Solar Site Survey Checklist (Free Download)

A poor site survey is the most expensive mistake you can make in solar sales. Everything downstream, system sizing, proposal pricing, DISCOM application, PM Surya Ghar eligibility, structural design, is built on the data you collect in that first 90-minute visit. Miss one critical item and you are making a second trip, revising your quote, or worse, discovering the problem after installation is complete.

This guide presents the full 24-point checklist, explains why each item matters, and highlights the 6 items that most installers skip, and regret. Print it or keep it on your phone. Quickest Solar CRM does not replace the survey: use it to hold the lead, log the visit as an activity, and make the estimate on the mobile app (Android, iOS or web) once you have the numbers.

Why most site surveys miss critical items

Walk with any sales engineer through a site survey and you will see the same pattern: they photograph the roof, count the panels that will fit, take a picture of the electricity bill, and leave. That takes 20–25 minutes. What they miss takes the next 3 weeks to discover.

The four most common expensive misses:

Sanctioned load not checked. The customer says they want a 5 kWp system. The EPC quotes a 5 kWp system. At DISCOM application, the sanctioned load is 3 kW, the system exceeds the allowed ratio and the application is sent back. The EPC now needs to either resize or wait for a load enhancement approval. Net-metering rules in most states link the system size to the sanctioned load, so check your state regulation (this is a state rule, not a national Central Electricity Authority rule). PIB (8 December 2025) says the government introduced auto load enhancement up to 10 kW, so ask your DISCOM how it works locally.

Roof structural issue missed. Old RCC roofs in tier-2 cities sometimes have load-bearing constraints. Panels and structure add dead load to the roof, and your structure design will give the figure. On a roof with compromised structural integrity, this is a liability problem. A 5-minute walk on the roof and tapping hollow spots would have revealed it.

DISCOM feeder moratorium. Some DISCOM feeders are at capacity for net metering connections. This information is available at the local DISCOM subdivision office, but most EPCs never check. They install the system and then find out at Phase 6 inspection that the feeder is blocked for new net metering until capacity is upgraded. The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules as amended in February 2024 cut the licensee's time to commission rooftop solar from thirty days to fifteen and exempt systems up to 10 kW from the technical feasibility study (PIB, 23 February 2024), but feeder capacity can still matter in practice where checks continue, as covered in this breakdown of net metering rejection reasons.

Customer documents not collected. On the national portal screens in MNRE's manual of 21 July 2024, PM Surya Ghar asks for one electricity bill from the last 6 months, bank details with a cancelled cheque or passbook, and later the signed vendor agreement. It does not ask for PAN, Aadhaar or property papers, although your DISCOM may. The portal wants the bank account holder name to match the electricity connection name. Collecting and checking these at the survey saves back-and-forth later (see the PM Surya Ghar documents list).

Category 1, Structural (6 points)

The structural assessment determines whether the roof can support the system, where the panels can be placed, and what structural components are needed.

1. S1

   Roof type and material

   Note: RCC flat, metal (GI/colour-coated), clay/Mangalore tile, asbestos cement (AC sheet), or GI corrugated. Each requires different mounting hardware. AC sheet roofs require specialist support channels, never drill directly through AC sheets. Photograph the roof material closeup.

2. S2

   Usable roof area (sq ft)

   Measure the usable shadow-free area, excluding areas blocked by water tanks, parapet walls, staircase structures, and AC outdoor units. Mark it on a rough sketch. Rough rule of thumb: 100 sq ft per kWp of capacity needed.

3. S3

   Roof orientation and existing slope

   Note the compass orientation (south, south-west, east-west) and existing slope angle. Use a compass app on your phone. South-facing is optimal in India; east-west split is acceptable for larger systems. Note if the roof is flat (0–5° slope) or sloped (5–45°).

4. S4

   Roof structural condition and age

   Walk on the roof and tap hollow spots. Check for visible cracks, water seepage stains, or crumbling concrete. Ask the customer the age of the roof. For roofs over 20 years old or showing visible damage, recommend a structural assessment before proceeding. This protects both the customer and your liability, and SurgePV's rooftop structural assessment guide walks through what a proper structural check should cover.

