How much subsidy do Chandigarh homes get for rooftop solar?
A Chandigarh household installing grid-connected rooftop solar gets the central PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy — ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW, ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. Chandigarh's own UT administration has proposed an additional ₹30,000 top-up, but it is only a proposal with the Ministry of Home Affairs — it is not approved yet, so claim only the central amount today.
TL;DR: Central CFA up to ₹78,000 on a 3 kW plant; the ₹30,000 UT top-up is still pending MHA approval; apply on pmsuryaghar.gov.in choosing CPDL as your discom; meter, testing and registration charges are waived for scheme homes; a typical 3 kW plant costs about ₹1.56–1.80 lakh installed and pays back in roughly 5 years.
Last verified: 6 November 2026
The central subsidy, system by system
| System size | Central CFA (₹) | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 30,000 | ₹30,000/kW for the first 2 kW |
| 2 kW | 60,000 | ₹30,000/kW × 2 |
| 3 kW | 78,000 | ₹60,000 + ₹18,000 for the third kW |
| Above 3 kW | 78,000 (ceiling) | No additional CFA beyond 3 kW |
| GHS/RWA (common facilities) | 18,000 per kW, up to 500 kW | Capped at 3 kW per house |
Source: MNRE's PM Surya Ghar CFA guidelines (guidelines PDF) and the subsidy structure on the Delhi Solar Portal, which restates the national rates. The subsidy is paid by direct benefit transfer after commissioning, and requires domestic (DCR) modules and an empanelled vendor.
The proposed Chandigarh top-up: not approved yet
In October 2025 the UT administration proposed an extra ₹30,000 subsidy over and above the central amount, which would cut the resident's share of a 3 kW plant (quoted around ₹1.56 lakh) to roughly ₹48,000. The proposal was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval because Chandigarh is a Union Territory — as of November 2026 there is no government notification confirming it, so treat any article promising it as premature (reported by Hindustan Times and The Tribune). If it is notified, the combined subsidy would follow the pattern of states like Delhi and Rajasthan — see our state top-up guide.
Who runs the scheme in Chandigarh
- CREST — the Chandigarh Renewable Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society — is the nodal agency for PM Surya Ghar in the UT, running help desks and awareness camps; implementation moved back to CREST from Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd in January 2026 (The Tribune).
- CPDL (Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd) supplies your electricity, installs the net meter and signs the net-metering agreement; it took over distribution from the UT Electricity Department on 1 February 2025.
- Progress so far: 1,433 private houses had installed plants under the scheme by September 2026, and CREST targets 8,000 private houses by March 2027; all 6,366 feasible government buildings are already covered at 18.1 MWp (The Tribune).
What a 3 kW system costs and saves in Chandigarh
CREST's own cost-benefit analysis for a 3 kWp plant with a household using about 700 units a month (reported by Times of India):
| Item | Value | Source/notes |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost (incl. GST) | ₹1,80,000 | CREST example |
| Central CFA | −₹78,000 | PM Surya Ghar |
| Net cost to consumer | ₹1,02,000 | Cost minus CFA |
| Monthly generation | ~321 units | CREST example |
| Roof area | 18–22 sq m | CREST example |
| Payback | ~4.9 years | CREST example |
| Profit over 25 years | ~₹4.17 lakh | CREST example, no loan |
With a loan, CREST's case shows a zero-upfront structure: 90% financed at about 6%, EMI ≈ ₹1,133 for 10 years, and net monthly savings of roughly ₹600 during the loan period. Low-interest collateral-free loans for residential systems are a core feature of PM Surya Ghar — see our homeowner loan guide.
Net metering and the fees that are waived
Chandigarh's tariffs and net-metering rules are set by the JERC (for Goa and Union Territories). For homes installing under PM Surya Ghar, JERC's order dated 8 August 2025 waived the cost of the net meter, the meter testing/installation/maintenance charges and the registration fee (JERC order, listing CPDL among the utilities covered). The net-metering agreement with CPDL is still required. How net metering compares with the alternatives is explained in our net metering vs gross metering guide.
The 500 square yard rule
Rooftop solar is compulsory for residential houses of 500 square yards (one kanal) and above in Chandigarh, under a UT notification of May 2016; the Estate Office has been issuing notices to owners who have not installed (The Tribune). If you are unsure whether your house falls under it, confirm with CREST or the Estate Office before you apply.
How to apply in Chandigarh
- Register on the national portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in) with your CPDL connection and consumer number, or visit a CREST help desk with your documents.
- Choose a vendor empanelled for the scheme and agree the full price, DCR modules and net meter in writing.
- After installation and inspection, CPDL installs the net meter and the plant is commissioned.
- The central subsidy is credited to your bank account by DBT, typically within about 15 days of the redemption request (MNRE, Lok Sabha answer, August 2026).
The full document list and portal walkthrough is in our PM Surya Ghar application guide, and you can track your claim in our status-check guide. For the wider region, start at our Delhi-NCR home solar guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much subsidy for a 3 kW solar plant in Chandigarh?
₹78,000 under PM Surya Ghar. A further ₹30,000 UT top-up has been proposed to the Ministry of Home Affairs but is not approved as of November 2026.
Who gives the subsidy in Chandigarh — CREST or CPDL?
The central CFA is disbursed through the national portal by DBT; CREST is the UT's nodal agency for outreach and help desks, and CPDL handles your connection, net meter and agreement.
Is the ₹30,000 additional Chandigarh subsidy available now?
No. It is a proposal pending with the MHA since October 2025. Only the central subsidy of up to ₹78,000 can be claimed today.
Do I pay for the net meter in Chandigarh?
Not if you install under PM Surya Ghar: JERC's August 2025 order waived the meter cost, testing and maintenance charges, and the registration fee for scheme homes.
Is rooftop solar mandatory for big houses in Chandigarh?
Yes, for houses of 500 square yards (one kanal) and above, under a May 2016 UT notification.
How many units does a 3 kW system make in Chandigarh?
About 300–325 units a month on average, per CREST's example of ~321 units for a 3 kWp plant; actual output varies with season and shading.
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