ALMM, Subsidy and Net Metering: Policy Points to Verify Before You Install in 2026
Saraswati Solar Team · 2/4/2026 · 7 min
Solar policy changes faster than the hardware. What to check on your quotation so a rule change does not cost you your subsidy.
Solar policy in India changes faster than the hardware does. If you are planning an installation this year, these are the areas worth tracking and, more importantly, the way to verify them before committing money.
ALMM and your quotation
The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers restricts which modules — and increasingly which cells — may be used in government-supported and subsidy-linked projects. On a subsidised residential rooftop, a non-listed module can put your subsidy at risk however good the panel is. Ask your vendor for the ALMM listing of the exact model quoted to you.
Domestic content requirements
Several central and state programmes require domestically manufactured content. This mostly affects government tenders and scheme-linked projects rather than a privately funded commercial rooftop, but it does influence the availability and pricing of compliant modules.
Residential subsidy structure
The PM Surya Ghar structure has been steady: roughly ₹30,000 for the first kilowatt, ₹60,000 for two, and a ₹78,000 ceiling for systems of three kilowatts and above, credited after installation and inspection. What changes more often is the portal workflow, vendor empanelment and DISCOM processing timelines.
Net metering rules are set by your state
Capacity limits, whether banking is allowed, the settlement period and the treatment of surplus units differ across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, and they are revised periodically. A rule that applied when your neighbour installed two years ago may not apply to your application today.
Verify these four things in writing
- The ALMM listing reference for the quoted module model
- The current net metering capacity limit against your sanctioned load
- Who files the subsidy claim, and what happens if it is delayed or rejected
- The expected timeline from installation to meter change, and the vendor's role in it
Rather than relying on a forwarded message about a new scheme, call us and we will tell you what actually applies to your connection today.