BESCOM Net Metering: Application Steps & Documents (2026)

To get BESCOM net metering, apply online on BESCOM's SRTPV portal at srtpv.bescom.org. For systems up to 150 kW the application itself is the approval to start work, and the export rate comes from a KERC tariff order dated 25 August 2026. Karnataka replaced its 2016 rooftop rules in August 2026, so older guides, including the earlier version of this one, describe a regime that has changed. This guide walks an installer through the process, with each figure tied to a KERC or BESCOM document.

Updated 14 Oct 2026. Last verified 14 Oct 2026 against the KERC DSPV Regulations 2026, the KERC tariff order of 25 Aug 2026 and the BESCOM SRTPV portal.

Official BESCOM links and helplines

Many people land on this page looking for BESCOM itself. These are the official routes, taken from BESCOM's own rooftop solar portal and KERC documents.

BESCOM's portal handles rooftop solar applications only. Bill payment and consumer complaints about supply sit on the main BESCOM site and the 1912 helpline. Other Karnataka utilities (GESCOM, HESCOM, CESC, MESCOM) run their own DSPV portals.

Who qualifies for BESCOM net metering

BESCOM serves Bengaluru and seven other districts: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davanagere. Check the utility name on the customer's bill before you start; the district list is from BESCOM's published profile, so confirm it on bescom.co.in if the address is near a boundary.

The rules that decide eligibility, all from the KERC (Grid Interactive Distributed Solar Photovoltaic) Regulations, 2026 notified on 19 August 2026:

• Consumer categories: all consumer categories can use net metering (Reg 4.1.1).
• Size: minimum 1 kW. Maximum is the sanctioned load or contract demand, or 1,000 kW, whichever is lower. The old figure of "10 MW" for net metering that circulates in older guides is not in the current regulations.
• Location: on the roof, on building walls (facade-integrated panels), or on an elevated structure inside the premises with at least 8 feet of ground clearance (Reg 4.7.2).
• Arrears: a consumer with pending arrears with BESCOM is not eligible. If a bill is under dispute, the system can go ahead once the disputed amount is deposited (Reg 3.4).
• Transformer limit: for plants below 150 kW, the total solar on the distribution transformer must stay within 80% of its rated capacity (Reg 8.2).
• Capacity window: net metering applies until cumulative DSPV capacity in Karnataka reaches 3 GW, after which KERC will revisit the rules (Reg 3.6). BESCOM must publish approved and commissioned capacity on its website each month.
• Sanctioned load below system size: for systems up to 10 kW, BESCOM raises the sanctioned load automatically, but the consumer pays the applicable charges, extra security deposit and any new supply agreement before commissioning (KERC order of 5 Dec 2024, repeated in the BESCOM SOP of 1 Dec 2025).

Net metering is not the only choice. KERC's regulations also allow net billing, gross metering, behind-the-meter, group net metering and virtual net metering, and a consumer may switch mechanism once during the project's life (Reg 4). If the customer wants to sell everything the plant generates, read net metering vs gross metering first. Related terms are in our glossary: net metering, gross metering and DISCOM.

The BESCOM 5-Step Approval Ladder

This ladder follows the BESCOM Common SOP (1 Dec 2025) and the KERC timeline table in Regulation 12. It is the same general flow as the national DISCOM approval process, with Karnataka's own shortcuts. Timelines below are the regulatory ones for systems up to 150 kW; real days depend on your project and BESCOM's workload, so confirm with the sub-division before promising a customer a date.

