Quick answer: Net metering in Gujarat lets your rooftop solar plant export spare units to your DISCOM (UGVCL, DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL or Torrent Power) and set them off against the units you import. Homes get full set-off and ₹2.25 a unit for any surplus. Under GERC’s new 2026 rules, factories and shops can set off exports only up to 30% of imports.
Every rooftop solar plant in Gujarat that feeds the grid needs a net meter, and almost every question we get after “how much does it cost?” is about that meter. Which office do I apply to? How long does it take? What happens to the extra units? Does Torrent do it differently from UGVCL?
The answers changed at the end of October 2026, when the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) notified new rules that replace the 2016 net metering regulations. This guide explains how net metering works in Gujarat now, DISCOM by DISCOM, with worked bill examples for a home and a factory. We’re ASV Energy Solutions, a solar EPC company in Koba, Gandhinagar, and we handle net metering paperwork for our customers across all five DISCOMs.
What net metering means on your bill
A net meter is a two-way meter. It counts the units you take from the grid (import) and the units your solar plant sends to the grid when it makes more than you’re using (export). At the end of the billing cycle, the DISCOM subtracts exports from imports and bills you only for the difference.
The solar units you use directly, as they’re made, never pass through the net meter at all. They simply reduce what you draw from the grid. Net metering only decides what happens to the units you don’t use at the moment they’re generated. That’s why the same plant can save very different amounts in two buildings: it depends on how much of your load runs in daylight.
Which DISCOM is yours?
Gujarat has four state-owned DISCOMs under GUVNL and one private licensee, Torrent Power. The name printed on your electricity bill is the one that matters. Boundaries don’t follow district lines exactly: Gandhinagar city, for example, is Torrent, while most of Gandhinagar district, including Koba, is UGVCL.
| DISCOM | Region | Main areas |
|---|---|---|
| UGVCL (Uttar Gujarat Vij Company) | North Gujarat | Gandhinagar district outside the city, Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, and Ahmedabad district outside Torrent’s area (for example Sanand, Bavla, Dholka) |
| DGVCL (Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company) | South Gujarat | Surat outside Torrent’s area, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Narmada, Dang |
| MGVCL (Madhya Gujarat Vij Company) | Central Gujarat | Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Chhota Udaipur |
| PGVCL (Paschim Gujarat Vij Company) | Saurashtra and Kutch | Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Porbandar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, Kutch |
| Torrent Power (private) | City licence areas | Ahmedabad city, Gandhinagar city, parts of Surat city, Dahej SEZ, Dholera SIR |
All five work under the same GERC rules, so the settlement terms, charges and timelines below are the same whichever DISCOM you’re with. What differs in practice is speed: how quickly the local sub-division inspects your plant and fits the net meter.
The new GERC rules: what changed in October 2026
GERC has notified the Grid Interactive Distributed Renewable Energy Sources Regulations, 2026 (Notification No. 11 of 2026). They replace the Net Metering Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems Regulations, 2016, which had been amended five times, most recently in 2025. The new rules were reported by SolarQuarter and Mercom India on 2 November 2026. The main points:
- Five metering options instead of one: net metering, net billing, gross metering, group net metering and virtual net metering (explained below).
- Size limits: 1 kW to 1,000 kW (AC) for net metering and net billing; up to 4,000 kW (AC) for gross and virtual net metering.
- Homes keep full set-off: 100% of exported units are adjusted against imports, with no banking charge. Surplus is bought at ₹2.25 a unit.
- Non-residential consumers get a cap: exports can be set off only up to 30% of the units imported in the billing cycle, with banking charges. Anything beyond that lapses.
- Battery rule for larger consumers: if your contract demand is above 100 kW and you install solar beyond your sanctioned demand, you must add a battery covering at least 50% of the extra capacity, with at least two hours of storage.
- Connectivity charges from ₹1,500 for 1–6 kW up to ₹50,000 for the largest systems.
- Online portals: every DISCOM must run an online portal for registration, applications and approvals, and process them within set timelines.
- Metering and monitoring: smart (AMI) meters with communication ports, SIM-based remote monitoring below 1 MW, and anti-islanding protection on every inverter.
One thing the reports don’t yet say is how plants already on net metering under the 2016 rules are treated. Until GERC’s full text and the DISCOMs’ procedures are out, assume your existing agreement continues as it is, and don’t add panels or inverter capacity without fresh approval. In September 2026 GERC upheld a penalty bill against a consumer who ran more capacity than was approved.
How net metering works for homes
For residential (RGP) consumers, little has changed, and it’s still a good deal. Every unit you export is set off against a unit you import in the same billing cycle, one for one, at no charge. If you export more than you import over the cycle, the DISCOM buys the surplus at ₹2.25 a unit.
