Net Metering Application Checklist for Uttar Pradesh

What net metering means for your home

Net metering is the arrangement that lets you send surplus solar power into the grid and receive credit for it. Your home is fitted with a bi-directional meter that records electricity taken from the grid and electricity sent back. Your bill is calculated on the net difference, plus any fixed charges and taxes.

Without net metering, a grid-connected solar system cannot legally export power, and you would not be credited for daytime surplus. Net metering paperwork is therefore part of almost every rooftop project, and delays here delay your savings and often your subsidy.

Before you apply: check the basics

Start by confirming that the connection is in the name of the person who will apply. If the bill is in a relative's name, or the connection is old and unclear, resolve this first. A mismatch between the name on the bill, the identity documents and the bank account is one of the most common causes of delay.

Next, read your sanctioned load on the bill. A net-metered system is normally limited by a rule linked to the sanctioned load, so a small load may limit how much solar you can connect. If you want a larger system, ask the DISCOM whether you can apply to increase the load, and how long that takes.

• Latest electricity bill showing consumer number, name and sanctioned load.
• Identity proof of the applicant and a working mobile number linked to it.
• Photograph of the existing meter and the proposed installation area.
• Bank account details in the applicant's name, if you are also claiming subsidy.
• Confirmation that there are no pending dues on the connection.

Documents your installer should provide

The installer is responsible for the technical side of the application. Ask for copies of everything they file, because you may need them later for warranty claims, bank paperwork or a change of ownership.

• System details: total capacity in kW, panel brand and wattage, and inverter make and rating.
• A single-line diagram showing how the system connects to your meter and main panel.
• Test and installation reports, including earthing and protection details.
• A copy of the application and the application or reference number.
• Warranty cards for panels and the inverter, and the installation certificate.

The typical sequence of steps

While exact steps can differ by DISCOM and by scheme, most applications follow the same general path. First comes registration and feasibility, where the DISCOM checks that your connection can accept the proposed system. After approval, the system is installed by a registered vendor. The installer then informs the DISCOM that the system is ready for inspection.

A DISCOM officer inspects the installation, checks the safety arrangements and the equipment, and then arranges for the net meter to be fitted or the existing meter to be replaced. After the meter is installed and the system is commissioned, you receive a commissioning report or certificate. If you are claiming subsidy, this report is submitted on the portal along with your bank details.

Throughout this process, keep a simple log with dates: application date, approval date, inspection date and meter installation date. If anything takes longer than your installer promised, you will have the dates and the reference number ready when you follow up.

Inspection day: what to expect

On the inspection day, someone should be present who can give access to the roof, the meter and the main panel. The inspecting officer will typically check that the capacity matches the application, that the equipment is as declared, that earthing and protective devices are installed, and that the installation is safe. They may ask for the documents you collected.

If the inspection finds a problem, the installer will be asked to correct it and arrange another visit. This is normal. What matters is that the installer responds promptly and that you do not operate the system until approval is given.

Understanding how credits are settled

Before you finalise anything, ask how exported units will appear on your bill. Typically the bill shows imported units, exported units and the net units charged. If you export more than you import in a billing cycle, the surplus is generally carried forward as credit to the next cycle.

Two questions are worth asking. First, how often are credits settled? Second, what happens to credit left over at the end of the financial year? The answers are governed by the state regulator and the current net metering rules, and they can change. Ask your DISCOM or read the current regulation, not an old brochure.

Mistakes that cause delay

A few simple errors cause most of the delay in net metering. Switching on the system before approval can lead to refusal or penalties. Mismatched names across documents slow down verification. Missing signatures on forms, unclear photographs and wrong consumer numbers also send applications back.

Review a short checklist with your installer before filing. A few minutes of checking can save weeks of waiting. Ask your installer to read the form back to you before it is submitted, and keep a photograph or scan of every page you sign, so you can show exactly what was filed if the DISCOM asks a question later.

• Never run the system before the DISCOM has approved and inspected it.
• Check that your name, consumer number and mobile number are identical on every document.
• Make sure photographs are clear and show what the form asks for.
• Ask for the application number on the day of filing and note it somewhere safe.

A sample timeline to plan around

Applications move at different speeds, but a rough sequence of stages tells you when to ask for an update. The first stage is registration and feasibility, which can take from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on DISCOM workload. Installation of a home system is often completed within a few days once the approval is in place.

After installation, inspection is the stage most likely to cause waiting, because it depends on an officer visiting your site. Meter fitting and commissioning follow, and then the subsidy paperwork if you are claiming one. Your installer should be able to tell you where your file is at each stage and what they are waiting for.

If you find yourself waiting longer than the installer estimated, politely ask for the application number and contact the DISCOM's helpline or local office with it. Records of dates keep these conversations short.

Questions to ask before the application is filed

Asking a few questions early prevents surprises later, and shows whether your installer understands the DISCOM process.

A good installer answers these in writing. If the answers are vague, ask more or compare another quotation.

• Who files the application and who attends the inspection?
• What fees, if any, are payable to the DISCOM and who pays them?
• What is the expected timeline for each stage, and what could delay it?
• Will the existing meter be replaced, and what happens to my current reading?
• How will exported units be credited and when are credits settled?
• What support do I get if the DISCOM raises an objection?