UPPCL does not approve your net metering file. The distribution company (DISCOM) that supplies your customer does, under rules set by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC). Read the DISCOM name off the electricity bill, apply through the UPPCL net metering link on the UPNEDA rooftop portal (and the national PM Surya Ghar portal for subsidy work), then keep a written follow-up trail with the subdivision. This guide walks that route for installers and shows where UP files usually stall.
Updated 14 Oct 2026. Last verified 14 Oct 2026 against UPERC's notified regulations page and the UPNEDA portal. Items we could not confirm are marked "confirm with the DISCOM".
Key takeaway
Direct answer. In Uttar Pradesh, net metering is governed by the UPERC Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System (Gross/Net Metering) Regulations, 2019, as amended in 2022, 2023 and 2025. The licensee that serves the customer (MVVNL, PVVNL, PuVVNL, DVVNL, KESCO or NPCL) processes the file. Systems can be 1 kWp up to 2,000 kWp, and not more than the sanctioned load. Net metering is limited to listed consumer categories; other consumers use net billing or gross metering.
For other states and the national process, see the DISCOM approval process overview and the DISCOM list for India. For the UP market itself, see our Uttar Pradesh installer guide.
Official links for UP net metering
Many people land here looking for a portal or login rather than a process. These are the official starting points. Use the DISCOM's own site and your bill for anything specific to one consumer.
UPNEDA rooftop portal
State portal for rooftop solar applications, "Track Application Status", firm empanelment and the "Apply For Net Metering" link to UPPCL's net metering system.
PM Surya Ghar national portal
National route for the central subsidy: select your state and DISCOM, register, apply, record installation and net meter details.
UPERC regulations
The notified 2019 regulations and the three amendments are listed on the Commission's "Notified" page.
Helplines and offices
UPNEDA portal helpline +91-9415609078 and PM Surya Ghar helpline 155243, both as printed on the UPNEDA portal home page. For a consumer's own file, use the toll-free number on the electricity bill and the subdivision office.
Note. UPPCL (uppcl.org) is the parent company and lists all the DISCOMs. UPNEDA handles vendor empanelment and the state rooftop portal. Neither of them replaces the DISCOM subdivision, which decides the file.
Which DISCOM handles your customer
UPERC's 2023 amendment names six distribution licensees in Uttar Pradesh: MVVNL, PVVNL, PuVVNL, DVVNL, KESCO and NPCL. The customer's bill header shows the right one. Filing with the wrong licensee is an avoidable first-week loss.
| Licensee | Broad area of supply | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PVVNL (Paschimanchal) | Western UP, with headquarters in Meerut | Bill header and subdivision name |
| DVVNL (Dakshinanchal) | Agra region and south-west UP | Some Agra areas are served by a private franchisee, so read the bill |
| MVVNL (Madhyanchal) | Lucknow and central UP, including Bareilly | Bill header and subdivision name |
| PuVVNL (Purvanchal) | Eastern UP, including Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur | Bill header and subdivision name |
| KESCO | Kanpur city | Separate company from the five UPPCL subsidiaries |
| NPCL | Greater Noida | A private licensee with its own process; confirm before filing |
Area descriptions are broad. Confirm the exact area of supply on the DISCOM's own site or the customer's bill. Reports in 2025 said UP was exploring privatisation or a partnership model for PuVVNL and DVVNL; we could not confirm the current status, so check for changed contacts before filing.
Who qualifies under UPERC's rules
Eligibility in UP depends on the consumer category, not just the roof. UPERC's 2023 amendment defines the net metering scheme for metered domestic consumers (LMV-1) and agricultural consumers (LMV-5). It also extends net metering to public institutions (LMV-4A, except LMV-4A(c)), private research institutes, schools and colleges (LMV-4B), and similar institutions in the HV-1 category. Other consumers can still install rooftop solar under net billing (net feed-in) or gross metering, as set out in the 2022 amendment.
1 to 2,000kWp
Rooftop capacity range
Not above 100% of sanctioned load. Source: UPNEDA FAQ summarising the UPERC regulations
10kW
No State Electrical Inspector NOC up to this size
Source: UPNEDA FAQ
₹78,000max
PM Surya Ghar central subsidy, 3 kW
₹30,000 per kW up to 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the third kW. Source: pmsuryaghar.gov.in
Size to sanctioned load first. A customer with a 2 kW sanctioned load needs a load enhancement before you install 3 kWp. Our net metering vs gross metering guide explains how the three arrangements differ, and the net metering and gross metering glossary entries give the short definitions.
The UPPCL 5-step approval ladder
Every UP file moves through the same five steps. The times are not fixed by us. The national rules cap some of them (next section), and the rest depend on the circle.