₹2.25 is far below what you pay for grid power, so a surplus unit earns well under half of what a set-off unit saves you (about ₹5.50–7.65 a unit, depending on your slab). The lesson is simple: size the plant to what your home uses, not bigger. Here are two homes on a state DISCOM, each with a 3 kW plant making about 360 units a month (around 4 units per kW a day).
| Monthly figures | Home A: uses 400 units | Home B: uses 250 units |
|---|---|---|
| Bill before solar | About ₹2,735 | About ₹1,590 |
| Solar generation (3 kW) | 360 units | 360 units |
| Net units billed | 40 units | 0 (110 units surplus) |
| Bill after solar | About ₹245 | ₹25 fixed charge |
| Surplus paid at ₹2.25 | None | About ₹250 |
| Monthly benefit | About ₹2,490 | About ₹1,810 |
Home B paid for a 3 kW plant but only needed about 2 kW. The extra kW earns ₹2.25 a unit instead of saving ₹5.50–7.65 a unit. And because the PM Surya Ghar subsidy is the same ₹78,000 for any home system of 3 kW or more, oversizing a home plant mostly costs you money. Our solar savings calculator sizes a plant from your bill, and our Gujarat solar subsidy guide explains the central and state subsidy.
One more 2026 change helps homes with smart meters: for FY 2026-27, GERC extended the 60 paise a unit discount for units used between 11 am and 5 pm to postpaid smart meter consumers on the state DISCOMs (DeshGujarat, 25 March 2026). Running the washing machine, geyser or AC during the day uses your solar directly and keeps your bill lowest.
How net metering works for factories, shops and offices
This is where the 2026 rules matter most. For non-residential consumers, exported units can be set off only up to 30% of the units you import from the DISCOM in that billing cycle, and banking charges apply to the units set off. Exports above the 30% limit lapse: you get nothing for them.
GERC’s draft linked these banking charges to its green energy open access rules, where the charge is ₹1.00 a unit from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, and set each year after that between ₹0.50 and ₹1.50. Confirm the rate that applies to your connection with your DISCOM.
Take a 500 kW rooftop plant making about 60,000 units a month, in two different factories:
| Monthly figures (500 kW plant) | Factory 1: two shifts | Factory 2: one shift, Sundays off |
|---|---|---|
| Solar generation | 60,000 units | 60,000 units |
| Solar used directly in the plant | 50,000 units | 25,000 units |
| Exported to the grid | 10,000 units | 35,000 units |
| Imported from the grid | 70,000 units | 15,000 units |
| 30% set-off limit | 21,000 units | 4,500 units |
| Exports set off | All 10,000 (banking charge about ₹10,000) | 4,500 |
| Exports that lapse | None | 30,500 units, about ₹2 lakh of power |
Factory 1 uses most of its solar as it’s made, so the cap never bites. Factory 2 has the same plant but a load that stops at 5 pm and on Sundays, so most of its exports are wasted. Under the new rules, the right size for a factory depends on how much solar it can use in daylight, not on its total monthly units. That’s exactly how we size plants in our guide to solar capacity for factories from your electricity bill.
If your plant will make more than you can use, you have three ways out: a smaller plant, moving some load into daytime hours, or a battery to store midday surplus. Gross metering or net billing (below) can also suit a building with a big roof and a small load.
The battery rule above 100 kW contract demand
If your contract demand is above 100 kW and you want solar capacity beyond your sanctioned demand, the new rules require a battery for at least half of the extra capacity, able to charge and discharge for at least two hours a day. For example, a factory with 400 kW sanctioned demand that wants a 600 kW plant has 200 kW of extra capacity, so it needs a battery of at least 100 kW / 200 kWh. Staying within your sanctioned demand avoids the battery requirement. GERC’s separate battery storage regulations, notified in October 2026, also require GEDA registration and DISCOM permission for any grid-connected battery.
The five metering options compared
| Option | How it works | Size (AC) | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net metering | Exports set off against imports; homes get full set-off and ₹2.25 for surplus, others up to 30% of imports | 1–1,000 kW | Most homes, factories, shops |
| Net billing | Imports billed at your tariff; exports credited at a fixed rate set by GERC | 1–1,000 kW | Buildings that export a lot |
| Gross metering | All generation sold to the DISCOM at GERC’s tariff; you buy all your power as before | 6–4,000 kW | Large roofs with small loads |
| Group net metering | One plant’s exports shared across several connections of the same owner in the same category | Up to 1,000 kW | A company with several meters, a society’s common connections |
| Virtual net metering | Energy shared across several consumers or sites in the same DISCOM’s area | 10–4,000 kW | Housing societies, multi-site owners, people without a usable roof |
For most homes and for factories that use their solar in the day, plain net metering is still the right choice. Group and virtual net metering are new options worth asking about if you run a housing society or own more than one unit in the same DISCOM area.
