DISCOM inspection and net meter delayed? Rooftop solar approval timelines and what to do

If your rooftop system is installed but the DISCOM has not inspected it or fitted the net meter, the panels may sit idle or export without credit, and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy cannot be released. The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, as amended in February 2024, deem complete applications up to 10 kW accepted without a feasibility study and give DISCOMs 15 days to commission rooftop systems after installation, and your State Electricity Regulatory Commission's regulations fix the detailed days and any compensation. Start by finding out which step is pending on the national portal, then complain in writing to the DISCOM's rooftop cell with your application number, and escalate to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) if the DISCOM does not act. This guide explains the common causes, how to follow up and what to keep on record.

Where delays happen

Step 1: Identify the pending step

Log into the national portal with your own credentials and note the status and the date it last changed. Ask your vendor what has been uploaded and when. Many "DISCOM delays" turn out to be missing uploads by the vendor, which you can fix quickly.

Step 2: Fix objections promptly

If the inspection report lists objections, such as missing earthing, no AC isolator, wrong labelling or a mismatch between installed and approved capacity, get the vendor to correct them in writing and ask for re-inspection. Keep photos of the corrections.

Step 3: Complain in writing

Write to the DISCOM's rooftop solar or net metering cell, using its official portal, email or the subdivision office. Include:

• consumer number and portal application number;
• system capacity, vendor name and installation date;
• the pending step and how long it has been pending;
• what you want: inspection, net meter installation, commissioning on the portal or billing conversion;
• copies of the installation documents and any earlier complaint numbers.

Ask for a complaint or docket number and keep it. Many DISCOMs also take complaints on the common electricity helpline 1912 and their apps.

Step 4: Know your state's timelines

The central consumer rules set the framework, and SERC regulations translate it into days for each step. Look up your SERC's rooftop solar or net metering regulations and the standards of performance regulations, which may provide compensation for delays. If the DISCOM has missed the timeline, say so in your complaint and cite the regulation.

Step 5: Escalate

If the DISCOM does not resolve the matter within its own time limit, or rejects it without good reason:

1. File before the CGRF set up under Section 42(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003. Your SERC's website lists the forums and the procedure.
2. If unhappy with the CGRF's order, appeal to the Electricity Ombudsman under Section 42(6) within the time allowed in your state's regulations.
3. For subsidy-side issues, use the national portal's grievance option.

See how to complain: CGRF, Ombudsman and consumer helpline.

Worked example (illustrative)

A 3 kW system is installed on 5 March. The vendor uploads details on 7 March. By 15 April there has been no inspection.

1. The owner checks the portal: "Installation details submitted; inspection pending".
2. On 16 April the owner emails the DISCOM rooftop cell with documents and gets docket number 12345.
3. No response in the period stated in the SERC regulation, so on 10 May the owner files before the CGRF, attaching the docket and timeline.
4. The DISCOM inspects on 20 May; the net meter is installed on 28 May; the portal shows commissioning on 2 June.

The owner keeps all dates in a simple log. If the regulations provide compensation for delay, the CGRF can be asked to consider it.

While you wait

• Do not let the system export without a net meter unless your DISCOM confirms it is allowed; unmetered exports earn nothing and may breach connection rules.
• Ask the vendor whether the inverter can be set to zero export temporarily so you use solar for your own load, if the DISCOM permits.
• Keep paying your normal bills to avoid disconnection.

Mistakes that cause delays

• Installing before feasibility approval.
• Installing more capacity than approved or than your sanctioned load without enhancement.
• Missing DCR certificate or photos in the upload.
• Name on the connection differing from the applicant.

Back to the pillar guide: rooftop solar mistakes and official sources. Related: net metering vs gross metering, solar subsidy not received.

Frequently asked questions

Can the DISCOM refuse my rooftop connection?

It can raise technical objections, for example on transformer capacity or safety, but must give reasons. You can contest an unreasonable refusal before the CGRF.

Who pays for the net meter?

That depends on your state: some DISCOMs supply it and charge a fee, others require the consumer to supply a tested meter. Ask for the official charge schedule.

My first bill after net metering is wrong. What now?

Check that it shows import, export and net units. If not, complain to the DISCOM's billing section with photos of the meter's import and export registers.

Does a delay affect my subsidy?

The CFA is released after commissioning, so a delay at the DISCOM delays the subsidy too.

Official sources

• Ministry of Power — Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
• Forum of Regulators — links to your SERC's regulations
• PM Surya Ghar national portal — application status and grievances
• Your DISCOM's website — rooftop cell, charges and complaint portal