1. 1
   Register the application online (day zero). Open srtpv.bescom.org, enter the account ID printed on the bill (billing data loads automatically), enter capacity and metering type, verify by OTP on the registered mobile, accept the consent form, pay the fee if it is a non-subsidy application, and enter bank details with a cancelled cheque photo. For PM Surya Ghar, register on the national portal first and continue on BESCOM's portal with the registration reference number. Source: BESCOM Common SOP, Stage 1.
2. 2
   Feasibility and approval (up to 150 kW: deemed). Applications up to 150 kW are treated as technically feasible, and a work approval letter is generated automatically after registration. Above 150 kW, BESCOM acknowledges within 3 working days, visits and approves or rejects within 10 working days, and the PPA is signed within 5 working days of approval. Source: Reg 12; SOP Stages 2 to 4.
3. 3
   Install within the 150-day window. The consumer (in practice, you) has 150 days from the application date, or from PPA signing above 150 kW, to complete the work and upload the completion report. The smart meter is bought by the consumer from a BESCOM-authorised outlet using the Meter Procurement Letter generated on the portal. Source: Reg 12 and 10; SOP Stage 1.
4. 4
   Work completion report, inspection and synchronisation. Upload the completion details on the portal (for subsidy cases the vendor uploads on the national portal and the details flow across). BESCOM inspects within 5 working days. If the plant is not commissioned in that time, the regulation makes the officer liable to pay ₹1,000 per day to the applicant, and the consumer is entitled to deemed generation benefit. Source: Reg 12; SOP Stages 5 to 7.
5. 5
   Billing starts. BESCOM begins net metering billing within 30 days of commissioning, and systems synchronised in a month are to be read and billed in the next. Check that the first bill shows generation, export and net units as Reg 5.1.4 requires. Source: Reg 12; SOP Accounting and Billing.

Documents and the application form

The top question here is where to download the BESCOM net metering application form. For up to 150 kW there is no paper form or PDF to download. BESCOM's guidelines say applications are online only, and the "form" is the portal screens plus an auto-generated consent. The PPA drafts on the portal's Document section are for larger systems and special cases.

BESCOM does not publish a fixed list of PDFs such as ownership proof, ID or single-line diagram for the portal flow up to 150 kW. We still suggest keeping them ready as good practice: the bill copy, owner's ID, a roof photo set, the single-line diagram and module and inverter datasheets. The site survey checklist covers what to capture on the visit. These are our working habits, not BESCOM requirements, so do not tell a customer a document is mandatory unless the portal asks for it.

On equipment, KERC requires inverters to meet the relevant IEEE, IEC or IS standards and the system to have anti-islanding protection (Reg 9.1 and the DSPV definition). BESCOM's SOP also says consumers may use any standards-compliant modules and inverters without insisting on a BESCOM-empanelled vendor, but PM Surya Ghar subsidy cases need an empanelled vendor. Module sourcing rules for net metering projects are explained in our ALMM guide.

BESCOM fees, export rate and timelines

Application and facilitation fees

For non-subsidy applications, BESCOM's SOP of 1 Dec 2025 lists these fees (plus applicable GST). Applications under PM Surya Ghar with subsidy are exempt from the registration and facilitation fee.

The smart meter is a separate purchase from an authorised outlet; BESCOM's documents do not give one price, so quote it as "at actuals". If the sanctioned load has to be raised, add the demand note and extra security deposit that BESCOM issues. Confirm the fee on the portal's payment screen, as the Dec 2025 SOP predates the 2026 regulations.

Export rate under the KERC tariff order of 25 August 2026

Under net metering, electricity you use is netted against what you export in the billing cycle, and the remaining exported energy is bought by BESCOM at the tariff in your PPA or consent and paid out monthly (Reg 5.1.4 and 5.1.7). The regulation does not provide for carrying surplus units forward, so do not model banking for Karnataka. The fixed charge and other levies are still payable. For how surplus accounting works elsewhere, see net metering export and import banking.

KERC's order "Determination of tariff in respect of DSPV Plants" dated 25 Aug 2026 sets the rate for new applications and runs to 30 June 2029 or until further orders:

The DCR rate applies only after BESCOM inspects and certifies the modules as DCR (DCR explained). Group and virtual net metering get 75% of the "other cases" rate. The rate is locked for 25 years for plants whose application or PPA falls under this order, so an older plant keeps the rate in its own agreement. BESCOM circular CYS-35 (30 Jun 2026) told applicants who registered on or after 1 July 2026 that the new tariff order, once issued, governs their consent. If your customer registered between 1 July and 24 August 2026, ask the sub-division which rate applies.