How to apply for net metering, step by step
Homes with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy (all four state DISCOMs and Torrent Power) apply through the national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Gujarat already uses the digital net metering agreement in the portal form, so there’s no separate paper agreement to sign.
- Register with your state, DISCOM, consumer number and mobile number.
- Apply for rooftop solar and choose a vendor registered on the portal for your DISCOM.
- The DISCOM checks feasibility. Complete applications up to 10 kW are accepted without a technical feasibility study.
- The vendor installs the plant and uploads plant details and photos.
- You apply for the net meter. The DISCOM inspects the plant and installs the net meter.
- The commissioning report is generated and the subsidy is released to your bank account.
Factories, shops, offices and homes without the subsidy go through the state route. Under the old rules and in GERC’s draft of the new rules, the steps are:
| Step | Who | Time allowed (GERC draft) |
|---|---|---|
| Register the project | GEDA | 5 days |
| Approve wiring and earthing drawings | Chief Electrical Inspector (CEI) | 10 days |
| Technical feasibility report (not needed up to 10 kW) | DISCOM | About 13 days |
| In-principle consent after the report | DISCOM | 2 days |
| Network strengthening, if needed | DISCOM | 15 days |
| Install the plant | You and your EPC | Within 6 months |
| Install the net meter after documents are in | DISCOM | 5 days |
| Commissioning certificate | GEDA | 3 days |
In practice, the slowest part is usually the gap between finishing the plant and getting the net meter fitted. Most of that time goes to the sub-division’s inspection queue. A complete file (drawings, test reports, inverter certificates, a clear single-line diagram) is the best way to avoid going back and forth.
Net metering charges in Gujarat
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Connectivity charge, 1–6 kW | ₹1,500 |
| Connectivity charge, above 6 kW to 100 kW | ₹10,000 in the draft (confirm in the final rules) |
| Connectivity charge, larger systems | Up to ₹50,000 |
| Network strengthening, up to 6 kW | Paid by the DISCOM |
| Network strengthening, above 6 kW | Charged at the DISCOM’s approved rates for new load (25% of the per-kW or per-kVA rate in the draft) |
| Banking charge, homes | None |
| Banking charge, non-residential | Applies to units set off; ₹1.00 a unit under GERC’s open access rules until 31 March 2027 |
Torrent Power vs the state DISCOMs
If you live in Ahmedabad city, Gandhinagar city or parts of Surat, your DISCOM is Torrent Power. The GERC net metering rules, the ₹2.25 surplus rate and the PM Surya Ghar portal route are the same as for UGVCL, DGVCL, MGVCL and PGVCL. Two things differ:
- Tariff and peak hours. Torrent has its own tariff order. For FY 2026-27 its peak hours are 6–8 am and 5–11 pm, and some HT categories get a 30 paise a unit rebate from 11 am to 3 pm. Your savings per unit, and so your payback, differ from a UGVCL customer’s.
- Who inspects. Torrent itself inspects the plant and fits the net meter, so timelines depend on its process rather than a GUVNL sub-division’s.
For factory owners in Ahmedabad, our page on factory rooftop solar in Ahmedabad covers Torrent and UGVCL areas, and our Ahmedabad solar page covers homes.
Common reasons net metering gets delayed
- Name or load mismatch. The name on the application doesn’t match the electricity bill, or the plant is larger than the application allows.
- Dues on the connection. Unpaid bills on the consumer number hold up approval.
- Non-DCR panels on a subsidy application. PM Surya Ghar needs panels with Indian-made cells. A non-DCR module makes the whole plant ineligible for subsidy.
- Missing documents. Inverter test certificates, earthing reports or drawings not submitted, or not approved by the CEI where needed.
- Transformer capacity. If the local transformer is full, strengthening work comes first, and above 6 kW you pay for it.
- Changes after approval. Adding panels or a bigger inverter without fresh approval is treated as unauthorised capacity and can lead to a penalty bill.
How ASV handles net metering for you
ASV has completed 5,500+ solar installations and 90 MW+ of capacity, from homes in Gandhinagar to factory rooftops and ground-mount plants. On every project we size the plant to your daytime use, prepare the drawings and documents, file with GEDA, the CEI and your DISCOM, and follow up until the net meter is fitted. See our solar EPC services and projects, or check prices in our solar panel price guide for Gujarat and our industrial solar cost per kW guide.
ગુજરાતમાં નેટ મીટરિંગ (ટૂંકમાં)
- તમારી DISCOM (UGVCL, DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL કે Torrent Power) નું નામ લાઇટ બિલ પર જુઓ.
