Telangana Unveils 2025 Rooftop Solar Reforms, Widening Net Metering and Shared-Energy Access

The Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission has rolled out its 'Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems Regulation, 2025', marking a major revamp of the state’s rooftop solar framework.

The updated rules introduce four distinct metering models, Net Metering, Group Net Metering (GNM), Gross Metering, and Virtual Net Metering (VNM), each tailored to different consumer categories and installation scenarios.

The regulation standardises system sizes, sets strict capacity limits, and streamlines application processes to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across households, campuses, townships, and commercial users.

A key highlight is the formal introduction of Group and Virtual Net Metering, enabling energy sharing across multiple connections or consumers ,a boost for housing societies and institutions lacking suitable rooftop space.

Under the new norms, residential and government consumers can install solar systems up to 100 percent of their sanctioned load, while industrial and commercial users are capped at 80%. The rules also outline detailed billing and energy accounting procedures, including how export credits are allocated in shared metering models.

To reduce project costs, the Commission has granted several charge exemptions. Net and Gross Metering consumers are fully exempt from banking, wheeling, cross-subsidy, and additional surcharges. GNM and VNM consumers receive partial exemptions, though wheeling charges and losses apply in shared and virtual setups.

The application process has been tightened with defined timelines: feasibility checks must be completed within 15 working days, and systems up to 10 kW are automatically approved. Once cleared, consumers have 180 days to complete installation.

The metering arrangement will remain valid for 25 years, with enhanced safety norms for systems above 56 kW, which must be certified by the Chief Electrical Inspector.

With clear procedures and flexible metering models, Telangana’s 2025 regulation positions the state for stronger rooftop solar uptake, especially among multi-connection consumers and urban clusters seeking shared clean energy solutions.