5. S5

   Access and logistics

   How will the installation crew get panels to the roof? Is there a staircase wide enough for a 2.2m panel? Is there a terrace landing area? For 3rd floor and above without a staircase, rope-and-pulley or crane access adds cost, so get a quote. Note this in your BOM at Phase 2.

6. S6

   Inverter mounting location

   Identify where the inverter will be wall-mounted. It must be in a shaded, ventilated location (a covered veranda wall, staircase landing, or meter room). Avoid direct sunlight, which reduces inverter efficiency and lifespan. Measure the cable run distance from the planned inverter location to the main distribution board (MDB).

Category 2, Electrical (4 points)

7. E1

   Sanctioned load and meter rating

   Read the sanctioned load from the latest electricity bill (typically shown in kW or kVA). This is often the maximum solar system size a DISCOM allows without a load enhancement application, and many state rules cap solar capacity at the sanctioned load, so check yours. Also note the meter rating (5A, 10A, 30A), undersized meters may need replacement.

8. E2

   Phase configuration (single or three-phase)

   Single-phase connections (most residential) accept single-phase inverters. Three-phase connections (large homes, commercial) require three-phase inverters or multiple single-phase inverters balanced across phases. Confirm by looking at the incoming supply cable, single-phase has 2 wires (phase + neutral), three-phase has 4 wires.

9. E3

   MDB location and earthing condition

   Note the location of the main distribution board (MDB) relative to the planned inverter location. Check whether an earth pit exists and if it appears maintained. Test earth resistance with an earth tester if you can. MNRE's PM Surya Ghar guidelines (Annexure 3, clause 8.1.4) say earth resistance should be as low as possible and never higher than 5 ohms. The CEA Safety Regulations (regulation 43) require earth tests before energising and keep records, but we found no ohm limit in their text.

10. E4

    Existing cable condition and space in DB

    Check whether the existing main cable entering the DB is rated for the additional solar generation current. Also check if there is space in the DB for an additional 32A or 63A MCB for the solar AC connection. If the DB is full, a new sub-panel or DB replacement needs to be factored into the BOM and quoted price.

Category 3, Shading (4 points)

Shading assessment is the most technical part of the site survey and the most commonly skipped. Shading on even one panel in a string can pull down the output of the whole string because of the series string effect, a mechanism explained in detail in this guide to how to do shadow analysis for a solar rooftop.

S7, Shadow sources: Photograph all shadow-casting objects visible from the roof: water tanks, parapet walls, staircase structures, antenna masts, cell towers, neighboring buildings, trees. Record their approximate height and direction relative to the proposed panel area.

S8, Seasonal shadow path: Note whether the shadow source is north, south, east, or west of the panel area. Objects to the north cast shadows that shift dramatically between summer and winter in India. An object that casts no shadow in May (high solar altitude angle) may cast a 3-metre shadow across the panel area in December (low solar altitude angle). For anything more than a quick visual check, use a free solar pathfinder app, or work through this solar shading analysis software comparison if you need more precision than a phone app provides. Solar radiation data for Indian cities is available from MNRE's solar resource atlas and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

S9, Tree shading risk: Trees grow. A tree that is currently 10 metres from the panel edge and casting no shadow may become a shading problem in 3–5 years. If there are trees within 20 metres to the south of the roof, note their height, species, and growth rate. Flag this in your proposal as an "annual shading review" AMC item.

S10, Panel orientation for shading avoidance: Given the shadow sources identified, determine the optimal panel orientation and layout. For roofs with unavoidable partial shading, recommend microinverters or power optimisers to limit the string mismatch penalty, a tradeoff explained further in this string inverter vs microinverter comparison. This adds cost, and how much generation it recovers depends on the roof, so ask the supplier for a site-specific estimate.

Category 4, DISCOM (4 points)

For detailed guidance on DISCOM applications, see our DISCOM approval process guide. For the full net metering process by state, read what is net metering in India.

