MNRE simplified rooftop solar installation procedure for households

As per MNRE simplified procedure, homeowners can install rooftop solar panels through any vendor and receive subsidies and other benefits under the Rooftop Solar Programme.

In accordance with simplified procedures issued by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), homeowners can now install rooftop solar plants themselves or through any vendor of their choice and can avail subsidy.

Earlier, to be eligible for subsidies under the Rooftop Solar Program, residential consumers had to purchase rooftop solar plants only from listed vendors.

As part of the Rooftop Solar Programme, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy issued a simplified procedure allowing residential consumers to set up a rooftop solar plant by themselves or from a vendor of choice,” a statement from the ministry noted.

In the new simplified procedure, a national portal will be developed for registering beneficiary applications, approving them, and tracking progress. A similar portal will exist at the level of the discoms, and the two portals will be linked, the ministry explained.

The national portal is expected to be developed within six to eight weeks. Until the national portal is operational, the existing procedure for availing subsidy for rooftop solar plants through discoms will continue, and this will be the only authorized method to get subsidy from MNRE, it added.

Following the creation of the national portal, beneficiaries will be able to choose between installing RTS using both options.

MNRE’s New Mechanism for Rooftop Solar

Household beneficiaries who wish to install rooftop solar (RTS) plants under the new mechanism must apply on the national portal and submit information, including the bank account number where the subsidy will be transferred. The beneficiary will be informed of the complete process and subsidy amount at the time of application.

Within the next 15 working days, the application will be sent online to the relevant distribution company for technical feasibility approval. Once the application has been transferred to the discom, the discom portal will also show it.

MNRE will issue standards and specifications for RTS plants and a format for an agreement to be executed between the beneficiary and the vendor to ensure quality and post installation services.

Among other terms and conditions, the agreement will require that the RTS plant installed meet safety and performance standards and is maintained for the next five years or longer by the vendor.

In order to have his application approved, the beneficiary must install the plant within a specified period of time, or he will have to reapply to have the RTS plant installed.

Following the installation of the rooftop solar plant, the beneficiary will apply online for net metering through the national portal, which will then be forwarded to the concerned distribution company.

A discom either procures and installs a net-meter or advises the beneficiary to procure one according to prescribed specifications and have it tested by an authorized laboratory.

Post installation of the net-meter, the discom officer will submit a commissioning and inspection report through the national portal, which will also appear on the discom portal.

After the discom receives an inspection report, the subsidy will be released to the beneficiary directly into his or her bank account.

In addition, a grievance redressal procedure will be implemented and the whole process will be monitored, the statement stated.

As part of the outreach, the ministry warned the public not to rely on misinformation/spurious posts on social media or websites, such as those asking for payment for receiving subsidies for solar panels installed on rooftops.

All relevant information for this purpose will be provided on the official website of the ministry (www.mnre.gov.in) or on SPIN (www.solarrooftop.gov.in)

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