☀️ Solar Desk
Commercial Net Metering Rules WBSEDCL: Rooftop Solar Guide for Businesses (2026)
WBSEDCL net metering rules for commercial and MSME consumers in West Bengal — sanctioned capacity, application process, billing settlement and solar ROI math explained.
At commercial tariffs, electricity in West Bengal costs in the region of ₹8–12/unit — which is exactly why rooftop solar pays back even faster for shops, warehouses, hotels, clinics and small factories (MSMEs) than for households. There’s just one condition: mastering WBSEDCL’s net metering rules.
1. How net metering works
Solar panels → inverter → your load (shop/factory)
↘ surplus power → grid (the meter runs 'backwards')
Grid → your load at night/low generation (meter runs normally)At the end of the billing cycle, WBSEDCL bills you on your net usage — units drawn from the grid minus units fed into the grid.
2. Key points of the WBERC regulation
| Item | General provision* |
|---|---|
| Sanctioned capacity | Within the consumer’s sanctioned load; upper cap at LT set by regulation |
| Connection voltage | LT (400V) and HT (11kV+) — higher capacity requires HT |
| Banking period | Unused credit units in a given month carry over to the next billing cycle |
| Settlement | After the banking period, residual credits are settled at a prescribed rate (below retail tariff) |
| Meter | Bidirectional/smart meter supplied by the distribution company; the consumer bears the cost |
| Approved equipment | ALMM panels and BIS inverters are mandatory |
*A summary — for exact and current figures, see the current WBERC net metering regulation and WBSEDCL notifications.
3. Application process (WBSEDCL)
- Apply on the portal: apply online with your consumer number in the Rooftop Solar / Net Metering section of WBSEDCL’s website. (Residential projects go through the PM Surya Ghar portal; commercial applications follow the discom’s direct process.)
- Feasibility approval: sanctioned capacity is approved based on the feeder’s hosting capacity.
- Installation: install the plant through an approved/ALMM vendor; submit the equipment test reports.
- Inspection and meter: WBSEDCL inspects, installs the bidirectional meter and signs the connectivity agreement.
- Commissioning and billing: net billing begins from then on — surplus units accumulate as credits.
Documents: trade licence/GST, proof of sanctioned load, roof ownership, single-line diagram, equipment test certificates.
4. ROI math: one example
Example: a workshop with a 25 kW load consuming ~2,500 units a month:
| Item | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Proposed plant | 25 kW |
| Total cost (approx., ₹40–45 per watt) | ~₹10–11 lakh |
| Monthly generation (~4 units/kW/day) | ~3,000 units |
| Monthly savings (at ₹9/unit average) | ~₹20,000–25,000 |
| Payback | ~3.5–4.5 years |
A commercial setup can be assumed to deliver at least 20 years of savings — whether you rent or own the premises, it’s one of the most proven ways to cut a business’s fixed costs.
Tax benefits: for accelerated depreciation and other tax benefits on a business plant, consult your own CA/auditor.
5. Special cautions for businesses
- Don’t oversize — the settlement rate is below the retail tariff; a bigger plant = donating cheap power to the grid.
- If you must move to an HT connection, metering, agreement and supplementary charges work differently — do the math first.
- If the roof is rented, settle the owner’s consent letter and a long-term agreement in advance.
- Use grade-one inverters and structures — business downtime is a direct loss.
- If you plan to increase your sanctioned load, size the plant with that in mind.
Final word
Commercial net metering solar means locking in your business’s electricity costs for 20 years. Rules are amended from time to time — check the latest notifications from WBSEDCL and WBERC before applying. For agriculture-based projects, see our solar pump subsidy guide.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Up to how many kW of net metering can a commercial connection get from WBSEDCL?
Under WBERC regulations, the sanctioned capacity for net metering is generally limited to the consumer's sanctioned load, with upper caps set by system voltage (usually up to 1 MW at LT, higher at HT). Verify the exact current limit in the latest WBSEDCL/WBERC regulation.
How is surplus electricity priced under net metering?
The bill is based on the net difference between units drawn from and fed into the grid during the billing cycle. At the end of the banking period, leftover credit units are settled at a prescribed rate — usually lower than the retail tariff, so oversizing the system isn't profitable.
How fast is the payback on solar at commercial tariffs?
Commercial tariffs (₹8–12/unit) are higher than household ones, so savings are bigger too. Costs are typically recovered in 3–5 years — faster than the 4–5 years for households.