Category 5, Customer Documents (4 points)

Collect these at the site visit so the portal application does not stall; the full PM Surya Ghar eligibility criteria spell out which applicants qualify. Photograph documents only with the customer's consent, and copy no more than you need.

CD1, Mobile number and email: The customer registers on the portal with their own mobile number, verified by OTP (MNRE consumer manual, 21 July 2024). Check the number is active and that the customer reads out or enters the OTP themselves. Aadhaar is not a field on those screens, and the manual warns "Please do not upload Aadhaar Card file".

CD2, Bank proof: A cancelled cheque, passbook copy or bank e-statement for the account in which the subsidy should arrive. The portal says the bank account holder name and the electricity connection consumer name should be the same, so a joint account or a different name is a blocker to catch early. PAN is not a field on the national portal screens we read; the PM Surya Ghar National Portal is where the application runs.

CD3, Electricity bill (latest, with account number): Photograph the complete bill, not just the front page. The portal fetches the applicant's details from the DISCOM's records using the consumer number, and the July 2024 manual accepts any bill from the last 6 months (JPG, JPEG or PDF up to 500 kb). Check the tariff category is residential and the name is spelled correctly, because the name on the bill is the name the application carries.

CD4, Ownership, NOC and agreement: The national guidelines do not list property papers. A PIB explainer of 1 March 2024 says the applicant must own the house, and one DISCOM, BSES Rajdhani in Delhi, says in its FAQ (September 2025) that tenants can apply with an NOC from the owner. Ask your DISCOM what it wants. The signed vendor-consumer agreement is uploaded on the portal, and the guidelines include a sample format in Annexure 2.

Category 6, Commercial (2 points)

CM1, System size and type confirmed: Before leaving the site, confirm the kWp and system type (on-grid vs hybrid) with the customer. Use the 3-Step Residential Sizing Formula from our residential sizing guide to validate the size on-site. If the customer wants to compare on-grid vs hybrid pricing, note both configurations. For system type guidance, see our on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid guide.

CM2, Work order and payment terms: Get a signed work order before leaving the site. Even a one-page letter of intent with the agreed system size, total cost, and payment milestones (advance + at installation + at commissioning) protects both parties.

The complete 24-point checklist, at a glance

How to get this as a PDF

The checklist above is the complete 24-point list. To use it in the field:

1. Screenshot or print this page and laminate it, a durable field reference your team uses on every site visit. If your surveyors work in other towns, managing a solar field sales team you can't see shows how to check that each survey left its notes on the lead.
2. Record the visit in your CRM. In Quickest Solar CRM, log an activity on the lead with your survey notes and the numbers you measured, then make the estimate on the mobile app (Android, iOS or web) from those numbers. The 24 points themselves stay on your printed or phone copy of this checklist.

Common site survey mistakes, and the cost of each

How Quickest Solar CRM fits

Take an illustrative installer in a tier-2 city, assumed for this example and not a real person. The installer does 8 to 10 site visits a month. Suppose 3 to 4 of them need a second trip, either for missed documents or to re-measure the roof because the first estimate was off. A structured checklist is aimed at removing those trips. Here is where the CRM helps after the visit:

• Proposal Generator, make the proposal on your phone from the survey numbers, with your logo, items, terms and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy applied, and share the PDF on WhatsApp from the site or soon after.
• Lead Capture, keep each survey's notes as an activity on the lead, so three weeks later you can see where that customer's DISCOM application stands and what was agreed.
• WhatsApp Follow-up, keep a saved message template with a short PM Surya Ghar document list (bill, bank proof, agreement), and send it with the proposal PDF so the customer starts gathering papers the same evening.

Try Quickest Solar CRM free, 10 proposals/month, no card.