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1
Check the licensee, load and category
Read the DISCOM off the bill, compare proposed kWp with the sanctioned load, and confirm the consumer category is eligible for net metering.
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2
Apply and upload documents
File the net metering application through the UPPCL link on the UPNEDA portal. For PM Surya Ghar work, register the consumer and application on the national portal as well.
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3
Feasibility
The DISCOM checks the connection and transformer capacity. For rooftop systems above 10 kW, the Ministry of Power rules require this study within 15 days, and a missed deadline means the proposal is presumed feasible.
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4
Install, then inspect
Install only after feasibility or acceptance. Submit the installation details, and the DISCOM tests the system. Above 10 kW, a State Electrical Inspector NOC applies.
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5
Meter and commissioning
The bi-directional meter is installed and tested, the interconnection agreement is signed and the system is commissioned. Upload the commissioning proof on the national portal to start subsidy processing.
Documents you need
The UPNEDA portal lists the documents for the state rooftop application. Net metering files at the subdivision usually ask for similar proof. Check the exact list on the form the DISCOM shows you.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Photo and Aadhaar of the beneficiary | JPG and PDF, each below 200 KB on the UPNEDA portal |
| Latest electricity bill | Shows consumer number, DISCOM, sanctioned load and category |
| Bank passbook copy | For subsidy credit, name should match |
| Technical specifications of panels and inverters | From the datasheets; see the ALMM and DCR glossary entries for subsidy projects |
| Single line diagram | See SLD; DISCOM format may differ |
| Site photographs after installation | Taken after installation, as the portal requires |
| Joint Commissioning Report and DCR report | Downloadable forms on the UPNEDA portal |
| Grid clearance or net meter installation proof from the DISCOM | A copy of the electricity bill showing the net meter is accepted on the portal |
Fast tip. Keep one folder per customer with the bill, Aadhaar, passbook and photos in the portal size limit. When the subdivision asks for a re-submission, you resend it in minutes.
Fees, tariff and what surplus power earns
The UPERC regulations, as summarised by UPNEDA, set the settlement year from 1 April to 31 March, and say credits that remain unadjusted are paid at ₹2 per unit unless the Commission notifies otherwise. We could not confirm from a primary page whether the Commission has revised that rate, so confirm it with the DISCOM before putting it in a proposal.
For gross metering, the 2025 third amendment (UP Gazette, 3 June 2025) changed Regulation 10.3(ii). "Solar Injection Compensation" is now the weighted average tariff of large solar projects of 5 MW and above, discovered through competitive bidding in the last financial year, plus a 25% incentive. If no such bid took place, the last applicable gross metering tariff continues. The rupee figure is set each year, so we do not quote one here.
Application and meter fees are set by the regulations and DISCOM schedules. We have not verified current amounts, so use the fee schedule on the DISCOM form.
₹ math. Take a home using 300 units a month on a domestic tariff. The bill depends on the slab rates and fixed charge in the current UPERC tariff order, so pull the actual bill, estimate the units a 3 kW system will offset from your own generation estimate, and price those units at the customer's slab. Then subtract the ₹78,000 central subsidy from the system cost to show payback. For the sums, use our subsidy calculation guide and banking and settlement explainer.
Timelines: what the rules say and what to confirm
Do not promise a fixed number of weeks. The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024 (Ministry of Power, February 2024) set these outer limits for rooftop solar:
- Feasibility study: within 15 days, with the result shared with the applicant. If the licensee does not decide in time, the proposal is presumed technically feasible.
- Up to 10 kW: complete applications are deemed accepted without a feasibility study, and the licensee carries out any related load increase.
- After installation: the licensee completes the connection agreement, meter installation and commissioning within 15 days of the installation certificate.
Those rules are central. UPERC's notified page lists state amendments only in 2022, 2023 and 2025, so ask the DISCOM which clause it applies when a deadline passes. Our DISCOM approval process overview compares how states handle the same limits. Real-world speed still differs between circles, so quote customers a range from your own recent files.
How to check application status
Use three places, in this order.
- UPNEDA portal: "Track Application Status" for the state rooftop application. We have not verified the portal's status labels, so copy them exactly into your CRM rather than paraphrasing.
- National portal: for PM Surya Ghar applications, the dashboard on pmsuryaghar.gov.in tracks the application reference number through each stage.
- Subdivision office: for the net metering file itself, ask the Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer for the status and note the name and date.
When a stage is overdue, escalate in writing, in this order: the Executive Engineer of the division, then the Superintending Engineer of the circle. If that fails, the Electricity Act, 2003 provides a Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and then the Electricity Ombudsman, and the regulator, UPERC, handles complaints about licensee non-compliance. For PM Surya Ghar projects, raise the issue on the national portal as well. Do not send net metering complaints to UPNEDA; it does not approve net metering.
