Can housing societies really run entirely on solar?
Yes, and more are doing it every year. With smarter rooftop designs, group or virtual net metering, and flexible financing models, societies across India are cutting common-area electricity bills and long-term maintenance costs.
The idea is simple: generate solar power on your rooftops, share credits across meters, and balance the rest with grid power or battery backup. Here’s how your society can move toward a 100% solar-powered model while staying financially practical.
What “100% Solar” Means for Societies
For RWAs and housing societies, being 100% solar doesn’t mean going completely off-grid. It means your common-area loads lifts, pumps, lighting, STP, and clubhouse are powered by rooftop generation, while any extra or shortfall is managed through the grid.
With new rules for Group Net Metering (GNM) and Virtual Net Metering (VNM), even societies with uneven roof space can share solar generation across multiple meters. That makes achieving near-total solar coverage more realistic than ever.
Why Policies Make It Easier Now
State-level policies are rapidly evolving.
- Rajasthan’s 2025 framework explicitly supports VNM and GNM, faster approvals, and installations on terraces, raised structures, land, and even water bodies.
- Maharashtra’s DISCOM portal now lists society eligibility, documentation steps, and timelines for virtual net metering applications.
These updates mean faster approvals, transparent credit settlement, and fewer administrative roadblocks for housing societies adopting solar.
How a Society Solar System Works
- Panels generate DC power from sunlight.
- Inverters convert DC to AC for daily loads like lifts and pumps.
- The switchboard distributes power to common circuits, with the grid filling shortfalls.
- A bi-directional meter records both import and export, allowing credits through net or group/virtual net metering.
- Monitoring tools let your committee track generation, health, and savings in real time.
Pathways to Reach 100%
- Maximize rooftop area: Analyze shading, tilt, and safe access to get maximum energy from every surface.
- Share credits: Use GNM or VNM to allocate solar units to multiple society meters.
- Add storage: For power cuts affecting lifts or pumps, install a hybrid inverter with batteries for essential backup.
Cost Planning for Societies
In 2025, typical installed prices range between ₹35,000 and ₹60,000 per kW, depending on structure height, component quality, and system size.
Larger installations usually achieve better per-kW pricing because of scale advantages.
When you compare proposals, always review a detailed cost breakdown covering:
- Engineering and design
- Protections, wiring, and structure height
- Metering hardware
- Long-term O&M commitments
Understanding these helps you evaluate your true solar installation cost over the system’s lifetime not just the upfront price.
For smaller references, the cost of solar panel installation for home typically starts at ₹5.8–₹6.4 lakh for a 10 kW system. Societies often benefit from better pricing because of larger rooftops and simpler logistics, so your solar power installation cost per kW may be lower.
Use Clear Keywords in Vendor RFPs
When sending RFPs or quotation requests, use consistent phrases that make comparison easy:
- “Grid-tied rooftop with net metering”
- “Group net metering for multiple society meters”
- “Hybrid with battery backup for lifts and pumps”
Including terms like solar power installation cost or solar panel home installation cost helps vendors provide complete, transparent proposals.
Subsidies and Approvals
The national rooftop program provides central subsidies for residential systems, and several state DISCOMs have simplified the process for housing societies.
Before design finalization, check with your DISCOM about:
- Net metering caps and transformer capacity limits
- GNM/VNM eligibility for your category
- Required documentation and timelines
Doing this upfront avoids rework and keeps your project compliant.
How Solar Cuts Maintenance Costs
- Direct bill reduction: Solar offsets daytime grid usage, cutting common-area expenses.
- Stable long-term budgets: With no fuel costs, solar provides predictable operating expenses.
- Lower generator runtime: Adding batteries can reduce diesel costs and noise pollution.
- Simplified O&M: Regular monitoring and cleaning prevent unexpected failures, helping RWAs plan maintenance better.
These factors collectively reduce monthly maintenance contributions for residents over time.
Step-by-Step Roadmap for RWAs
- Audit loads and tariffs: Identify daytime power usage for lifts, pumps, and lighting.
- Survey rooftops: Check for shadows, access, and structure strength.
- Verify metering options: Confirm your eligibility for net, group, or virtual net metering.
- Compare at least three quotes: Include details like panel class, inverter type, structure, and O&M.
- Select financing model: Choose CAPEX for higher long-term ROI or RESCO for zero initial spend.
- Commission and monitor: Track daily generation and export credits from day one.
Ready to Make Your Society 100% Solar?
Becoming a 100% solar-powered housing society isn’t a futuristic goal it’s achievable today with smart planning, transparent metering, and the right partner.
If your committee is exploring solar adoption or comparing quotes, EnergySPOC can help you design, implement, and maintain a system that maximizes savings while staying policy-compliant.
From site assessment and cost analysis to installation, monitoring, and O&M, EnergySPOC provides complete support to ensure your society’s solar investment delivers value year after year reducing bills, improving sustainability, and making your community truly energy independent.