- ઘર માટે: ગ્રીડમાં મોકલેલા બધા યુનિટ વપરાશ સામે સરભર થાય છે; વધારાના યુનિટ ₹2.25 પ્રતિ યુનિટે ખરીદાય છે.
- ફેક્ટરી અને દુકાન માટે (નવા 2026 નિયમ): ગ્રીડમાંથી લીધેલા યુનિટના 30% સુધી જ સરભર થાય છે, બાકીના યુનિટ રદ થાય છે.
- સબસિડી સાથે ઘર માટે અરજી pmsuryaghar.gov.in પર થાય છે. પ્લાન્ટ તમારા વપરાશ જેટલો જ રાખો.
Frequently asked questions
What is net metering in Gujarat?
Net metering lets a rooftop solar plant export spare units to your DISCOM and set them off against the units you import. You pay only for the net units. In Gujarat it is governed by GERC’s Grid Interactive Distributed Renewable Energy Sources Regulations, 2026, which replaced the 2016 net metering regulations.
What rate does the DISCOM pay for surplus solar units in Gujarat?
For homes, surplus units left after set-off are bought at ₹2.25 a unit. That is much less than the roughly ₹5.50–7.65 a unit you save on units you set off, so it pays to size a home plant to your own use.
What changed in Gujarat’s net metering rules in 2026?
GERC notified new rules at the end of October 2026. They add net billing, gross, group and virtual net metering; keep full set-off for homes; cap set-off for non-residential consumers at 30% of their imports with banking charges; and require a battery for consumers above 100 kW contract demand who install solar beyond their sanctioned demand.
Is there a limit on net metering for factories in Gujarat?
Yes. Net metering is allowed from 1 kW to 1,000 kW (AC), and for non-residential consumers exported units can be set off only up to 30% of the units imported in the billing cycle. Exports beyond that lapse, so a factory should size its plant to the solar it can use in daylight.
How do I apply for net metering with UGVCL, DGVCL, MGVCL or PGVCL?
Homes taking the PM Surya Ghar subsidy apply on pmsuryaghar.gov.in through a registered vendor. Other consumers register with GEDA, get CEI approval where needed, and apply to the DISCOM for feasibility, consent and the net meter. Your EPC usually files everything for you.
Is the net metering process different for Torrent Power?
The GERC rules, the ₹2.25 surplus rate and the PM Surya Ghar route are the same. Torrent has its own tariff and peak hours (6–8 am and 5–11 pm in FY 2026-27), and Torrent itself handles inspection and net meter installation.
How long does it take to get a net meter in Gujarat?
GERC’s draft rules set short limits for each step, such as 5 days to install the meter once documents are in. In practice, the wait between finishing the plant and getting the net meter is usually a few weeks, depending on the sub-division’s inspection queue. Systems up to 10 kW skip the feasibility study.
What are the net metering charges in Gujarat?
Connectivity charges start at ₹1,500 for 1–6 kW and go up to ₹50,000 for the largest systems. The DISCOM pays for network strengthening up to 6 kW; above that you pay. Homes pay no banking charge; non-residential consumers pay banking charges on units set off.
Do I need a battery with net metering in Gujarat?
Not for most homes or factories. A battery is required only if your contract demand is above 100 kW and you install solar beyond your sanctioned demand; then it must cover at least 50% of the extra capacity with two hours of storage.
Can a housing society use net metering in Gujarat?
Yes. A society can net meter its common connection, and the 2026 rules add group and virtual net metering, which let one plant’s units be shared across several connections. Individual flats can also take PM Surya Ghar subsidy on their own connections.
Sources
- SolarQuarter, GERC notifies 2026 Distributed Renewable Energy Regulations (2 November 2026).
- Mercom India, Gujarat regulator sets 1 MW cap for net metering and net billing projects (2 November 2026).
- Electrical Mirror, Gujarat rolls out new distributed renewable energy regulations (3 November 2026).
- Reslink, Gujarat net metering draft 2026: DRES regulations (24 October 2026).
- SolarQuarter, GERC revises green energy open access banking charges (25 August 2026).
- GERC, Tariff schedule of DGVCL, MGVCL, PGVCL and UGVCL, effective 1 April 2026 (RGP rates).
- DeshGujarat, GERC unveils FY 2026-27 power tariff in Gujarat (25 March 2026).
- SolarQuarter, Ministry of Power directs states to waive net metering agreements and charges under PM Surya Ghar (6 October 2025).
Get your plant sized for the new rules
Send us your last 12 electricity bills. We’ll tell you which DISCOM and metering option fits, what size plant you can use without wasting exports, and what it will save. Call or WhatsApp +91 96626 63069.
