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Ministry of Power Pushes States to Adopt Digital Net-Metering Agreements and Waive Rooftop Charges

The Ministry of Power (MoP) has directed all states and union territories to eliminate separate net-metering contracts for residential rooftop solar consumers and instead adopt a digital integrated agreement within the online application system. Citing sub-rule 10 of rule 4 of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the ministry emphasized that any agreement between a distribution licensee and consumer must be part of the online form, avoiding the need for standalone contracts.

Several regions — including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Puducherry — have already adopted digital forms for net-metering through the national rooftop solar portal. The ministry has also advised utilities to waive application, registration, net-meter testing, and commissioning fees, utilizing incentives from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) instead. So far, 17 states and UTs have implemented these waivers.

This directive supports the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which targets 10 million rooftop solar installations (30 GW) by 2027. To date, around 2 million systems have been installed, with nearly half of the households receiving zero electricity bills and many earning from excess power sales. In Q2 2025, India added 1,618 MW of rooftop solar capacity — a 121% YoY growth, led by the residential sector contributing over 74% of new capacity.