Subsidy

The central subsidy under PM Surya Ghar is ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the third kW, so ₹78,000 is the cap (pmsuryaghar.gov.in). The step-by-step is in our PM Surya Ghar application guide, the slabs in subsidy slabs, and any state add-ons in state top-up subsidies. KERC's regulations say subsidy application matters are handled by the nodal agency under each scheme's guidelines (Reg 14.1).

How to check your BESCOM application status

Open the View Status page on the SRTPV portal and enter the application number and the registered mobile number. For PM Surya Ghar cases, also look at the national portal, because BESCOM's SOP says the inspection approval for subsidy cases is completed there.

Status wording on the portal changes, and BESCOM does not publish a glossary of labels, so we have not reproduced one here. If a status has not moved, use this order:

1. Sub-division office: the Assistant Executive Engineer of your O&M sub-division approves, inspects and synchronises plants up to 35 kW with a smart meter (Common SOP, Table 12). Call or visit with the application number.
2. Solar helpdesk: email solar_helpdesk@bescom.co.in or call the numbers listed on the portal, quoting the application number and dates.
3. Written escalation: if BESCOM misses the 5-working-day inspection window, cite Regulation 12 and the ₹1,000 per day penalty clause in your email to the sub-division officer, copying the helpdesk.
4. KERC: the regulations say disputes go to BESCOM first and, if unresolved, a petition may be filed before the Commission (Reg 23).

For a wider list of reasons applications stall, see net metering rejection reasons and how to apply for net metering in India.

What installers get wrong on BESCOM applications

• Using the old tariff. The ₹3.56 and ₹4.16 per unit rates quoted by older guides are not in the 25 Aug 2026 order. Check the band for the customer's category and subsidy status.
• Waiting for a "sanction letter". Up to 150 kW, work can start once the application is registered. Chasing a sanction wastes weeks, but starting without a registered application is not covered.
• Missing the 150-day window. The clock starts at registration, not at the first site visit.
• Name mismatch on e-sign. BESCOM compares the e-sign name with the account holder (RR number holder). Joint accounts can need a no-objection from the other holders.
• Sizing past the sanctioned load. Above 10 kW, system size cannot exceed the sanctioned load; at 10 kW or below the load is raised, but the customer must pay the charges and deposit before commissioning. A DC variation beyond 10% needs the load raised first.
• Assuming storage is compulsory. Hybrid inverters with batteries are allowed at the consumer's option (Reg 3.3). The notified regulations do not make storage mandatory, though KERC will review the requirement after two years or at 3 GW, whichever is earlier.
• Ignoring the 3 GW trigger. The net metering capacity window runs until 3 GW of cumulative DSPV capacity statewide. Track BESCOM's monthly published figure before you pitch a large C&I net metering project.
• Treating other Karnataka utilities as copies. The rules are KERC-wide, but each utility has its own portal and sub-divisions.

For the Karnataka market overview, read how to build a solar installer business in Karnataka. If you also operate elsewhere, compare with the MSEDCL, TANGEDCO, DGVCL and UPPCL guides, or the DISCOM list for India. Our bidirectional meter explainer helps you answer the technician on commissioning day.

Regulatory watch

How Quickest Solar CRM fits a BESCOM project

Most delays in BESCOM files come from admin gaps, not engineering. Quickest Solar CRM is built for the installer side of that work. The proposal generator produces a branded proposal with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy worked out, so you can show the customer the right export-rate band from the start. The quotation system builds the quote with the bill of materials, ready to send on WhatsApp or as a PDF. The solar CRM lets you move each customer through the five ladder steps above and set a follow-up date for the 150-day window and the 5-day inspection call. If you want to see this on your own BESCOM pipeline, book a demo.

