The subsidy, explained
without the jargon.

You need the right to use the roof, not necessarily ownership on paper. For a rented house or shop, a written No Objection Certificate from the landlord is accepted. For jointly owned family property, a consent letter from the co-owners works. What the portal will not accept is an application with no roof-rights document at all, so settle this before we file — we will tell you exactly which document fits your situation during the survey.

A heavily overcast monsoon day in Nadia typically yields 20–35% of a clear-day output, and light cloud yields 60–80%. Panels work on daylight, not direct sunbeams, so you never drop to zero. This is exactly why the yearly average of about 120 units per kW per month already accounts for the monsoon — we size the system on the annual figure, not the best day. With net metering, your summer surplus is banked against the monsoon shortfall, so the annual bill is what matters.

From the day we submit the commissioning report, the bi-directional net meter is usually fitted within 3 to 6 weeks in the Nadia division. The variable is the local WBSEDCL office workload, not the paperwork — which is why we file early and follow up in person. Your system can run and power your home during this period; only the export crediting begins after the net meter is installed.

Directly to you. The PM Surya Ghar subsidy is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer into the bank account you register on the national portal, usually 30 to 45 days after commissioning. We never handle, hold or deduct your subsidy. You pay us the full system price and receive the government amount separately into your own account.

Surplus units are exported to WBSEDCL and credited against your consumption, and the balance carries forward through the settlement year. You continue to pay fixed charges, meter rent, duty and MVCA — which is why a realistic "after solar" bill is around ₹120 to ₹300 a month rather than zero. Anyone promising a zero-rupee bill is not counting these.

Very little. Panels need washing roughly once a month in the dry season — dust on the glass is the single biggest cause of lost output — and more often near brick kilns or unpaved roads. The inverter needs an annual check, and tubular batteries in a hybrid system need distilled-water top-ups every few months. There are no moving parts in the solar array itself. Our AMC covers all of this if you would rather not climb the roof.

A standard RCC roof carries a solar array comfortably — the mounting structure spreads roughly 15 kg per square metre, far below normal design load. We use ballasted or chemically anchored mounts and seal every penetration; a properly installed system does not cause leaks. For tin or asbestos roofs we use a different clamp system, and for very old structures we will tell you plainly if we think the roof needs work first.