Tamil Nadu's power distribution licensee has changed its name. The company most installers and customers still call TANGEDCO or TNEB now operates as TNPDCL (Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited), after the 2024 restructuring of TANGEDCO into separate generation, distribution and green-energy companies. This guide keeps the TANGEDCO name for searchers and bills, and tells you how a rooftop net metering file actually moves for an EPC: which portal, which scheme, which documents, which fees, and who to escalate to. For the business side, see our Tamil Nadu solar EPC playbook.
KEY TAKEAWAY
In Tamil Nadu, domestic consumers can get true net metering up to their sanctioned load, while other low-tension categories are on net feed-in, where exports are credited at a feed-in tariff. Applications for low-tension rooftop solar are filed on the Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal (tnebltd.gov.in/usrp), and subsidy projects register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in first. The registration fee is ₹500 for systems up to 20 kW. Fix the name, sanctioned load and arrears on the service connection before you file.
Updated 14 Oct 2026. Last verified 14 Oct 2026 against the TANGEDCO guidelines for TNERC Order No. 8 of 2021 and the live Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal. Items we could not confirm are marked "confirm with TNPDCL".
Official links for Tamil Nadu rooftop solar
OFFICIAL LINKS
- Apply and track: Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal (tnebltd.gov.in/usrp) has Apply with subsidy, Apply for other than PMSGY, Additional Load, Scheme change, and Application Status by application number or mobile number.
- Subsidy projects, national route: pmsuryaghar.gov.in for registration, the vendor list and the central subsidy claim.
- Rules and orders: TNERC (tnerc.tn.gov.in) for regulations and tariff orders. TANGEDCO guidelines for TNERC Order No. 8 of 2021 (PDF) is the working summary.
- Distribution company: TNPDCL, formerly the distribution arm of TANGEDCO. Its main website and helpline numbers did not load for us on audit day, so use the contact details printed on the consumer's bill.
- Who handles your file: the Executive Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) of the consumer's area is the nodal officer for rooftop solar services.
Who qualifies for net metering in Tamil Nadu
The rules that decide the scheme are in the TNERC generic tariff order for grid interactive solar PV systems (Order No. 8 of 2021, dated 22 October 2021), as summarised in TANGEDCO's own guidelines. The scheme depends on the consumer category, not on the installer.
| Consumer | Scheme | Capacity rule | What the customer gets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic (LT), new connection registered after 22 Oct 2021 | Net metering (or net feed-in by choice) | Up to sanctioned load | Exports offset imports unit for unit; surplus carries forward to the next bill |
| Other LT categories except huts and agriculture | Net feed-in only | Up to sanctioned load, maximum 999 kW | Exports credited at the feed-in tariff, imports billed at retail tariff |
| HT consumers | Net feed-in; gross metering for 151 to 999 kW | Up to sanctioned or contracted demand, maximum 999 kW | Feed-in tariff for exports; HT files go to the Chief Engineer (NCES), Chennai |
| Consumers with pending arrears | Not eligible | Not applicable | Clear dues first |
Which route: Tamil Nadu portal or PM Surya Ghar
Subsidy projects run on two portals in sequence. The central PM Surya Ghar process comes first on pmsuryaghar.gov.in (registration, vendor selection, subsidy claim). The Tamil Nadu portal then handles the utility file: it has a TNPDCL reference number generation step and an option to update applicant details from the PM Surya Ghar application. Non-subsidy projects go straight to the Tamil Nadu portal under Apply for other than PMSGY Scheme. The central subsidy is ₹30,000 per kW up to 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 (pmsuryaghar.gov.in). Our PM Surya Ghar application process and empanelled vendor guides cover the national side.
Tamil Nadu top-up. The state portal now advertises an extra state subsidy of up to ₹22,000 (shown as ₹5,000, ₹10,000 or ₹22,000 by system size) on top of the central ₹78,000, paid by direct benefit transfer and processed by TEDA after the central subsidy is credited. We could not confirm the government order or the eligibility cut-off, so read the conditions on the portal before you promise it in a quote. See also state top-up subsidies for PM Surya Ghar.
This ladder is our EPC-side framing of the official process. The steps and the working-day limits come from TANGEDCO's suggested operating procedure (Annexure I of its December 2021 guidelines), which was written for the subsidy scheme. Treat the limits as maximums the utility itself publishes, not guarantees.
-
1
Check the service connection before you quote
Confirm the licensee name on the latest bill, the service connection number, the sanctioned load, the tariff category and that no arrears are pending. The name on the bill should match the applicant. Quote only up to the sanctioned load.
-
2
Apply on the portal
File on tnebltd.gov.in/usrp, with subsidy or without. Pay the registration fee online or as the portal directs. Subsidy projects register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in first. The utility acknowledges the application within about 2 working days under its suggested procedure.
-
3
Feasibility and approval
The licensee checks the transformer, feeder and sanctioned load and issues a letter of approval. The suggested limit is 15 working days from submission. If the answer is no, deficiencies should be communicated so the consumer can fix them.
