Net metering is the mechanism that turns a rooftop solar system from a daytime gadget into a year-round money-saver. It lets you push the solar power your home isn't using out to the DHBVN grid and bank it as a credit against the units you draw later. Without it, every surplus unit your panels make during the afternoon would simply be wasted.
This guide walks through the entire DHBVN net-metering journey as it works in South Haryana today — for homes in Faridabad, Palwal and Gurugram.
How Net Metering Actually Works
A bidirectional meter measures electricity flowing in both directions:
- Sunny hours: panels generate; your home consumes what it needs in real time; the surplus flows out to DHBVN and is recorded as export.
- Evenings and overcast days: you draw from the grid as usual, recorded as import.
- Billing day: DHBVN nets the two — you pay only for import minus export.
If your exports in a month exceed your imports, the leftover units roll over as credit into the next cycle, so seasonal swings even out over the year.
Are You Eligible?
You can apply through DHBVN if:
- You hold a valid DHBVN domestic (or commercial) connection in Faridabad, Palwal or Gurugram
- The solar system is on-grid or hybrid (off-grid battery setups don't qualify)
- Proposed capacity stays within your sanctioned load
- Your roof offers enough shadow-free space — budget roughly 80-100 sq ft per kW
- Your installer is a DHBVN-empanelled vendor
Both residential and commercial DHBVN consumers can apply.
Documents to Keep Ready
Gather these before you start — having them on hand prevents the most common delays:
- Latest DHBVN electricity bill (shows your consumer/account number)
- Aadhaar of the connection holder
- Proof of ownership — registry, sale deed, or a bill in your name
- Recent passport photo
- Bank account details for the subsidy DBT
- Society NOC, only if you live in a flat or gated complex
The Application Journey, Stage by Stage
Stage 1 — Register on the National Portal
Everything kicks off on the PM Surya Ghar national rooftop portal, where you (or your vendor on your behalf) file the application with:
- Your DHBVN consumer number
- Desired capacity, e.g. 3 kW
- Your DHBVN-registered installer's details
The portal forwards the request to DHBVN. Expect 5-10 working days for the initial acknowledgement.
Stage 2 — Technical Feasibility Review
DHBVN's engineering wing examines whether your local network can absorb the proposed system. They look at:
- Sanctioned load versus the solar capacity you've asked for
- Spare capacity on your area's distribution transformer
- Any site-specific technical limits
Clear this and DHBVN issues a feasibility approval. Typically 7-15 working days.
Stage 3 — Installation
With feasibility in hand, your installer puts up the system:
- Mounting frame and modules
- Inverter, cabling, earthing and surge protection
- Safety gear — SPD and lightning arrestor
A residential 3kW job is usually finished in 2-3 days.
Stage 4 — DHBVN Inspection
DHBVN deputes an inspector to confirm the installation matches the approved design — checking workmanship, safety compliance, earthing and wiring. This inspection step is the one most likely to add waiting time. Plan for 15-20 working days after you submit the completion report.
Stage 5 — Net Meter Fitting
Once the inspection passes, DHBVN swaps your existing meter for a bidirectional net meter capable of recording both import and export. Around 7-15 working days.
Stage 6 — Commissioning
With the net meter live, DHBVN formally commissions the system. From this moment:
- Your array is officially grid-synced
- Net metering begins and credits start appearing on your bill
- The subsidy disbursement process moves forward
Realistic End-to-End Timeline
| Stage | Duration | |---|---| | Portal application & acknowledgement | 5-10 days | | Feasibility review | 7-15 days | | Installation | 2-3 days | | DHBVN inspection | 15-20 days | | Net meter fitting | 7-15 days | | Total | 6-10 weeks |
In practice, budget 2-3 months from application to a running system. The variable is almost always how quickly the DHBVN inspection gets scheduled in your area.
What Your Bill Looks Like Afterward
Take a 3kW system producing 360 units a month in a home that consumes 400 units:
| | Units | |---|---| | Grid import (total use) | 400 | | Solar self-consumed | 100 | | Solar exported to DHBVN | 260 | | Net billed units | 400 − 260 = 140 |
You're charged for 140 units instead of 400 — roughly a 65% cut in your bill. At DHBVN's average domestic rate of about ₹7/unit, that's a meaningful monthly saving, and surplus months carry credit forward.
Tariff and Settlement Notes
Net-metering terms and domestic tariffs in Haryana are set by HERC (Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission), with HAREDA acting as the state nodal agency for rooftop solar. Any net surplus left at the end of the settlement period is treated per the prevailing HERC order, so it's worth sizing your system close to your actual consumption rather than wildly over-building.
Do You Have to Do This Yourself?
No. A DHBVN-empanelled installer manages the whole chain for you:
- Portal registration and document upload
- Following up on feasibility approval
- Coordinating the DHBVN inspection
- Net-meter installation follow-through
- Filing and tracking the subsidy claim
At RS Solar Infrastructure we run the entire DHBVN process end to end, so you never have to stand in a queue or log into a portal yourself.
Quick Answers
Can off-grid systems get net metering? No. Net metering needs a grid-tied (on-grid or hybrid) system. Battery-only off-grid setups stand alone.
What if I generate more than I use? The extra units carry forward as credit. Whatever surplus remains at the settlement date is handled as per the current HERC ruling.
Will my power become less reliable? No. Your DHBVN connection is unchanged. When the sun isn't producing, you simply draw from the grid as before.
Can a tenant apply? The application has to be in the name of the DHBVN connection holder, so a tenant would need the owner's consent and documents.
Ready to connect your rooftop to DHBVN? Contact us for a free consultation — we handle the complete net-metering process for you.