Uttarakhand Solar Subsidy 2026: CFA, Rates & UPCL Steps

Does Uttarakhand Give a Solar Subsidy for Homes in 2026?

Yes — Uttarakhand is a special-category state under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, so households get ₹33,000 per kWp for the first 2 kWp and ₹19,800 for the third kWp, capped at ₹85,800 — about 10% more than the ₹78,000 cap in most of India (MNRE scheme guidelines). The state's own ₹17,000/kW top-up, however, was discontinued from 1 April 2025, and new plants now earn ₹2.00 per unit for surplus power exported to UPCL.

TL;DR:

• Central CFA in Uttarakhand: ₹33,000 for 1 kW, ₹66,000 for 2 kW, ₹85,800 (maximum) for 3 kW or larger.
• MNRE benchmark cost is also higher here: ₹55,000/kW for the first 2 kW and ₹49,500 for the third kW.
• The state top-up of ₹17,000/kW (up to ₹51,000) ended on 1 April 2025; only plants commissioned by 31 March 2025 still receive it.
• Surplus exported to UPCL is paid at a flat ₹2.00/unit for plants commissioned in 2025-26 and 2026-27 — size your system for self-consumption, not export income.

Last verified: 2 November 2026

What Changed Recently

• 1 April 2025: the Uttarakhand state top-up of ₹17,000/kW was discontinued, as recorded in UERC's generic tariff order of 20 August 2025 (summarised by Luminity).
• August 2025: UERC set a flat ₹2.00 per unit as the surplus price for new net-metered plants commissioned in 2025-26.
• March 2026: the state cabinet restored the top-up only for plants that were already operational by 31 March 2025; UREDA has been releasing those pending payments.
• 4 June 2026: UERC kept ₹2.00 per unit for plants commissioned in 2026-27; a review petition by a generators' body was rejected on 12 October 2026.
• 31 March 2027: the current implementation period of PM Surya Ghar ends (scheme runs till FY 2026-27 per the MNRE guidelines). Confirm continuity with UREDA or the National Portal before planning an installation late in the financial year.

CFA Rates for Uttarakhand Households

Source: MNRE PM Surya Ghar CFA guidelines. Special-category treatment applies to Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, the North-East states, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

The same guidelines fix the MNRE benchmark cost at ₹55,000/kW for the first 2 kW and ₹49,500 for the third kW in special-category states — against ₹50,000/₹45,000 elsewhere — because hill installations cost more. The benchmark is the government's yardstick for computing CFA, not a price guarantee: with DCR modules mandatory for the subsidy and trading at roughly ₹24–27 per watt (Financial Express, June 2026), actual hill quotes can run above the benchmark. Get three registered-vendor quotes before signing.

Worked Example: 3 kW Home in Dehradun

Assumptions:

• Benchmark cost: 2 × ₹55,000 + ₹49,500 = ₹1,59,500 (MNRE benchmark; market quotes vary).
• CFA for 3 kW: ₹85,800.
• Net cost on benchmark: ₹1,59,500 − ₹85,800 = ₹73,700.
• Generation: about 4 units per kW per day for hill terrain — roughly 4,400 units a year for 3 kW (indicative; see our units-per-kW guide for North Indian cities).

If the home self-consumes most of that output against UPCL domestic slab tariffs of ₹5–7 per unit (check your own bill — slab tariffs vary), the saving is roughly ₹22,000–31,000 a year, implying a simple payback of about 2.5–3.5 years on the benchmark net cost. Every unit exported rather than self-consumed earns only ₹2.00, which stretches payback — another reason to size to your daytime load rather than your roof's maximum.

Net Metering Rules for Homes (UPCL / UERC)

Rooftop solar in Uttarakhand is governed by UERC's Renewable Energy Regulations (with recent amendments) and the yearly generic tariff orders. The points that matter for households:

Details per Luminity's Uttarakhand guide, which tracks the UERC orders; confirm the current position with UPCL or the UERC website before financial modelling, as orders are amended frequently. A practical trap: plants connected on a no-objection basis without a signed net-metering agreement may have to inject surplus free of cost — always sign the agreement.

How to Apply for the Uttarakhand Solar Subsidy

1. Register on the National Portal with your UPCL consumer number — our step-by-step application guide covers every screen.
2. Pick a size from your last 12 months of bills. Up to 3 kW captures the maximum CFA per kW.
3. Choose a vendor registered for Uttarakhand on the portal; systems up to 10 kW need no feasibility study.
4. After installation, submit the installation certificate and plant details. UPCL fits the net meter (within 7 days), the Electrical Inspector issues clearance, and the plant must demonstrate a 75% performance ratio.
5. Once inspection is approved on the portal, the CFA is transferred to your bank account — typically within about 15 days of completing the formalities, per PIB. Your commissioning date fixes which surplus rate applies.

UPCL's own rooftop portal (usrp.upcl.org) tracks applications, and UREDA posts scheme documents and subsidy-release lists on its solar schemes page. The national helpline is 15555.

Collateral-free loans at around 7% interest are available for systems up to 3 kW through the National Portal — see our home solar loan guide for lender options.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Counting on the state top-up. It is not available for plants commissioned from 1 April 2025.
• Oversizing for export income. At ₹2.00 per surplus unit, export-only sizing destroys returns.
• Skipping the net-metering agreement with UPCL. Without it, surplus may be uncompensated.
• Losing your commissioning certificate. Its date fixes your surplus rate and subsidy eligibility.
• Non-DCR panels. Even one non-DCR module makes the system ineligible for the CFA.

Households in neighbouring plains states should compare the Uttar Pradesh residential solar subsidy guide and the Delhi-NCR home solar guide; societies and RWAs have a separate route under our housing society solar guide.

If you run a factory, hotel or institution in Uttarakhand instead, the commercial route is different — see our industrial solar guide for Rudrapur and Haridwar or Sun Wave Technologies' industrial rooftop solar practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much subsidy does a 3kW solar system get in Uttarakhand?

₹85,800 — the maximum under PM Surya Ghar, at the special-category rate of ₹33,000/kWp for the first 2 kWp plus ₹19,800 for the third kWp. Systems larger than 3 kWp receive no additional CFA.

Is the Uttarakhand state solar subsidy still available?

Not for new systems. The ₹17,000/kW top-up (up to ₹51,000) was discontinued from 1 April 2025, as recorded in UERC's August 2025 tariff order. The state cabinet restored it in March 2026 only for plants operational by 31 March 2025, whose pending payments UREDA is releasing.

What rate does UPCL pay for surplus solar units?

₹2.00 per unit for net-metered plants commissioned in 2025-26 and 2026-27, for the plant's life. UERC retained the ₹2.00 rate in its June 2026 order and rejected a review petition in October 2026. Plants commissioned earlier keep the rate in force at their commissioning.

Do I need DCR panels to claim the subsidy in Uttarakhand?

Yes — nationwide rule. PM Surya Ghar CFA requires domestically manufactured modules made from domestically manufactured cells; a single non-DCR module makes the system ineligible.

What size solar system should a Uttarakhand home install?

Size to your daytime consumption, not your roof. A 3 kW system captures the maximum CFA of ₹85,800 and suits homes using roughly 300–400 units a month. Because surplus earns only ₹2.00 per unit, oversizing pays poorly.

How long does the PM Surya Ghar subsidy take to reach my account?

About 15 days after inspection, net-meter agreement upload and approval on the National Portal, per PIB. Delays usually trace to incomplete documentation or a missing Electrical Inspector clearance.