-
4
Install, test and get the safety certificate
Install exactly what was approved. Where it applies, the Chief Electrical Inspector (CEIG) inspects and issues a safety certificate. Upload the net meter agreement, plant photo and DCR details on the portal for subsidy files.
-
5
Meter, inspection and commissioning
Inform the utility when the system is ready. The utility inspects, installs the bidirectional meter and commissions. The suggested limit is 15 to 20 working days after the safety approval, and billing should follow within about 30 days of synchronisation.
Watch out. Running a solar plant in parallel with the grid without approval can lead to disconnection after 3 days notice, and a later application can be placed at the bottom of the list (TANGEDCO guidelines for Order No. 8 of 2021, General clause 12). Do not energise before commissioning.
The official acknowledgement format lists the uploads below. The portal form can ask for more, so build your checklist from the live form and treat this as the minimum.
| Document | Why it is needed | Check before upload |
|---|---|---|
| Latest electricity bill | Shows service connection number, name, category and sanctioned load | Name and number match the application exactly |
| Proof of payment of registration fee | Part of the acknowledgement | Receipt shows the application, not another service |
| Ownership or lease deed | Required for ground-mounted systems per the acknowledgement format | Name matches the applicant or an authorisation is attached |
| Layout of premises, meter location and service line | Required for gross metering | Only for gross-metered HT or generator cases |
| Declaration and application form (Annexure B and C) | Applicant details, proposed AC capacity, inverter make, scheme chosen | AC capacity is the inverter output, not the DC array size |
| Inverter details | Form asks for make, type, capacity and automatic isolation protection | Datasheet shows anti-islanding protection (see anti-islanding) |
| Single line diagram and site photos | Prepared by the installer for feasibility and inspection | See our SLD entry and site survey checklist |
Fees, charges and timelines
| Item | Amount or rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee, LT up to 20 kW | ₹500 | TNERC Order 8 of 2021 as summarised by TANGEDCO |
| Registration fee, LT above 20 kW up to 150 kW | ₹500 for the first 20 kW plus ₹100 for every further 20 kW or part | Same |
| Registration fee, HT | ₹5,000 (above 150 kW up to 500 kW); ₹10,000 (above 500 kW to 999 kW) | Same |
| Generation meter | Required for systems above 10 kW, at the applicant's cost; up to 10 kW, generation is assessed at 21% CUF or the inverter reading, whichever is lower | Same |
| Network charge on generated units | Charged on total units generated under net metering and net feed-in; domestic consumers up to 10 kW pay 20% of it | Same |
Export credit. Under net metering, exported units are deducted from imported units, surplus carries to the next bill, and credit left at the end of the settlement period (31 March) lapses. Under net feed-in, the order set feed-in tariffs of ₹3.61, ₹3.37 and ₹3.10 per kWh for 1 to 10 kW, 11 to 150 kW and 151 to 999 kW, for a control period that ended on 31 March 2023. Check the current rate before you quote. Our export, import and banking guide explains the maths.
Timelines. These are the maximum working days in TANGEDCO's suggested operating procedure (subsidy scheme). They are not an assurance for any single file.
| Stage | Suggested maximum (working days) |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgement of application | 2 |
| Site verification, feasibility and letter of approval | 15 |
| Metering agreement | 15 to 20 |
| Inspection by CEIG, if applicable | 15 to 20, then 5 to 10 for the safety certificate |
| DISCOM inspection, meter installation and commissioning | 15 to 20 after CEIG approval |
| Billing process after synchronisation | 30 |
How to check status and escalate
Check status. Use the Application Status menu on the Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal, by application number or by mobile number. We could not capture the portal's stage labels on audit day, so note the exact label your file shows and log it against your own stage in your CRM.
Escalate in this order.
- Write to the section office and the Executive Engineer (O&M), who is the nodal officer, quoting the application number and the date you submitted. Keep the acknowledgement.
- If nothing moves, file a complaint with the utility's Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum. Under Section 42 of the Electricity Act, 2003, every distribution licensee must have one.
- If the forum order does not satisfy the consumer, appeal to the Electricity Ombudsman, which sits with TNERC. Check the current address and time limits on the TNERC website before filing.
- For subsidy files, raise the central subsidy part on pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
Your own file record is the main thing that wins these. For the national list of causes see net metering rejection reasons.
What installers get wrong in Tamil Nadu
- Quoting net metering for a commercial customer. Other LT categories are on net feed-in. The savings maths is different, and the network charge applies in full.
- Selling above the sanctioned load. The cap is the sanctioned load. A 3 kW quote on a 2 kW connection needs a load enhancement first.
- Ignoring the network charge. It applies to generated units, not only exports, so it reduces the customer's saving even on net metering.
- Filing with pending arrears. Consumers with arrears are not eligible under the order.
- Energising before commissioning. Unapproved parallel operation can trigger disconnection.
