Karnataka Rooftop Solar 2026: BESCOM Net Metering Guide
Rooftop solar in Karnataka in 2026: PM Surya Ghar subsidy, KERC export rates of ₹1.96–3.89, monthly net metering, Gruha Jyothi effect and BESCOM tariff.
Short answer: Karnataka homes get the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy (up to ₹78,000), with no state top-up found. Net metering is settled monthly: net export is paid at ₹3.89 per unit without subsidy, but only ₹1.96–2.58 if you take the subsidy (KERC, from 25 August 2026). Residential power is a flat ₹5.80 per unit plus surcharge and tax, and Gruha Jyothi free units can shrink savings. So size strictly to your paid monthly use (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, up to 500 kW (3 kW per house) |
| State top-up | None found |
Apply on pmsuryaghar.gov.in with a vendor registered for BESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM, MESCOM or CESC Mysore. See how to apply.
Residential tariff (FY 2026-27)
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Energy | ₹5.80 per unit, flat (no slabs since 2023) |
| Fixed charge | ₹150 per kW of sanctioned load per month |
| P&G surcharge | ₹0.35 per unit |
| Electricity tax | about 9% (secondary source, verify) |
Value of a saved unit ≈ (₹5.80 + ₹0.35) × 1.09 ≈ ₹6.70. That is lower than in Maharashtra or Kerala's upper slabs, so paybacks are longer, but still attractive.
Gruha Jyothi
Eligible households get free units up to about their average consumption plus 10%, capped at 200 units a month (check current scheme rules). If your bill is already near zero, solar adds little. If you use more than your entitlement, or are not covered, solar saves on the units you pay for. Size to those units.
Net metering and export rates
| Item | Karnataka (KERC) |
|---|---|
| Framework | KERC DSPV reforms (from 1 Jul 2025) and generic tariff order effective 25 Aug 2026 (valid to 30 Jun 2029) |
| Domestic category | 1–10 kW (larger domestic follows general DSPV rules) |
| Capacity | Up to sanctioned load |
| Settlement | Monthly; net export paid at the PPA tariff |
| Export rate, no subsidy | ₹3.89/unit |
| Export rate, with PM Surya Ghar CFA | ₹1.96 (≤2 kW), ₹2.14 (>2–3 kW), ₹2.58 (>3 kW) |
| Tenure | Rate locked for the 25-year PPA for projects in the window |
| PPA | Not needed for LT domestic up to 150 kW (2025 reforms) |
| Battery | Not mandated |
Subsidy or higher export rate?
Take a 3 kW system: - Subsidy route: ₹78,000 upfront; exports paid at ₹2.14. - No subsidy: ₹0 upfront; exports paid at ₹3.89.
The difference is ₹1.75 per exported unit. To make up ₹78,000 you would need to export about 44,000 units over the PPA, roughly 1,800 a year, which is more than a correctly sized 3 kW home system exports. So for normal homes, take the subsidy and size to use.
Worked example: 2 kW in Bengaluru
- Use: 250 units a month, not covered by Gruha Jyothi
- Generation: 2 kW × 1,498 ≈ 3,000 units a year (about 250 a month on average)
- Saving at about ₹6.70 per unit on units used ≈ ₹18,000–20,000 a year (monthly settlement means some March surplus is paid at ₹1.96 while July shortfall is billed at the full rate)
- Price about ₹1.1–1.4 lakh, minus ₹60,000 subsidy
- Simple payback ≈ 3–4 years
Our engineering review found that a hybrid system with a 10 kWh battery in Bengaluru had a very long payback, mainly because power is cheap and an oversized array exported half its output at ₹2.58. In Karnataka especially, do not oversize, and buy a battery for backup, not savings.
Practical points for Karnataka
- Elevated structures: like Maharashtra, Karnataka residential practice often raises the front legs about 1 m so the terrace stays usable.
- Good sun: Hubballi, Mysuru and Belagavi model above 1,500 units per kW per year; Bengaluru about 1,498.
- Monsoon: July is about 60% of March in Bengaluru; monthly settlement means the July bill rises.
- Commercial: LT-3 energy rates differ across sources (₹6.80 or ₹8.92). Check the bill.
What to double-check
- Gruha Jyothi entitlement and actual paid units
- Export rate applicable to the system size and subsidy status
- Electricity tax % and any true-up line on the bill
- For commercial, the LT-3 energy rate
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | 1,498 | 1.6 kW | 2.4 kW | 4.0 kW |
| Hubballi | 1,524 | 1.6 kW | 2.4 kW | 3.9 kW |
| Mysuru | 1,523 | 1.6 kW | 2.4 kW | 3.9 kW |
| Belagavi | 1,511 | 1.6 kW | 2.4 kW | 4.0 kW |
| Kalaburagi | 1,502 | 1.6 kW | 2.4 kW | 4.0 kW |
Going solar in Karnataka: 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 BESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM, MESCOM or CESC Mysore 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.
Karnataka tip: write the Gruha Jyothi entitlement and the export rate (with or without subsidy) on the proposal, so the customer sees exactly where savings come from.
Talk to Sunlectric
Installers in Karnataka: we supply DCR modules, inverters and BOS from Pune and partner warehouses with freight quoted to your PIN. WhatsApp +91 89567 89307 (wa.me/918956789307) for today's landed price. Homeowners: send your BESCOM bill and we will check if solar makes sense with your Gruha Jyothi entitlement. Model Karnataka's export rates in Sunlectric Studio.
Related: net metering explained, do I need a battery.
Sources
- KERC DSPV generic tariff (₹3.89; ₹1.96/2.14/2.58 with CFA): Energetica India; DSPV reforms: Energetica India (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tariff: KERC Tariff Order 2025; The DISCOM Bill, Karnataka; Deccan Herald on fixed charges
- PM Surya Ghar CFA: pmsuryaghar.gov.in
- Yields: Global Solar Atlas, fetched 19 Oct 2026
- Sunlectric Studio engineering review, Oct 2026 (Bengaluru hybrid case)
Questions people ask
What export rate does BESCOM pay for rooftop solar in 2026?
KERC's generic tariff effective 25 August 2026 sets ₹3.89 per unit for domestic 1–10 kW systems without capital subsidy. Systems that take the PM Surya Ghar subsidy get ₹1.96 (up to 2 kW), ₹2.14 (2–3 kW) or ₹2.58 (above 3 kW). Check current notification.
Is net metering monthly in Karnataka?
Yes. Net export in a month is paid at the applicable tariff each month, so summer surplus does not carry into the monsoon. Size to your average monthly use.
Does Gruha Jyothi make rooftop solar pointless?
Not always. If Gruha Jyothi already covers your use, solar saves little. If you use more than your free entitlement, or are not eligible, solar still saves on every unit you pay for.
Should I take the subsidy or the higher export rate?
For a system sized to your use, the subsidy almost always wins because few units are exported. The higher export rate only matters if you deliberately export a lot.