Gujarat Rooftop Solar 2026: Subsidy, Net Metering, Tariff
Rooftop solar in Gujarat in 2026: PM Surya Ghar subsidy, GUVNL and Torrent tariffs, FPPAS, ₹2.25 surplus rate, net metering and draft DRES rules.
Short answer: Gujarat homes get the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy (up to ₹78,000); no separate state top-up is currently in force. Net metering is available up to 1 MW, with surplus paid each billing cycle at ₹2.25 per unit. Slab rates look low, but the FPPAS fuel charge adds roughly ₹2.5–3 per unit, and Gujarat's sunshine (about 1,550–1,630 units per kW a year) is among India's best, so solar pays back well. Draft DRES Regulations 2026 may change some terms once notified (check current notification).
Subsidy
| Scheme | Amount |
|---|---|
| PM Surya Ghar, residential | ₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW, ₹18,000 for the 3rd kW, max ₹78,000 |
| PM Surya Ghar, housing societies | ₹18,000/kW for common facilities, up to 500 kW (3 kW per house) |
| State top-up | None found (SURYA Gujarat ended) |
Apply on pmsuryaghar.gov.in with a vendor registered for your DISCOM (UGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL, DGVCL or Torrent Power). Steps: PM Surya Ghar application.
Residential tariffs (FY 2026-27)
GUVNL DISCOMs (UGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL, DGVCL), urban:
| Units per month | ₹/unit |
|---|---|
| 0–50 | 3.05 |
| 51–100 | 3.50 |
| 101–250 | 4.15 |
| above 250 | 5.20 |
Rural rates are ₹0.30–0.40 lower. Fixed charge: ₹15 / 25 / 45 / 70 per month for loads up to 2 / 4 / 6 kW / above 6 kW. Electricity duty about 15% urban and 7.5% rural (secondary source, verify).
Torrent Power, Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar:
| Units per month | ₹/unit |
|---|---|
| 0–50 | 3.20 |
| 51–200 | 3.95 |
| above 200 | 5.00 |
Fixed charge ₹25 (single-phase) or ₹65 (three-phase). Torrent Surat has its own schedule. FPPAS and duty are extra.
GERC tariff schedules effective 1 April 2026 (high confidence). The FPPAS changes often; take it from the latest bill.
Net metering rules
| Item | Gujarat |
|---|---|
| Regulation | GERC Net Metering Rooftop Solar Regulations, 2016 (amended) and Gujarat Solar Power Policy 2021 |
| Capacity | Up to 1 MW; Solar Policy 2021 allowed residential rooftop irrespective of sanctioned load (check your DISCOM's current practice) |
| Settlement | Each billing cycle; surplus paid each cycle |
| Surplus rate | ₹2.25/unit (residential) |
| Pending change | Draft GERC DRES Regulations 2026: net billing, gross metering up to 4 MW, group and virtual net metering, storage for larger consumers |
Because surplus is settled each billing cycle, summer surplus does not carry into the monsoon. Size to your average use, not your peak month.
Worked example: 2.5 kW in Ahmedabad (UGVCL urban)
- Use: 300 units a month
- Monthly bill (energy): 50 × 3.05 + 50 × 3.50 + 150 × 4.15 + 50 × 5.20 ≈ ₹1,210
- FPPAS at ₹2.75 × 300 ≈ ₹825
- With 15% duty ≈ ₹2,340 a month, about ₹28,000 a year that solar can largely remove
- Generation: 2.5 kW × 1,616 ≈ 4,040 units a year
- Price about ₹1.4–1.6 lakh, minus subsidy ₹69,000 (₹60,000 + half of ₹18,000)
- Simple payback ≈ 2.5–3.5 years
Notice how much of the saving comes from FPPAS. Models that ignore it underestimate Gujarat savings by about a third. Our Studio warns when the bill's FPPAS is missing.
Practical points for Gujarat
- Strong sun: Rajkot and Ahmedabad are among the highest-yield cities we track. A slightly smaller system covers the same use.
