or system correction.
- Record the complaint or service-request number and promised action date.
- Use the official portal grievance mechanism when the documented DISCOM or portal stage remains unresolved.
Track the responsible stage using the PM Surya Ghar application-status guide . Avoid submitting a duplicate rooftop-solar application merely because the meter is delayed.
Solar Is Working but the Bill Looks Wrong
No Export Reading
Check whether the home is consuming all solar generation, whether export is disabled, whether commissioning is complete and whether the meter display includes a separate export register.
Export Appears as Import
Preserve meter and inverter readings and contact the DISCOM and vendor for a wiring, configuration or billing-system check.
Old Meter Number on Bill
Submit the meter-replacement record and first reading to the DISCOM billing office.
Solar Credit Missing
Confirm the commissioning date, applicable settlement cycle and whether the export reading is present on the bill.
Bill Is Higher Than Expected
Compare current consumption, generation, import, export, tariff and fixed charges with earlier assumptions.
Inverter Generation Seems Low
This is primarily a system-performance issue. Check shade, dust, outages, inverter alarms and vendor maintenance before blaming the billing meter.
Evidence to Attach to a Billing Complaint
- Consumer number and application ID
- Meter number and commissioning date
- Current and previous solar electricity bills
- Clear photographs of import and export meter registers
- Inverter generation screenshot for the same period
- Meter installation or test report
- Net-metering agreement or applicable approval
- A calculation showing the exact disputed units
Metering Safety and Records the Consumer Must Keep
- Do not break the DISCOM seal.
- Do not alter meter wiring or inverter export settings without authorised support.
- Do not allow an unverified electrician to bypass protection devices.
- Keep the meter accessible to authorised utility personnel.
- Preserve the signed agreement and commissioning documents.
- Record the old and new meter numbers during replacement.
- Save the initial import and export readings.
- Download monthly bills and inverter-generation summaries.
- Keep vendor and DISCOM complaint references.
- Use only approved equipment and official payment channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a net meter compulsory for PM Surya Ghar subsidy?
The approved metering arrangement depends on State regulations. The scheme covers net metering and other regulator-approved arrangements, including net billing, gross metering, virtual net metering and group net metering. Certain approved behind-the-meter grid-connected systems may also qualify under specified conditions.
Who installs the PM Surya Ghar net meter?
The guidelines state that the meter is installed by the DISCOM after rooftop-solar installation is complete. The DISCOM may provide the meter, or the consumer may be allowed to procure an approved meter from an enlisted vendor.
Can my solar vendor install the net meter directly?
A vendor may assist with procurement and coordination when included in the agreement, but final testing, acceptance, sealing and commissioning follow the concerned DISCOM’s process.
Is the net-metering agreement online?
A 2026 Government update states that the net-metering agreement has been made part of the National Portal application. The legal terms and implementation still follow State regulations and the concerned DISCOM workflow.
Does the net meter show total solar generation?
Not necessarily. It records electricity imported from and exported to the grid. Total solar generation is generally shown by the inverter, monitoring system or a separate generation meter.
What is the difference between import and export units?
Import is electricity drawn from the grid. Export is surplus rooftop-solar electricity sent to the grid after the household’s immediate use.
Will export units always be deducted one-for-one from import units?
Not in every State or metering arrangement. Net billing and other approved methods can value import and export differently. Check the applicable regulation and bill.
Why do I still receive a bill after installing solar?
Grid import, fixed charges, meter charges, tax, duty, past arrears, low generation or the State settlement method can leave an amount payable.
Can I turn on the solar plant before net-meter approval?
Follow the vendor and DISCOM commissioning instructions. Do not export to the grid or alter protection before the authorised process is complete.
How long does net-meter installation take?
There is no reliable single nationwide timeline because inspection queue, meter availability, AMISP process, State rules and corrections vary. Track the specific pending stage and obtain a DISCOM reference number.
Can an apartment use virtual net metering?
Virtual or group net metering may be covered when approved by the relevant State regulator and DISCOM, and when the installation and participating connections meet the applicable rules.
Does net-meter approval guarantee subsidy credit?
No. It is a major verification stage, but the application may still require DISCOM portal approval, e-token or claim action, bank validation and payment processing.
Verify the Agreement, Meter and First Solar Bill
A successful net-meter installation should leave the consumer with more than a new device on the wall. Preserve the agreement, meter number, initial readings, inspection record, commissioning date and first bill. Compare grid import and export with inverter generation, while remembering that direct self-consumption does not appear as export.
Use the complete PM Surya Ghar guide for the overall scheme, check the application-status guide when metering is delayed, and retain the documents described in the installation and bank-document checklist .
Official Sources
Disclaimer
Wikisia is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, any State Electricity Regulatory Commission, DISCOM, meter manufacturer, registered vendor or government authority.
Meter type, procurement, testing, agreement, tariff, import-export adjustment, carry-forward credit, annual settlement, fees and billing display vary by State, DISCOM and regulatory order. The numerical bill example in this article is illustrative only. Verify the current regulation, portal instruction and utility bill before calculating savings, purchasing a meter, changing wiring or filing a claim.