Maharashtra Rooftop Solar 2026: Subsidy, Net Metering

Short answer: in Maharashtra, homes get the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy (up to ₹78,000), and low-consumption and BPL homes may get extra under the state SMART scheme. MSEDCL offers net metering up to your sanctioned load with annual settlement, and pays ₹2.82 per surplus unit in FY 2026-27. Systems above 10 kW pay a grid support charge on gross generation. Because MSEDCL's upper slabs are expensive, home paybacks here are among the fastest in India (check current notification).

Subsidy in Maharashtra

There is no state top-up for normal residential customers above these groups. Apply through pmsuryaghar.gov.in with a registered vendor; see how to apply.

MSEDCL residential tariff (FY 2026-27)

• Fixed charge: ₹130 per month (single-phase), ₹435 (three-phase)
• Electricity duty: 16% on the bill
• FAC: notified monthly (recently near zero)

These FY27 rates come from secondary sources after several court-driven revisions of the MERC order (medium confidence). Compare with the energy and wheeling lines on your latest bill.

For a home at 300 units, each unit solar removes from the top slab is worth about ₹14.4 (₹12.40 × 1.16); at 500 units the top-slab unit is worth about ₹19. Once solar covers all your use, the cheaper first 100 units are offset too, so the average value is lower than the top-slab figure. That is why Maharashtra homes in upper slabs often see paybacks of around 2–4 years with subsidy. Note that MERC's multi-year tariff path trends some residential rates lower towards FY 2029-30, so do not assume big future hikes.

Net metering rules

The grid support charge was triggered after the state's rooftop capacity crossed a set threshold. For homes up to 10 kW it does not apply. For housing societies and businesses above 10 kW it noticeably cuts savings, so model it.

Worked example: 3 kW in Pune

• Use: 300 units/month (3,600 a year)
• Generation: 3 kW × 1,513 ≈ 4,540 units a year
• Bill energy part removed: per month (100 × ₹5.56 + 200 × ₹12.40) × 1.16 duty ≈ ₹3,520, so about ₹42,200 a year
• Surplus: about 940 units × ₹2.82 ≈ ₹2,650
• Year-1 benefit ≈ ₹44,900 (fixed charge stays)
• Net cost after ₹78,000 subsidy on about ₹1.8 lakh: ≈ ₹1.02 lakh
• Simple payback ≈ 2.3 years

A 2.5 kW system here saves almost as much for less money, because the extra units from 3 kW are exported at ₹2.82. Ask your installer to compare.

Practical points for Maharashtra roofs

• Elevated structures: residential practice in Maharashtra is to raise the front legs about 1 m so the terrace stays usable.
• Single-phase limit: MSEDCL generally accepts a single-phase inverter on a three-phase connection up to about 5 kW; above that, use a three-phase inverter.
• Monsoon: Pune and Mumbai output in July is about half of March. Annual settlement carries summer surplus into the rains.
• Coastal Konkan: higher wind speeds and salt air need heavier galvanising and stainless fasteners.

What to double-check before quoting

1. Energy and wheeling rates on the customer's current bill
2. This month's FAC
3. For commercial: ToSE, kVAh billing above 20 kW, ToD solar-hour rebate
4. Grid support charge for systems above 10 kW
5. SMART eligibility for low-consumption homes

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.

Going solar in Maharashtra: step by step

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Pick a registered vendor for MSEDCL on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and get an itemised quote. Our installer checklist lists what to ask.
4. 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.
5. Install with DCR modules, a matched inverter, a structure designed for local wind, proper earthing, a lightning arrester and SPDs.
6. Net meter and inspection. The DISCOM tests and fits the bi-directional meter and records commissioning.
7. Claim the subsidy by submitting bank details on the portal.

Maharashtra tip: ask the installer to confirm whether your system will cross 10 kW. Up to 10 kW there is no grid support charge; above it, the charge on gross generation changes the payback, and a generation meter may be needed.

Talk to Sunlectric

Sunlectric is based in Wagholi, Pune, and ships modules, inverters, structure and BOS the same day from our Pune hub (order by 2 pm), with a Nagpur hub for Vidarbha. Homeowners: WhatsApp your MSEDCL bill to +91 89567 89307 (wa.me/918956789307) for a size check and an installer near you. Installers: see for installers and model MSEDCL bills in Sunlectric Studio.

Related: net metering explained, solar for 300 units, housing societies.

Sources

• MSEDCL tariff: MSEDCL tariff details; MERC Case 75 of 2025 order (re-issued 25 Mar 2026); The DISCOM Bill, MSEDCL (accessed Oct 2026)
• FAC: MSEDCL FAC page
• Surplus rate ₹2.82 for FY27: Saur Energy
• Grid support charge and banking: pwrnxt, MERC MYT order
• SMART scheme: Powerline, 9 Oct 2025
• PM Surya Ghar CFA: pmsuryaghar.gov.in
• Pune yield: Global Solar Atlas, fetched 19 Oct 2026