What installers get wrong in UP
- Installing before feasibility or acceptance. If the DISCOM flags a mismatch after installation, the file goes back a stage. Above 10 kW, wait for the feasibility result.
- Filing with the wrong licensee. Read the bill header, and watch Greater Noida and Agra, where private licensees operate.
- Assuming every consumer gets net metering. Check the category (LMV-1, LMV-5 or the listed institutional categories). Others need net billing or gross metering.
- Name mismatch. The Aadhaar, the bill and the application should match. Fix the bill name through the subdivision first.
- Selling on export income. The settlement rules do not give export the retail rate. Pitch self-consumption savings.
- Skipping the written trail. An unrecorded phone call cannot be quoted when a deadline passes.
See net metering rejection reasons for the full national list, the site survey checklist for pre-filing checks, and the how to apply for net metering guide for the generic process.
Regulatory watch
Draft, not law. On 12 March 2026 the Ministry of Power issued draft Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2026 for comment. Reported proposals include a state-levied net metering charge on systems above 5 kW and optional storage mandates above 500 kW. We found no confirmation that the rules were notified, and UPERC has not published a 2026 rooftop regulation on its notified page. Until you see a gazette notification or a UPERC order, treat these as proposals and check before changing customer quotes.
How Quickest Solar CRM fits
UP installers juggle several licensees, a state portal and the national portal at the same time. Quickest Solar CRM helps with the installer side of that work, not with the DISCOM's decisions. You build the proposal with the Proposal Generator, including PM Surya Ghar subsidy. The Quotation System keeps your price list and quotes consistent across the team. The CRM tracks each project's stage so overdue follow-ups show up, and a demo will show you the flow on your own sample customer.
What to do this week
- Audit your live UP files. For each, record the licensee, application date and the stage it is at. Anything past a regulatory deadline needs a written follow-up.
- Build a contact sheet per DISCOM. Subdivision, division and circle contacts for every area you serve, taken from the DISCOM's own site.
- Re-check your proposals. Remove export income from savings claims and base payback on self-consumption. See the PM Surya Ghar application walkthrough and empanelment guide for the subsidy side, and the vendor registration guide for UPNEDA.
Compare other DISCOMs: MSEDCL, BSES Rajdhani, JVVNL, PGVCL and DGVCL.
Frequently asked questions
Which DISCOM handles my net metering application in UP?
UPERC's 2023 amendment names six distribution licensees: MVVNL, PVVNL, PuVVNL, DVVNL, KESCO and NPCL. The DISCOM name is printed on the customer's electricity bill, and that is the one to file with.
What is the maximum rooftop solar size for net metering in Uttar Pradesh?
UPNEDA's FAQ, summarising the UPERC regulations, says rooftop systems from 1 kWp up to 2,000 kWp are allowed, with peak capacity not above 100% of the sanctioned load or contract demand. Confirm any limit that applies to your category with the DISCOM.
Who is eligible for net metering in UP?
UPERC's definition covers metered domestic consumers (LMV-1) and agricultural consumers (LMV-5), plus public institutions in LMV-4A (except LMV-4A(c)), private research institutes and educational institutions in LMV-4B, and similar HV-1 institutions. Other consumers can use net billing (net feed-in) or gross metering.
What happens to surplus solar units in UP?
UPNEDA's FAQ says the settlement year runs from 1 April to 31 March and unadjusted credits are paid at ₹2 per unit. For gross metering, the 2025 third amendment sets Solar Injection Compensation at the weighted average tariff of large solar projects plus a 25% incentive. Confirm current rates with the DISCOM.
Can I apply for UPPCL net metering online?
Yes. The UPNEDA rooftop portal has an Apply For Net Metering link to UPPCL's net metering system, and PM Surya Ghar applications are made on the national portal. Some circles may still take physical submissions, so confirm with the subdivision.
How long does UPPCL net metering take?
No fixed duration is guaranteed. The Ministry of Power's 2024 rules set 15 days for the feasibility study and 15 days from installation certificate to connection, and treat complete applications up to 10 kW as accepted without a study. Ask the DISCOM to confirm the clause UP applies.
Does UPNEDA approve net metering?
No. UPNEDA runs vendor empanelment and the state rooftop portal. The DISCOM approves net metering under UPERC's regulations, so send status queries and complaints to the subdivision.
How do I escalate a stuck net metering file in UP?
Write to the Executive Engineer, then the Superintending Engineer, quoting the application number and date. After that, use the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and the Electricity Ombudsman under the Electricity Act, 2003, and raise PM Surya Ghar cases on the national portal.
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