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PM Surya Ghar for Housing Societies: RWA Solar Subsidy 2026

A Group Housing Society or Resident Welfare Association can claim a central subsidy of 18,000 rupees per kW under PM Surya Ghar for solar on common facilities, such as lifts, water pumps, common lighting, and EV charging. The subsidy runs up to a total of 500 kW, calculated at 3 kW per house in the society. This is a separate slab from the individual rooftop subsidy.

Quick answer. Apply as a society on the national portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in. For common-area solar, the Central Financial Assistance is 18,000 rupees per kW, capped at 500 kW for the whole society at 3 kW per flat. The cap counts any individual rooftop plants residents have already installed.

Subsidy at a glance

Who applies What the solar powers Central subsidy Upper limit
Group Housing Society or RWA Common facilities: lifts, pumps, common lights, EV charging 18,000 rupees per kW 500 kW total, at 3 kW per house
Individual household Your own flat or home 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW, then 18,000 per kW for the third kW 78,000 rupees for 3 kW or more

The society slab is for shared loads that no single flat owns. Individual residents can separately claim the household subsidy for their own rooftop, and that individual capacity counts inside the society's 500 kW ceiling.

Why the society slab exists

In an apartment complex, the biggest steady power bill is not inside any one flat. It is the common load: lifts running all day, water pumps, corridor and stairwell lights, and increasingly EV chargers in the parking. That bill is shared by every owner through maintenance charges.

PM Surya Ghar lets the society put solar on the terrace or common area to cut that shared bill, and gives a flat 18,000 rupees per kW to help pay for it. Lower common charges benefit every resident, including those who cannot install their own rooftop system.

Step by step: how a society applies

  1. Pass a resolution. The managing committee should approve going solar and authorise a signatory, so the application and later fund flow are clean.
  2. Register on the national portal. Apply at pmsuryaghar.gov.in as a Group Housing Society or RWA, with the society registration and the electricity connection details for the common meter.
  3. Get feasibility approval. Your electricity distribution company checks the connection and sanctions the load for the common-area plant.
  4. Install through a registered vendor. Use a vendor empanelled with your DISCOM so the plant qualifies for the subsidy and net metering.
  5. Apply for net metering and inspection. After installation, the DISCOM inspects the plant and commissions the net meter.
  6. Claim the subsidy. Submit the commissioning report and the society bank details on the portal. The Central Financial Assistance is released to the society account.

Documents the society needs

Common mistakes

A real example

The managing committee of a 60-flat society in Pune installed a 40 kW plant on the terrace to run its lifts, pumps, and stair lights. It applied on the national portal as an RWA, used a DISCOM-empanelled vendor, and completed net metering. At 18,000 rupees per kW, the society received 7.2 lakh rupees in Central Financial Assistance. The common electricity bill fell sharply, and the saving was passed to owners as lower maintenance charges.

Frequently asked questions

How much subsidy does a housing society get under PM Surya Ghar?

18,000 rupees per kW for common-facility solar, up to a total of 500 kW for the society, calculated at 3 kW per house. This is a distinct slab from the individual household subsidy.

What can the society solar plant power?

Common facilities that the whole society shares: lifts, water pumps, common-area and stairwell lighting, and EV charging points. It is meant for shared loads, not individual flats.

Is the society subsidy the same as the household one?

No. Individual homes get 30,000 rupees per kW up to 2 kW and 18,000 for the third kW, capped at 78,000 for 3 kW. Societies get a flat 18,000 per kW for common-area solar up to 500 kW.

Can residents still claim their own rooftop subsidy?

Yes. Individual owners can claim the household subsidy for their own flat, and that capacity is counted within the society's 500 kW ceiling for common-area solar.

Where does a society apply for PM Surya Ghar?

On the national portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in, registering as a Group Housing Society or RWA, with the common-area connection details and a committee resolution authorising the application.

When is the subsidy paid to the society?

After the plant is installed by a DISCOM-empanelled vendor, net metering is done, and the DISCOM inspects and commissions it. The Central Financial Assistance is then released to the society bank account.

What if the DISCOM delays the feasibility or subsidy?

Because the DISCOM and the nodal agency are public authorities, a Right to Information application asking for the status of the society application and the reason for delay is a lawful way to get a written answer and unblock the file.

Sources