In India, the payment for excess electricity generated by solar panels and fed back to the grid varies depending on the state and the specific net metering policy in place. There isn’t a single nationwide rate.
Generally, the compensation for surplus solar energy in India falls under these mechanisms:
- Net Metering: Most common in residential installations, where excess units are credited to your account and can be used to offset future consumption. The value is typically equivalent to the retail electricity rate.
- Gross Metering: Some states have moved to gross metering, where the exported electricity is purchased at a lower rate than the retail rate (often at the Average Power Purchase Cost or APPC).
- Feed-in Tariffs: Some states offer specific feed-in tariffs for solar energy, which can range from approximately ₹2 to ₹4 per kWh, depending on the state policy.
State-specific variations are significant. For example:
- Maharashtra may offer around ₹2.25-3.50 per unit
- Tamil Nadu might provide ₹2.08-3.11 per unit
- Gujarat’s rates tend to be in the ₹1.50-2.25 range
The exact rates change periodically based on regulatory commission decisions and are usually set for specific periods. For the most current and accurate information for your specific location, I’d recommend contacting your local electricity distribution company (DISCOM) or state renewable energy development agency.