How to Increase Sanctioned Load for Solar in Haryana

When do you need a sanctioned load increase before installing solar?

When the solar plant and your existing load together would exceed your sanctioned connected load (LT) or contract demand (HT) — or when the feeding transformer has no spare capacity — you must get load enhancement or contract-demand enhancement approved by DHBVN/UHBVN first. Haryana ties net-metering capacity to your sanctioned load, so an inadequate sanction stalls the solar application, not just the connection.

TL;DR:

• LT connections (up to 50 kW) enhance connected load; HT connections (above 50 kW) enhance contract demand in kVA — the tariff split changed with the merged HT category in FY 2025-26.
• Online application via DHBVN's connection portal; published charges include a ₹25/kW application processing fee (capped at ₹20,000, above 2 kW) and ₹1,000/kW Advance Consumption Deposit for industrial supply; extension-in-load and any network works are estimated case by case.
• Sequence matters: enhance load → CEI inspection and release → then file for net metering. And once running, keep maximum demand within 110% of contract demand — above that, a 20–25% surcharge applies to the month's entire bill.

Last verified: 9 November 2026

Jump to: LT or HT: which process applies · Why solar triggers it · Step-by-step process · What it costs · The 110% demand-surcharge trap · Worked example · FAQ

LT or HT: which process applies?

HERC's merged tariff structure applies the HT schedule to industry and non-domestic supply above 50 kW, with LT remaining for loads up to 50 kW (FY 2026-27 schedule, order dated 25 March 2026, issued in DHBVN Sales Circular D-06/2026).

Source: DHBVN Sales Circular D-06/2026 — the FY 2026-27 tariff schedule.

Why solar triggers a load enhancement

Three situations bring factory owners to this process:

1. Net-metering capacity is capped relative to your sanction. Haryana links permissible rooftop capacity to your sanctioned load/contract demand and the feeding transformer's spare capacity. If you want 500 kW of solar on a 300 kVA sanction, the sanction has to move first. The caps and definitions are in our DHBVN net-metering guide and UHBVN guide.
2. The transformer is the harder ceiling. Even a generous sanction fails if the distribution transformer cannot absorb your plant's export or feed your expanded load. Check this before applying: transformer feasibility for industrial rooftop solar.
3. You are adding load alongside solar (new machinery, an EV fleet, a cold room) and the combined requirement crosses the existing sanction.

Step-by-step process with DHBVN or UHBVN

1. Fix the target load with your electrical consultant. Work from the maximum-demand reading on recent bills, the new equipment schedule, and the solar plant size you intend to seek net metering for. Build in headroom — see the 110% rule below.
2. Check transformer and feeder feasibility early. Ask your SDO (Op) office whether the feeding transformer has spare capacity for both the enhanced load and the plant; a negative answer reshapes the whole project.
3. Apply online through DHBVN's connection portal (UHBVN runs the equivalent portal): application form, proof of ownership or allotment, load schedule and single-line diagram, and equipment test reports as applicable.
4. Pay the prescribed charges. The DISCOM issues the demand note/estimate for extension-in-load and any network reinforcement; you pay before release.
5. CEI inspection. For HT and enhanced loads, the electrical installation is inspected by the Chief Electrical Inspector's office before the DISCOM energises.
6. Receive the load sanction letter. Keep it — it anchors your net-metering application, which follows the standard rooftop process in our net-metering application guide.

Timelines depend on transformer capacity, estimate value and inspection queues; DHBVN commits to service timelines under the Haryana Right to Service Act framework on its portal — confirm the current committed timeline for load enhancement when you apply.

What it costs

Two cautions: the processing fee and ACD are published on DHBVN's connection portal, but extension-in-load charges are estimated per case — never budget from second-hand figures. And for HT consumers, the enhancement is quoted against additional contract demand in kVA, so convert machinery loads (kW) at a realistic power factor before you apply.

The 110% demand-surcharge trap

From 29 July 2026, HERC's Supply Code amendment levies a surcharge when maximum demand exceeds contract demand: 20% of the month's total charges above 110% of contract demand, and 25% above 115%. One bad half-hour sets the month. If you are enhancing load to add machinery, sanction enough contract demand that your normal running peak sits comfortably under the 110% band — otherwise the surcharge can exceed the cost of the enhancement itself. The Haryana rates and the surcharge bands are in our demand-charge guide.

Worked example: Faridabad factory expanding to 500 kW solar

Assumptions: 11 kV HT connection (DHBVN), contract demand 300 kVA, factory plans a 500 kW rooftop plant plus 150 kW of new machinery.

1. Sanction required: to host a 500 kW plant within Haryana's net-metering linkage to contract demand, the factory seeks a contract-demand enhancement to ~600 kVA (covering machinery and headroom under the 110% band).
2. Published charges: application processing fee capped at ₹20,000; ACD on the additional 300 kVA at ₹1,000 = ₹3,00,000 (adjustable). Extension-in-load and any transformer/feeder works come via the DISCOM estimate.
3. Ongoing cost of the bigger sanction: fixed charge rises from 300 × ₹290 = ₹87,000 to 600 × ₹290 = ₹1,74,000 a month (FY 2026-27) — ₹10.44 lakh a year. That is the real trade-off to weigh against solar savings, and it is why plant sizing and demand planning belong in the same exercise.
4. Sequence: enhancement sanctioned → CEI inspection → connection works released → net-metering application filed → plant commissioned. Buying the solar plant before the sanction moves is the classic ordering mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install solar larger than my sanctioned load in Haryana?

No — Haryana's net-metering framework ties permissible rooftop capacity to your sanctioned load/contract demand and the feeding transformer's capacity. If your target plant exceeds the sanction, apply for enhancement first; the caps are set out in our DHBVN net-metering guide.

How long does a load enhancement take?

It depends on transformer capacity, the estimate value and inspection load — weeks in straightforward LT cases, longer where network reinforcement is needed. DHBVN publishes committed timelines under the Haryana Right to Service Act; ask for the current commitment when you file.

What is the difference between connected load and contract demand?

Connected load (kW) is the sum of the ratings of equipment you may connect — it governs LT connections up to 50 kW. Contract demand (kVA) is the maximum draw you are entitled to place on the network — it governs HT connections above 50 kW, and it is what the ₹290/kVA fixed charge is billed on in FY 2026-27.

Do I need CEI approval for a load enhancement?

For HT and enhanced industrial installations, the electrical installation must pass the Chief Electrical Inspector's inspection before the DISCOM releases supply. Budget for test reports and any rectification the inspection requires.

What happens if I exceed my sanctioned load instead of enhancing it?

Exceeding contract demand beyond the permitted band now carries a 20–25% surcharge on the month's entire bill (from 29 July 2026), and unauthorised load is separately chargeable under the supply code. Enhancement before you add load is always cheaper.

Who can help with the solar side of this?

Sun Wave Technologies takes C&I rooftop projects from feasibility and DISCOM filings through commissioning in Faridabad and Delhi-NCR — see our industrial solar service page for scope and reference pricing.