In most apartment buildings the biggest shared electricity costs are the lifts, the water pumps, corridor and parking lights, and often the gate and security cabin. They all run on the society's common-area connection, and a solar plant on the shared roof can take a real bite out of that bill.
What a society plant covers
A common-area plant connects to the society's own meter, not to individual flats. Net metering works per consumer number, so the plant offsets the common-area bill only. Flat owners who want solar for their own flats need separate systems, or a balcony kit.
Pumping water in the daytime suits solar perfectly. Lifts and lights run day and night, but under net metering the units exported during the day are set off against units used in the evening, within the same billing cycle.
The subsidy
Group housing societies and resident welfare associations get central assistance under PM Surya Ghar for common facilities: ₹18,000 per kW, for plants up to 500 kW, with the limit linked to the number of homes in the society. Because the assistance applies to every kW, DCR panels are the right choice for a society at any size.
Five things the committee should settle first
- Roof rights. Does the society own the roof, and does any flat have exclusive use of part of it? Get it clear in writing.
- Which meter. Confirm the common-area connection's consumer number and sanctioned load. The plant can't be larger than that load.
- Tanks and access. Plan around water tanks, stair rooms and dish antennas, and keep a clear path for maintenance.
- The resolution. Most societies pass a resolution at a general meeting before signing, so have the proposal ready before that meeting, not after it.
- Who looks after it. Decide who checks the monitoring app and who arranges cleaning. A year of maintenance is included with our plants.
Making it easy to approve
Members tend to ask three things: what it saves, what it costs to look after, and what happens if something breaks. A good proposal answers all three on one page. Ours includes the society's own bill history, month-by-month generation, the full scope, warranties and who to call.
If your society is in Kolkata, Siliguri or anywhere else in Bengal, send us the common-area bill and a few roof photos. We'll come back with a sizing the committee can discuss. Our roof space guide gives a quick idea of what fits.
Quick answers
Can a housing society get a solar subsidy in West Bengal?
Yes. Under PM Surya Ghar, group housing societies and RWAs get ₹18,000 per kW for common facilities, for plants up to 500 kW.
Will a society solar plant reduce individual flat bills?
No. It connects to the common-area meter and offsets that bill. Flats need their own systems.
Which panels should a housing society use?
DCR panels, because the society assistance applies to every kW and outweighs the DCR premium.