New Delhi: Delhi has simplified the rooftop solar installation process to improve ease of adoption and expand distributed renewable energy generation by adopting several amendments, including waiving technical feasibility assessment for domestic systems of up to 10kW, reducing the three-stage process to two, introducing digital connection agreement and mandating time-bound approvals.Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has amended the net metering for renewable energy guidelines, introducing a streamlined two-stage mechanism. The revised guidelines came into effect on July 16 and will also apply to the pending applications.The technical feasibility analysis has been waived for domestic rooftop solar systems of up to 10kW installed on the same supply type. In such cases, the approval will be deemed to have been granted, eliminating one of the key procedural steps that often delayed installation.“For small residential rooftop systems, safety risks are generally low and can be managed through standard technical specifications. Requiring every homeowner to wait for a feasibility study was adding time and paperwork without delivering significant safety benefits,” said an official.The solar panels are installed under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in 2024. The two stages under the revised framework are technical feasibility analysis and an integrated document verification, inspection and net meter installation. While applications under the scheme will continue to be routed through the national portal, all other consumers, including commercial and industrial users, will apply through the respective discom’s portal or the Delhi state portal. The entire process has been made online, eliminating the need for physical forms.For rooftop solar systems above 10kW, discoms will have to complete the technical feasibility analysis within 15 days of receiving a complete application. Once the system is installed and documents are uploaded, they must complete document verification, inspection, testing, net meter installation and registration, and grant connectivity within the next 10 days.The amendments also prescribe an overall timeline of 25 days for providing connectivity to systems above 10kW, excluding the time taken by the consumer for installation or rectifying deficiencies. For systems up to 10kW, connectivity must be granted within 10 days after submission of the documents. Applicants will have 15 days to rectify deficiencies, following which discoms must complete the remaining formalities within five days.Domestic consumers with systems up to 10kW can complete the connection agreement process through a simple click or tick-box acceptance on the portal, while larger and non-domestic consumers will have to use electronic or digital signatures.
