Rooftop solar for apartments, RWAs and housing societies
Common-area power for lifts, water pumps, corridor lights and EV charging is often a society's biggest shared bill. A rooftop plant on the common connection can cut it, and eligible societies can get central support under PM Surya Ghar.
What a society can run on solar
- Lifts and water pumps
- Corridor, staircase, parking and street lights
- Security cabins, gates and CCTV
- Clubhouse, gym and other shared amenities
- EV charging points for residents
The plant is connected to the society's common-area electricity connection, and it offsets the units that connection would otherwise buy from the grid.
PM Surya Ghar support for RWAs
PM Surya Ghar runs until 31 March 2027 (MNRE scheme guidelines, as of 23 Sep 2026).
- ₹18,000 per kWp of central financial assistance for common facilities, including EV charging
- Up to 3 kWp per house in the society
- Up to 500 kWp in total for one society
- Any subsidised plants that residents have put up on their own count towards the same limit
How much support: two worked examples
The subsidised capacity is the smaller of the plant size and 3 kWp for every house. These two examples are the ones given in MNRE's guidelines.
| Plant size | Houses | Capacity that gets support | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 kWp | 20 | 60 kWp (20 × 3 kWp) | ₹10,80,000 |
| 100 kWp | 50 | 100 kWp (the whole plant) | ₹18,00,000 |
Who is eligible
- Group housing societies and resident welfare associations, including apartment owners' associations and co-operative housing societies that look after the common facilities.
- The society's electricity connection must be used only for common facilities. It cannot be used to supply power to the residents' own flats.
- If the building does not have an association yet, the developer or promoter can receive the support directly, on two undertakings: the plant will be handed over to the association once it is formed, and the benefit will reach residents through lower common-area charges.
Solar for your own flat
If you own an independent house or have your own share of roof space, you can apply for the home subsidy of up to ₹78,000 for your own connection. See the PM Surya Ghar subsidy guide. In an apartment, check first with your association, because individual plants count towards the society's limit.
Metering options in Andhra Pradesh
APERC's rooftop solar regulation provides for individual net metering and also for group and virtual net metering, where one plant's units can be shared across more than one connection. Which arrangement fits your society depends on its connections and on APSPDCL's approval, so we check this for each building.
What the association needs to decide
- Pass a resolution to explore rooftop solar and name who will coordinate.
- Share the last 12 months of common-area electricity bills.
- Arrange roof access for a site visit to check the shade-free area and the structure.
- Compare the proposal and the quotes on the same scope: panels, inverter, structure, cabling, earthing, net metering and service.
Every figure in a proposal is an estimate until the site visit and the DISCOM's approval. Subsidy support is released under the scheme's rules to eligible applicants.
Sources (checked 23 Sep 2026): MNRE, Operational Guidelines for CFA to Residential Consumers, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (OM of 07.06.2024); MNRE, Clarification regarding CFA to RWA/GHS cases (OM of 19.11.2024); APERC Regulation No. 4 of 2023 on grid-interactive rooftop solar, as amended by Regulation No. 10 of 2025. Scheme rules can change; check the national portal before you apply.
Get a common-area solar estimate for your society
Send us the common-area electricity bills on WhatsApp, or book a site visit.