PM Surya Ghar solar subsidy in Chennai: amount, eligibility and process
Homes in Chennai can get up to ₹78,000 from the Government of India for installing rooftop solar. Here is exactly how much you qualify for, what you need, and how the money reaches your account.
How much subsidy can you get?
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is the Government of India's scheme for home rooftop solar. The subsidy (officially called Central Financial Assistance) is a fixed amount based on the size of your system, not a percentage of your quote.
| System size | Central subsidy | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 per kW |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹30,000 × 2 kW |
| 3 kW | ₹78,000 | ₹60,000 + ₹18,000 for the third kW |
| Above 3 kW (4 kW, 5 kW, 10 kW…) | ₹78,000 | The subsidy stops increasing at 3 kW |
Apartment associations and group housing societies can also claim support for solar on common areas such as lifts, pumps, corridor lighting and EV charging, at ₹18,000 per kW.
Tamil Nadu note: there is currently no separate state subsidy on top of the central amount for homes in Chennai, so the figures above are what you can expect.
Who is eligible?
- You have a domestic (residential) electricity connection in your name with TNPDCL, the Tamil Nadu power distribution company.
- Your roof can hold the panels: an independent house, villa, duplex, or an apartment terrace with the association's permission.
- You have not already received a subsidy for rooftop solar on the same connection.
- The system is grid-connected (on-grid with a net meter). Off-grid systems are not covered.
- The installation is done by a vendor registered on the national portal, using approved (ALMM-listed) solar panels.
Shops, offices, factories and other commercial connections do not get this residential subsidy, although solar still makes good financial sense for them through bill savings.
Step-by-step: from application to money in your account
- Register on the national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in, with your state, TNPDCL as your distribution company, your electricity consumer number and your mobile number.
- Apply for rooftop solar on the portal and choose your installer.
- Feasibility approval: TNPDCL checks that your connection and transformer can take the system.
- Installation: the registered vendor installs the panels, inverter, structure and earthing.
- Net meter and inspection: TNPDCL fits a bi-directional net meter, inspects the system and commissions it.
- Submit bank details and the commissioning report on the portal.
- Subsidy credited directly to your bank account, usually within about a month of the report being accepted.
VM Skyline Solar prepares and follows up every stage of this paperwork for our customers, so you only need to share your documents and approve the design.
Documents you will need
- Latest electricity bill (shows your consumer number and sanctioned load)
- Aadhaar card of the person named on the connection
- Bank account details (a cancelled cheque or passbook page) for the subsidy transfer
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTPs
- Property ownership proof or the association's permission for apartment terraces, where asked
Low-interest solar loans
Under the scheme, nationalised banks offer collateral-free solar loans for home systems up to 3 kW at concessional interest of around 7% a year, applied for through the Jan Samarth portal. For systems up to 3 kW, banks such as SBI ask only for your electricity bill and KYC documents. Larger systems need income documents as well.
Because the subsidy is paid after commissioning, many families use the loan to cover the upfront cost and let the subsidy reduce the loan.
Common mistakes that delay or cancel the subsidy
- Installing before registering on the portal and getting feasibility approval.
- Using an installer who is not registered on the portal, or panels that are not on the approved list.
- Choosing a system larger than your sanctioned load without first applying to increase the load.
- Bank account details that don't match the name on the electricity connection.
- Switching on the system before TNPDCL has inspected it and fitted the net meter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the subsidy paid to me or to the installer?
It is paid directly into your own bank account by direct benefit transfer after the system is installed, inspected and commissioned. The installer does not receive it.
Can I get more than ₹78,000 if I install 5 kW or 10 kW?
No. The central subsidy rises up to 3 kW and then stays fixed at ₹78,000, however large the system. Larger systems still save more on your bill.
Is there an extra Tamil Nadu state subsidy?
Not for homes at present. Homeowners in Chennai receive the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy only.
Can apartment owners get the subsidy?
Individual flat owners can apply if the panels serve their own connection and the association allows it. Associations can claim ₹18,000 per kW for solar that powers common areas.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends mainly on TNPDCL approvals and inspection. Installation itself takes one to two days for most homes; the full process from application to subsidy usually takes a few weeks to a couple of months.
Do I still pay an electricity bill after going solar?
With net metering you pay only for the units you take from the grid minus the units your system exports, plus fixed charges. Many homes see their bill drop to a small fraction of what it was.