TGSPDCL Net Metering in Telangana (2026): Process and Timeline

Quick answer: Net metering swaps your regular meter for a bi-directional meter that counts power in both directions — what you draw from TGSPDCL and what your rooftop solar exports back. You are billed only on the net. For homes, the application rides along with your PM Surya Ghar application; after installation, TGSPDCL inspects and fits the meter — typically 2–5 weeks after install, 30–60 days end to end. A good installer handles every step; you never visit a section office.

Net metering is the piece of rooftop solar that most people find confusing — and it is also the piece that makes solar financially work. Without it, your panels only save money while the sun is shining and you are at home using power. With it, the grid becomes your battery. Here is how it works in Hyderabad and across Telangana, minus the jargon.

What the bi-directional meter actually does

Your rooftop system generates most of its power in the middle of the day, when many homes use the least. Without net metering, that surplus would be wasted. With it, the surplus flows into the grid: the meter records imported units (grid to home) and exported units (home to grid) separately, and TGSPDCL bills you on the difference.

A simple month for a 3kW home in Hyderabad might look like this:

Unadjusted export credits are carried forward and settled per TGSPDCL's rules, so a sunny month helps pay for a cloudy one. The goal of good system sizing — which is what a site survey is for — is to match your generation to your annual consumption so credits get used, not stockpiled.

The process in Telangana, step by step

1. Application — filed with your PM Surya Ghar application

For residential systems, you do not apply to TGSPDCL separately. Registering on pmsuryaghar.gov.in with your TGSPDCL consumer number starts both processes: the subsidy track and the DISCOM feasibility and net-metering track. Commercial systems apply to the DISCOM directly.

Tip: the name on the application must match the name on the electricity bill exactly — mismatches are the number one cause of delays.

2. Feasibility approval

TGSPDCL checks your connection, sanctioned load and local network, then approves the proposed capacity. Usually 1–3 weeks.

3. Installation by a registered vendor

Your system goes up — 1–2 days of physical work for most homes. The inverter is what talks to the grid, and it must meet the DISCOM's technical standards; this is one reason inverter brand matters more than most buyers realise.

4. Inspection and agreement

TGSPDCL inspects the installation — earthing, protections, inverter settings — and the net-metering agreement is executed. Modest application and meter charges apply and are confirmed at this stage; your installer should tell you these upfront.

5. Bi-directional meter installed and system commissioned

Your old meter is replaced with the bi-directional one, the system is switched on officially, and the commissioning certificate is generated — which is also what releases your PM Surya Ghar subsidy.

With Greentek, steps 1–5 are all handled for you — application, follow-ups, inspection coordination, agreement, meter.

Documents you will need

• Recent TGSPDCL electricity bill (consumer number and exact name)
• Identity and ownership details as required on the portal
• Bank account and cancelled cheque for the subsidy leg
• Photos of the roof if requested during feasibility

Realistic timeline in Hyderabad

Times vary by section office workload and documentation quality. Scheme and DISCOM parameters are set by the government and DISCOM and can be revised — current as of July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does my solar work during a power cut?

A standard on-grid system shuts down during an outage for lineman safety (anti-islanding) — it is a legal requirement, not a fault. If backup matters to you, ask about a hybrid inverter with battery during your survey.

What if I export more than I import?

Credits carry forward per TGSPDCL's settlement rules. Sizing the system to your annual usage is the smarter play than oversizing for export.

Who pays for the bi-directional meter?

The consumer generally bears the modest meter and application charges, confirmed at application. Greentek quotes these upfront after your site survey — no surprises at inspection time.

Can apartments get net metering?

Individual flats are constrained by roof rights, but societies can solarise common-area loads, and group arrangements under the scheme continue to evolve. Worth a survey conversation for your specific building.

Does monsoon make solar pointless in Hyderabad?

No — generation dips during peak monsoon weeks but Hyderabad's annual sunshine keeps yearly output strong, and carried-forward credits smooth out the cloudy patches.

Want net metering without touching a single form?

Greentek's Secunderabad team files, follows up and commissions the whole thing — nearly three decades in solar, and we know exactly how TGSPDCL works.