If you’re a homeowner in Chennai or anywhere else in Tamil Nadu thinking about rooftop solar, the government subsidy is often the single biggest factor in your decision. Here’s a clear, step-by-step breakdown of how much you can get, who qualifies, and exactly how to apply — updated for 2026.
How much subsidy can you get?
The subsidy comes from a single central government scheme called the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024. Tamil Nadu does not currently run a separate state-level cash subsidy on top of it — TANGEDCO’s role is to process your application, not fund it. The subsidy is paid as a Direct Benefit Transfer straight into your bank account after installation and inspection, and it follows a simple slab structure:
- Up to 2 kW: ₹30,000 per kW
- 3rd kW: an additional ₹18,000
- Systems 3 kW and above: capped at ₹78,000 total, regardless of how much bigger you go
In practice, most Chennai homes with a bi-monthly EB bill between ₹2,500 and ₹5,000 land in the 2–3 kW range, which qualifies for the full ₹78,000.
Who is eligible?
- You must own a residential property with an active domestic electricity connection from TANGEDCO
- Installation must be carried out by a vendor registered on the PM Surya Ghar national portal
- TANGEDCO’s technical feasibility approval must come through before installation begins
- The property must not have previously received a central rooftop solar subsidy
If your household is on a subsidised or free-unit domestic tariff, it’s worth checking with TANGEDCO how net metering interacts with your existing benefit, since the calculation can differ slightly from a standard metered connection.
Step-by-step: how to apply
- Register on the national portal. Go to pmsuryaghar.gov.in, click “Apply for Rooftop Solar,” and select your state (Tamil Nadu), district, and DISCOM (TANGEDCO). Verify with an OTP to your registered mobile number.
- Enter your electricity details. Add your TANGEDCO service connection number exactly as it appears on your bill. The portal auto-pulls your sanctioned load. If it doesn’t link, a call to your local TANGEDCO section office usually resolves it within a day or two.
- Submit your proposed system size and documents. Enter the solar capacity you’re planning and upload the required documents (see below), then submit for feasibility review.
- Wait for technical feasibility approval. TANGEDCO checks that your roof and electrical infrastructure can support the system — this typically takes 7 to 15 business days.
- Choose your installer and install. Once feasibility is approved, the portal unlocks vendor selection. Your chosen installer completes the installation and applies for the net-metering inspection.
- Net-metering inspection and commissioning. TANGEDCO installs the bidirectional meter and commissions your connection.
- Subsidy credited to your account. Once commissioning is confirmed on the portal, the subsidy is transferred directly to your registered bank account — no separate claim form needed.
Documents you’ll need
- Latest TANGEDCO electricity bill (with service connection number)
- Proof of property ownership or a No Objection Certificate if rented/shared
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account details (passbook copy or cancelled cheque) for the DBT transfer
- Passport-size photograph
How long does the whole process take?
End-to-end, most Chennai applications move from registration to a live, subsidy-credited system in around 3 to 5 weeks — faster if your documents are ready and your installer is already empanelled with TANGEDCO. The physical installation itself is usually a single day’s work (roughly 8–10 hours); it’s the feasibility and net-metering approvals on either side that take most of the calendar time.
Common mistakes that delay the subsidy
- Using an unregistered installer. If your vendor isn’t empanelled on the PM Surya Ghar portal, your subsidy claim can be rejected outright.
- Entering the wrong service connection number. A mismatch here is the most common reason applications stall at the very first step.
- Installing before feasibility approval. Systems installed before TANGEDCO signs off on feasibility can run into complications getting net-metering approved.
- Incomplete bank details. Since the subsidy is a direct transfer, any mismatch between your Aadhaar and bank KYC details can delay the payout by weeks.
Let us handle the paperwork for you
At Sri Saran Solar Solutions, we file your complete PM Surya Ghar application and manage the TANGEDCO net-metering process on your behalf — from portal registration through to your subsidy hitting your bank account. If you’re in Chennai and want a free site visit to see exactly what size system and subsidy you qualify for, get in touch.