- Sizing by DC watts. Capacity is reckoned on the AC side, and exports above the sanctioned plant capacity can be treated as inadvertent injection and not paid.
- Using the old portal. Many older guides send you to the MNRE rooftop portal. The live routes are the Tamil Nadu portal and pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
Regulatory watch: what may change
REGULATORY WATCH, CHECKED 14 OCT 2026
- TNERC draft GISS Regulations, 2024. TNERC published a draft to replace its 2021 regulations, with comments invited until 15 July 2024. It proposed exempting systems up to 10 kW from a technical feasibility study, with sanction by the section officer within 10 days of registration. We could not confirm that a final version was notified, so the 2021 framework in this guide is what we found in force.
- Draft Rights of Consumers amendment rules (12 Mar 2026 draft). A national draft that proposes, among other things, a net metering charge above 5 kW. Its status is unverified. Do not quote it to customers.
- Tariff revisions. Feed-in tariffs and network charges are revised in TNERC tariff orders. Recheck them each financial year.
How QuickEstimate fits a Tamil Nadu EPC
A Tamil Nadu file has more branches than most states: net metering or net feed-in, subsidy or non-subsidy, LT or HT, state top-up or not. The quote has to carry those choices before the customer signs. The proposal generator builds a branded solar proposal with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy worked out, and the quotation system keeps your sizing and pricing consistent from one quote to the next. The solar CRM lets you track each application against the five steps above, record the status label you see on the portal, and set follow-up reminders per file. If you want to see it with your own Tamil Nadu projects, book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What is TNPDCL, and is it the same as TANGEDCO?
TNPDCL (Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited) is the distribution company that took over TANGEDCO's distribution business when TANGEDCO was split into generation, distribution and green-energy companies in 2024. Rooftop solar applicants still meet the old name on bills, forms and the official Tamil Nadu solar portal, so both names are in use. Confirm the licensee name on the consumer's latest bill before you file.
Where do I apply for rooftop solar net metering in Tamil Nadu?
Residential and other low-tension rooftop applications are filed on the Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal at tnebltd.gov.in/usrp, using the Apply with subsidy option for PM Surya Ghar projects or the Apply for other than PMSGY option for non-subsidy projects. Subsidy projects are first registered on pmsuryaghar.gov.in. High-tension applications go to the Chief Engineer, Non-Conventional Energy Sources, in Chennai.
Who gets net metering and who gets net feed-in in Tamil Nadu?
Under TNERC Order No. 8 of 2021, domestic consumers registered after 22 October 2021 can have net metering up to their sanctioned load, and they may also choose net feed-in. All other low-tension categories, except huts and agriculture, are on net feed-in, where exports are credited at the feed-in tariff rather than offset unit for unit.
What does a Tamil Nadu net metering customer get for surplus units?
Under net metering, exported units are deducted from imported units, any surplus carries to the next bill, and TANGEDCO's summary of the order says leftover credit lapses at the end of the settlement period on 31 March. Under net feed-in, exports are valued at the feed-in tariff, which the order set at ₹3.61, ₹3.37 and ₹3.10 per kWh for 1 to 10 kW, 11 to 150 kW and 151 to 999 kW. Those rates were set for a control period ending 31 March 2023, so confirm the current rate with TNPDCL.
How much does the application cost?
The registration fee under the TNERC order is ₹500 for low-tension systems up to 20 kW, plus ₹100 for every further 20 kW or part of it up to 150 kW. High-tension fees are ₹5,000 for above 150 kW up to 500 kW and ₹10,000 for above 500 kW up to 999 kW. Meter, generation-meter and safety-certificate costs are separate, so confirm them with the section office.
How long does TNPDCL net metering take?
TANGEDCO's suggested operating procedure for the subsidy scheme lists maximum working days per step: 15 for site verification and approval, 15 to 20 for the agreement, 15 to 20 for inspection and meter installation after the safety certificate, and 30 for billing after synchronisation. Real timelines depend on your section office, so quote ranges to customers and track every stage.
How do I check my Tamil Nadu rooftop solar application status?
Open the Tamil Nadu Solar Roof Top Portal at tnebltd.gov.in/usrp and use the Application Status menu with either the application number or the mobile number. If the status does not move, contact the Executive Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) of the consumer's area, who is the nodal officer for rooftop solar services.
Is there a Tamil Nadu state subsidy on top of PM Surya Ghar?
The official Tamil Nadu portal currently advertises a state top-up of up to ₹22,000 on top of the ₹78,000 central subsidy, for up to ₹1,00,000 in total, paid by direct benefit transfer. The portal lists the top-up as ₹5,000, ₹10,000 or ₹22,000 by system size. Check the cut-off date and eligibility conditions on the portal, as they can change.
Want to put this into practice?
Quickest Solar CRM gives you everything in this article, proposal automation, lead capture, WhatsApp follow-up, built for Indian solar EPCs.
Start free