Under 400 units a month? Your 3 kW solar system in Delhi is free

Eligibility  Updated 2 September 2026 · 6 min read · SolarfiX by Electrik Bee — Authorised Channel Partner, Reliance New Energy

The headline from the Delhi Government's 1 September 2026 announcement was striking: free rooftop solar for every household using up to 400 units a month. That sounds like there must be a catch. This guide checks exactly that.

1. What “free” actually means

The government is not handing you cash — it is paying for the system. The arithmetic:

At both sizes the total support exactly matches the system cost. That is the whole basis of the word “free”.

2. Check your consumption in 60 seconds

You need one number: monthly units consumed.

1. Take out your latest BSES or Tata Power bill.
2. Find the column marked “Units Consumed” or “Consumption (kWh)”.
3. If the bill covers two months, divide by two.

Can't find the units? A rough estimate: bill amount ÷ ₹7 ≈ units. A ₹2,500 bill is roughly 350 units. Use the bill figure for anything that matters.

Got your number? Put it into the calculator to see your exact subsidy →

3. Above and below 400 units, compared

An important point: crossing 400 units does not make this a bad deal. You pay ₹19,000 and get roughly ₹2,143 a month back — recovered in about nine months, followed by 24 years of effectively free electricity. That is a better return than any fixed deposit available in Delhi.

4. 2 kW or 3 kW?

If the roof allows it, 3 kW is the smarter choice — the cost to you is ₹0 either way, but a 3 kW system generates about 50% more and earns from exported surplus.

5. Are there hidden costs?

Honestly, keep these in mind:

• The subsidy arrives afterwards, not upfront. In most cases the system cost is paid to the vendor first and the subsidy reaches your account later by DBT. Good vendors structure this for you — ask clearly when you take the quotation.
• Anything beyond the listed scope costs extra. A taller structure, long cable runs, roof waterproofing or additional earthing may be quoted separately. Get it in writing after the survey.
• The net meter is the discom's process. Your vendor files it, but approval timing is not in their hands.
• Cleaning and AMC. Delhi's dust reduces generation, so budget a few thousand a year.

6. Eligibility checklist

• ☐ A Delhi domestic electricity connection (BRPL / BYPL / TPDDL)
• ☐ The connection is in your name
• ☐ Monthly consumption of 400 units or less (for the top-up)
• ☐ Shadow-free roof: around 270–300 sq ft for 3 kW
• ☐ Roof ownership or a written NOC
• ☐ Bank account KYC up to date (for DBT)
• ☐ Willing to have a net meter installed

All ticked? You qualify.

7. What to do next

Delhi's target is 2.3 lakh households by March 2027, and only about 10,000 buildings in the city currently have rooftop solar — most of them government buildings. Demand is still low and approvals are quick. As applications pile up, the net meter and inspection queues will lengthen.

The simplest first step: find your bill, check the units, and get a free rooftop survey so you know how many kilowatts your roof can actually take.