Group Net Metering India 2026: How Housing Societies & Campuses Share Solar

Group Net Metering (GNM) in India: The Ultimate Guide for Commercial & Institutional Clusters

The landscape of solar energy in India is evolving rapidly beyond single-roof installations. For large entities with multiple electricity connections spread across different locations within the same DISCOM (Distribution Company) area, a revolutionary policy exists: Group Net Metering (GNM).

However, there is a common misconception that needs to be cleared immediately: Group Net Metering is strictly for Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Agricultural consumer groups. It is NOT available for individual residential consumers.

In this comprehensive guide, Bridgeway Power leverages its 35+ years of expertise to explain how GNM works, which states offer it, and how your business or institution can slash electricity bills by leveraging unused roof space.

What is Group Net Metering (GNM)?

Group Net Metering allows a consumer who has multiple electricity connections (service numbers) under the same entity name to install a solar power plant at one location and adjust the excess energy generated against the electricity bills of their other locations.

The Core Difference: GNM vs. Virtual Net Metering (VNM)

It is easy to confuse Group Net Metering with Virtual Net Metering, but the regulatory distinctions are vital:

1. Group Net Metering (GNM): Requires a formally defined group or a single entity with multiple connections across different locations. The "surplus" energy from the solar site is exported to the grid and credited to other service connections owned by the same entity. It uses a shared billing/settlement mechanism.
2. Virtual Net Metering (VNM): This is designed for consumers who do not have a roof at all (like individual flat owners). In VNM, a third party or the DISCOM installs a solar plant, and independent consumers receive credits on their individual bills based on their share of the plant.

Who Can Benefit from GNM? (Eligible Entities)

Since GNM is restricted to commercial and institutional clusters, here are the primary beneficiaries:

1. Registered Housing Societies (As a Single Entity)

While an individual flat owner cannot use GNM for their personal kitchen and bedroom lights, a Residential Welfare Association (RWA) or a Registered Housing Society can. They use GNM to power common area utilities—elevators, streetlights, water pumps, and clubhouses—across multiple blocks using a large solar array on a single rooftop.

2. Commercial Complexes and Retail Chains

A shopping mall group with multiple buildings in the same city can install a massive solar plant on the roof of their largest warehouse and offset the bills of their smaller retail outlets located elsewhere under the same DISCOM.

3. Industrial Parks and SEZs

Industrial groups with multiple manufacturing units or sheds can consolidate their solar generation. If 'Unit A' has a 50,000 sq. ft. roof but low power needs, and 'Unit B' has high power needs but no roof, GNM allows Unit A to power Unit B.

4. Educational & Healthcare Institutions

Universities with multiple campuses or hospital groups with several diagnostic centers across a city can use their primary campus roof to offset bills for all satellite centers.

5. Agricultural Pump Cooperatives

Groups of farmers forming a cooperative can install a single large solar plant to power several distributed agricultural water pumps, significantly reducing the cost of irrigation.

State-Wise DISCOM Procedures & Realities

The implementation of GNM varies depending on the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).

Delhi (BRPL & BYPL)

Delhi was a pioneer in GNM. Under the Delhi Solar Policy, BSES Rajdhani (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna (BYPL) allow GNM for:

• Government buildings.
• Hospitals and Educational Institutions.
• Registered Housing Societies.
• Capacity Limit: Usually capped at the sanctioned load of the connection where the solar plant is installed, or up to 2 MW per project.

Rajasthan (JVVNL, AVVNL, JdVVNL)

Rajasthan has some of the highest solar irradiance in India. The three major DISCOMs—Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (JVVNL), Ajmer (AVVNL), and Jodhpur (JdVVNL)—allow GNM primarily for Government entities and specific institutional clusters.

• Settlement: The surplus energy is adjusted at the end of the billing cycle. Unlike residential net metering, which often carries over for a year, commercial GNM may have stricter settlement periods (monthly or half-yearly) depending on the latest RERC (Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission) amendments.

