India's residential rooftop solar subsidy scheme - 2023
Rooftop Solar Subsidy Amounts in India (residential)
Process for applying and claiming subsidy
Background and FAQs for the scheme
In January 2023, Government of India issued a press-release stating that the process for residential rooftop solar subsidy being provided under the Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II scheme will be simplified.
This was followed up by an office memorandum by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) in February 2023, stating that a national portal will be set up to receive subsidy applications from the customers, with a similar portal available at each Discom. The subsidy under the new scheme will be transferred directly to the bank account of the residential customer who is getting the plant installed.
This portal was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 July 2023. Below are a few frequently asked questions based on the scheme:
FAQs
Installers willing to register/empanel themselves in the Programme under simplified procedure may get themselves registered with the consumers’ DISCOM by submitting an application along with declaration (as per Annexure) and depositing a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of Rs. 2,50,000/- (Rupees Two Lakh Fifty Thousand only) valid for at least five years. The vendors can submit the application at the Division/Circle level and the name of the vendor will be included in the list of registered/empanelled vendors within a period of one month from the date of submission of the application.
The registered/empanelled vendor selected by the beneficiaries will conduct the physical survey to assess the rooftop solar system's capacity and guide the beneficiary on the rooftop solar system's capacity that can be installed in the beneficiary’s premises considering technical and financial parameters. The vendor shall also provide assistance to the beneficiary in getting necessary approvals, installing the net-meter and facilitating inspection by the DISCOM. The installer must follow minimum specifications and standards specified by the Ministry and maintain the plant for at least five years from the date of installation.
An installer must fulfil the following requirements:
- The Firm has sufficient (at least three) technical manpower trained in the skills required to execute the work of installation of rooftop solar plants.
- The Firm fulfils all statutory requirements, for example those relating to electrical safety, to install rooftop solar plants.
- The Firm will install rooftop solar plants fulfilling minimum technical standards and specifications issued by the MNRE.
- The Firm will provide comprehensive maintenance of the rooftop solar plant installed by the Firm for at least 5 years.
- The Firm will provide all necessary information related to installation of rooftop solar plants and Do's and Don'ts to the customer.
- The Firm will also provide name, contact number and e-mail of the person where the beneficiary can register a complaint related to rooftop solar plants installed by the Firm. This details will also be made available to the State authorities and MNRE.
The DISCOM will notify the registered/empanelled vendors on its website for information of residential consumers and update the same every month.
No, the subsidy available under the simplified procedure will be the same for beneficiaries all over the country. The rates of subsidy will be notified for each calendar year and will be applicable for all beneficiaries who have registered their application on the national portal during the calendar year.
In case of any discrepancy in terms of quality and services provided by the Firm, the concerned distribution company/Electricity Department can blacklist the Firm and encash the performance bank guarantee, apart from taking other legal actions.