What to do this week

1. Print or save this 24-point checklist and use it on your next site visit. Time yourself, a structured 90-minute survey using this checklist is faster and more complete than an unstructured 45-minute visit because you do not have to go back. Every check point takes 2–4 minutes; the whole checklist takes 60–90 minutes total.
2. Identify your top 3 missed-check-point patterns from recent projects. Look at your last 5 projects: at which phase did a problem emerge that could have been caught in the site survey? DISCOM rejection, wrong inverter specified, missing documents, each one traces back to a specific check point on this list.
3. Train your site engineers using this checklist before their next field visit. Role-play a 15-minute mock site survey in your office. The first time most engineers see the DISCOM feeder eligibility check (D2), they do not know how to verify it. Teach them which number to call at the local DISCOM subdivision office to get a 2-minute answer.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a solar site survey take?

As a planning estimate (our assumption, not a standard), a thorough residential solar site survey covering all 24 points takes 60 to 90 minutes on-site, plus time for documentation afterward. Fast, 20-minute surveys are tempting but tend to lead to rework, second visits, and applications sent back by the DISCOM. The extra time spent on a complete survey usually pays back in avoided rework.

What is the most important item on the solar site survey checklist?

For PM Surya Ghar projects, the single most important check is E1 (Sanctioned Load) because it caps the maximum system size the DISCOM will approve. Getting this wrong means either a rejected application or an undersized system that does not meet the customer's savings target. D2 (Net Metering Feeder Eligibility) is equally critical, installing on a capped feeder wastes the entire installation cost.

Do I need special equipment for a solar site survey?

For a basic site survey, you need a smartphone (for photos and compass app), a measuring tape (for roof dimensions and cable run distances), and a copy of the customer's latest electricity bill. For more thorough surveys, an earth tester for earth resistance, a solar pathfinder app for shading analysis, and a spirit level for roof tilt measurement add accuracy. Advanced tools like thermal cameras and IV curve tracers are used for AMC inspections, not initial surveys.

Can I do a solar site survey remotely using satellite imagery?

A preliminary assessment using Google Maps satellite view, or one of the dedicated satellite roof measurement tools, can estimate roof area, orientation, and obvious shadow sources. But it cannot replace a physical survey for: structural condition assessment, actual electrical measurements, document collection, and DISCOM feeder eligibility check. Use satellite imagery for pre-qualification (is this roof large enough to bother visiting?) but always do a physical survey before generating a proposal. For distant towns, a remote solar site survey over WhatsApp video can screen a lead and support a provisional quote, but not replace the physical checks.

What documents does the customer need for a solar installation in India?

For PM Surya Ghar residential installations, the national portal screens in MNRE's manual of 21 July 2024 ask for one electricity bill from the last 6 months, bank details with a cancelled cheque, passbook copy or e-statement (account holder name matching the electricity connection name), and the signed vendor-consumer agreement. The customer also needs an active mobile number for the OTP. PAN, Aadhaar and property papers are not national portal fields, but your DISCOM may ask for ownership proof or an owner NOC. For non-PM Surya Ghar on-grid installations, ask your DISCOM what its net metering application needs. Collect everything at the site visit to avoid back-and-forth.

How do I check if a DISCOM feeder is accepting new net metering connections?

Call the customer care number of your DISCOM and ask specifically about the feeder zone for that consumer number. Some DISCOMs also publish feeder status on their portals. Alternatively, visit the local DISCOM subdivision office with the consumer number, the junior engineer (JE) at the sub-division typically knows which feeders are at capacity.

What is the difference between the site survey checklist and the installation checklist?

The site survey checklist covers what to assess before quoting and before installation begins. The installation checklist covers what to verify during each phase of the installation process. Both are covered in the solar installation process step-by-step guide. The site survey checklist is used by the sales/pre-sales engineer; the installation checklist is used by the installation crew and electrical contractor.

How does shading affect solar panel output?

In a string inverter system, the output of an entire string is limited by the weakest panel. If one panel in an 8-panel string is 50% shaded, the entire string may operate at 50% or less of rated output, not just 1/8 of the system. This is why shading analysis is critical. Microinverters and power optimisers eliminate this string mismatch effect by giving each panel independent MPPT, as detailed in QBits Energy's string vs microinverter breakdown. For roofs with unavoidable partial shading, these technologies can recover part of the lost generation compared to a standard string inverter setup, and the amount depends on the roof.