- Wind and coast: Saurashtra and Kutch coasts are cyclone-prone. Use heavier galvanised sections, stainless fasteners and a design checked against IS 875 (Part 3). See structure and wind.
- Dust: dry months are dusty; plan cleaning every 2–3 weeks. See cleaning and maintenance.
- Torrent vs GUVNL: confirm which utility serves the address before quoting.
What to double-check before quoting
- FPPAS on the current bill
- GUVNL DISCOM or Torrent Power
- Whether the draft DRES Regulations 2026 have been notified, and any change to net metering or net billing
- The local DISCOM's practice on sizing beyond sanctioned load
How much solar for your city
System size needed to cover a given monthly use, from long-term Global Solar Atlas yields with a 5% rooftop derate (Sunlectric Studio data, Oct 2026). Round up to whole modules and check your roof.
| City | Yield (units per kW per year) | 200 units/month | 300 units/month | 500 units/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 1,616 | 1.5 kW | 2.2 kW | 3.7 kW |
| Surat | 1,553 | 1.5 kW | 2.3 kW | 3.9 kW |
| Rajkot | 1,632 | 1.5 kW | 2.2 kW | 3.7 kW |
| Vadodara | 1,584 | 1.5 kW | 2.3 kW | 3.8 kW |
| Bhavnagar | 1,599 | 1.5 kW | 2.3 kW | 3.8 kW |
Going solar in Gujarat: step by step
- Read the bill. Note the consumer number, tariff category, sanctioned load and phase, and add up 12 months of units. See how to read your electricity bill.
- Size to use. Divide yearly units by your city's yield (table above) and round to a practical module count. Check shadow-free roof space.
- Pick a registered vendor for your GUVNL DISCOM or Torrent Power on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and get an itemised quote. Our installer checklist lists what to ask.
- Apply on the national portal before installation. Systems up to 10 kW are exempt from a technical feasibility study under the central consumer rules, and many DISCOMs give quick or deemed approval.
- Install with DCR modules, a matched inverter, a structure designed for local wind, proper earthing, a lightning arrester and SPDs.
- Net meter and inspection. The DISCOM tests and fits the bi-directional meter and records commissioning.
- Claim the subsidy by submitting bank details on the portal.
Gujarat tip: keep the latest bill's FPPAS figure in the proposal. It is often the single biggest line after energy charges, and leaving it out makes solar look worse than it is.
Talk to Sunlectric
Installers in Gujarat: we dispatch modules, inverters and BOS from Pune and through checked partner warehouses, with freight quoted to your PIN. WhatsApp +91 89567 89307 (wa.me/918956789307) for today's landed price. Homeowners: send your bill and we will check the size and connect you with an installer. Learn net-metering design in the Academy policy module.
Related: net metering explained, solar for 300 units.
Sources
- GERC tariff schedules from 1 Apr 2026: GUVNL DISCOMs; Torrent Ahmedabad; DeshGujarat, 25 Mar 2026
- Net metering and draft DRES 2026: Saur Energy; JJPV Solar guide
- PM Surya Ghar CFA: pmsuryaghar.gov.in (accessed Oct 2026)
- Yields: Global Solar Atlas, fetched 19 Oct 2026
Questions people ask
Is there a Gujarat state subsidy for rooftop solar in 2026?
The earlier SURYA Gujarat state top-up ended once PM Surya Ghar began. Homes now get the central subsidy: up to ₹78,000 for 3 kW. We found no current state top-up; check the current notification.
What does Gujarat pay for surplus solar units?
₹2.25 per unit for residential surplus, paid each billing cycle under the Gujarat Solar Policy 2021 and GERC regulations. The draft 2026 DRES regulations reportedly retain it; check once they are notified.
Why is my Gujarat bill higher than the slab rates suggest?
The fuel and power purchase price adjustment (FPPAS, shown as FPPPA charges) adds roughly ₹2.5–3 per unit and often dominates the bill. Solar saves it on every unit it offsets.
Does Torrent Power allow net metering in Ahmedabad and Surat?
Yes, Torrent Power areas follow the same Gujarat net-metering framework, with Torrent's own tariff schedule. Confirm the surplus rate and process with Torrent.