How GNM Works: The Technical Process

1. Solar Generation (Site A): Solar panels are installed on the available roof of Site A.
2. Self-Consumption: Site A first uses the energy it needs.
3. Export to Grid: Surplus energy is sent to the grid through a bidirectional meter.
4. Credit Allocation: The exported units are mathematically deducted from the bills of Site B, Site C, and Site D.
5. Adjusted Billing: The entity pays the DISCOM only for the "Net" units consumed across all sites after the solar credits are applied.

Crucial Requirement: The Common Entity

All participating connections MUST be under the same name and the same consumer category (e.g., all must be 'Commercial' or all 'Institutional'). You cannot offset a Commercial shop's bill with a Residential home's solar plant.

Application Process for Commercial Groups

To initiate a GNM project, follow these steps:

1. Feasibility Study: Conduct a professional site survey to assess roof strength and shadow-free area at the source site.
2. Entity Documentation: Gather the service numbers (CA numbers) of all sites intended for the group. Ensure all are under the same GST/PAN-registered name.
3. DISCOM Application: Submit a formal GNM application to your local DISCOM (e.g., JVVNL or BSES). This includes a single-line diagram (SLD) of the solar plant.
4. Agreement Signing: Sign a Group Net Metering agreement with the DISCOM specifying the priority order for credit distribution (e.g., "First credit Site B, then Site C").
5. Installation & Metering: Install the solar plant and replace the existing meter at the source site with a Net Meter provided or approved by the DISCOM.

The Economics: Savings & Payback

For commercial clusters, the ROI on GNM is exceptionally high because commercial electricity tariffs in India range from ₹8 to ₹12 per unit.

• Average Solar Cost: ₹45,000 - ₹55,000 per kW (for large commercial systems).
• Solar Generation: 1 kW produces approx. 1,500 units per year.
• Annual Savings: A 100 kW GNM system can save approximately ₹12,00,000 to ₹15,00,000 annually on electricity bills across the group.
• Payback Period: Typically 3.5 to 4.5 years. Considering solar panels have a 25-year warranty, you get over 20 years of nearly free electricity.

Conclusion: Is GNM Right for You?

Group Net Metering is a game-changer for businesses and institutions with a distributed footprint. It eliminates the limitation of "no roof space" at your high-consumption sites by utilizing your available space elsewhere.

Key Takeaways:

• Not for individuals: If you are a single-home owner, stick to standard Net Metering under PM Surya Ghar.
• Perfect for RWAs: Power your entire society's common infrastructure efficiently.
• Asset Optimization: Turn an empty warehouse roof into a power plant for your retail outlets.

At Bridgeway Power, we have three decades of experience navigating the complex regulatory frameworks of DISCOMs like JVVNL and BSES. We don't just install panels; we manage the entire GNM approval process for you.

Ready to power your commercial cluster with solar? Contact Bridgeway Power today for a free GNM feasibility audit of your properties.

FAQ

What is Group Net Metering (GNM)?

Group Net Metering lets a single owner install solar at one location and use the exported units to offset electricity bills at other locations they own under the same DISCOM. It is the primary mechanism for commercial and industrial owners with multiple premises to consolidate solar generation on one suitable roof.

How is GNM different from Virtual Net Metering?

GNM requires a single legal owner across all participating connections. VNM allows multiple different owners (like flat owners in a society) to share one plant. Housing societies use VNM; a company with several branches uses GNM.

Which states allow Group Net Metering in India?

Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and several others have notified GNM policies. Cap sizes, carry-forward rules and cross-DISCOM restrictions differ — always verify your state's current DERC/SERC order before designing the plant.

Is there a maximum plant size under GNM?

Most states cap GNM plant capacity at 500 kW to 1 MW per applicant, with the total contracted load across participating connections acting as the upper limit. Delhi allows up to 500 kW under net metering rules; larger plants move to net billing or open access.

Do all participating connections need to be on the same voltage level?

No, but they must be under the same DISCOM. The billing engine converts exported units to credits at the applicable tariff for each consuming connection, so a HT commercial connection and an LT office can both draw credit from the same solar plant.