How Net Metering Actually Works Under PM Surya Ghar

Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, you don't need expensive batteries to store the solar energy you generate. Instead, the government uses a system called Net Metering.

The Grid is Your Battery

When your rooftop solar panels generate electricity during a sunny afternoon, your home uses that power first. But what happens if you are at work and the house is empty?

The excess electricity is automatically pushed out of your house and into the local electrical grid. The physical "Net Meter" installed by your DISCOM spins backward, tracking exactly how many units you gave to the government.

The Nighttime Shift

At night, when your panels produce nothing, your house pulls electricity back from the grid. At the end of the month, the DISCOM looks at the net difference:

• If you consumed 300 units, but gave the grid 350 units, your bill is ₹0, and the 50 extra units are credited to your next month.
• If you consumed 400 units, but gave the grid 350 units, you only pay for the 50 units difference.

This 1:1 unit exchange is the core mechanism that allows the PM Surya Ghar scheme to deliver "Muft Bijli" (free electricity) without the massive upfront cost of battery storage.

See how much you can save with net metering by trying our PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Calculator.