What to do this week

1. Pull every open BESCOM project and note its registration date. Anything past 100 days needs a completion plan now.
2. Replace any BESCOM payback sheet that uses ₹3.56 or ₹4.16 per unit with the 25 Aug 2026 rates above.
3. Save the portal link, helpdesk email and sub-division contact for each of your active areas in one shared note, and add your own checklist for the documents you keep on file.

Frequently asked questions

What is the export rate for BESCOM net metering in 2026?

It depends on the project type and is set in the KERC tariff order of 25 Aug 2026, valid to 30 June 2029 or until further orders. A new domestic 1 to 10 kW system without subsidy gets ₹3.89 per unit. Under PM Surya Ghar with subsidy, the rate is ₹1.96 for 1 to 2 kW, ₹2.14 above 2 up to 3 kW and ₹2.58 above 3 kW. Other net metering projects from 1 to 1,000 kW get ₹3.11 with DCR modules or ₹2.34 with non-DCR modules. The rate is locked for 25 years. See the net metering banking guide for how surplus accounting differs by state.

What is the official website for BESCOM rooftop solar net metering?

Applications are filed on BESCOM's SRTPV (DSPV) portal at srtpv.bescom.org. PM Surya Ghar subsidy applicants register first on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and then continue on the BESCOM portal with the registration reference number. BESCOM's main site is bescom.co.in and its general helpline is 1912.

How long does BESCOM net metering approval take?

For systems up to 150 kW, there is no approval wait: submitting the application is deemed approval to start work. You have 150 days to upload the work completion report, BESCOM must inspect within 5 working days of it, and billing starts within 30 days of commissioning. Above 150 kW, BESCOM acknowledges within 3 working days and approves or rejects within 10 working days. These are regulatory timelines under KERC Regulation 12; actual days vary, so confirm with the sub-division. The full ladder is in the 5-step section above.

Where can I download the BESCOM net metering application form, and what documents are needed?

For up to 150 kW there is no paper form: BESCOM accepts online applications only, on the SRTPV portal. For a non-subsidy application, BESCOM's SOP lists no document uploads at registration, only the account ID from the bill, capacity and metering details, OTP verification, the consent form, bank details with a cancelled cheque photo and a smart meter consent form. Systems above 150 kW need a PPA on ₹500 stamp paper, and above 500 kW extra project documents. See the documents table above.

What is the maximum system size for BESCOM net metering?

Under the KERC DSPV Regulations 2026, net metering allows 1 kW up to the sanctioned load or contract demand, or 1,000 kW, whichever is lower. All consumer categories can use it. Net metering applies until cumulative DSPV capacity in Karnataka reaches 3 GW. For the national picture, see the 25 kW cap explained.

How do I check my BESCOM solar application status?

Use the View Status page on the BESCOM SRTPV portal and enter the application number and the registered mobile number. For PM Surya Ghar cases, also check the national portal. If nothing moves, contact the sub-division Assistant Executive Engineer, then the BESCOM solar helpdesk at solar_helpdesk@bescom.co.in.

Can I install a system larger than the customer's sanctioned load?

For systems up to and including 10 kW, yes. KERC's order of 5 Dec 2024 lets BESCOM raise the sanctioned load automatically, and the consumer pays the applicable charges, extra security deposit and any supply agreement before commissioning. Above 10 kW under net metering, system size cannot exceed the sanctioned load or contract demand. Related reasons for rejection are in net metering rejection reasons.

Who do I complain to if BESCOM delays inspection or commissioning?

Start with the sub-division officer and the BESCOM solar helpdesk, quoting the application number and KERC Regulation 12, which sets a 5 working day inspection window and a ₹1,000 per day penalty on the officer. If BESCOM does not resolve it, the regulations allow a petition before KERC.