Hey everyone I'm u/LostSoul5, one of the founding mods of r/SolarPowerIndia.

This sub is for anyone in India trying to figure out rooftop solar for real: quotes, subsidies, DISCOM/net metering, batteries, inverters, and whether an installer is actually worth trusting. Not marketing fluff. Not "get 10 free quotes" spam. Just practical help from people going through the same process.

India solar is confusing on purpose sometimes — every vendor says they're the best, subsidy math gets fuzzy, and a lot of quote platforms feel like lead farms. We're building a place where you can ask dumb questions, share real bills and quotes (redact personal info), and learn from people who've already been through DISCOM approvals and commissioning.

What to post

Good posts:

• "Is this quote fair?" (panel brand, kWp, inverter, price, city)
• PM Surya Ghar / state subsidy questions — eligibility, documents, timelines
• Net metering and DISCOM horror stories (or wins)
• DCR vs non-DCR — when subsidy is worth the hassle
• Battery + inverter wiring (12V vs 24V, lithium vs tubular)
• Installer experiences — good and bad — with specifics, not just "avoid X"
• City/state-specific tips (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, etc.)

Please avoid:

• Drive-by ads and unexplained links
• "DM me for best price" with no details
• Copy-paste SEO articles with no real value

If you're a company or partner, contact moderators first. Educational content is welcome; stealth selling is not.

A few things we wish someone had told us upfront

1. Subsidy is not automatic. PM Surya Ghar can save up to ₹78k, but name mismatches (Aadhaar vs bill), wrong panels (ALMM/DCR), or non-empanelled installers kill claims. Budget time, not just money.
2. Compare net cost, not headline price. A ₹3.35L DCR quote minus subsidy can beat a ₹2.7L non-DCR quote — but only if the subsidy actually lands. Ask your installer how many customers got full CFA and how long it took.
3. "5 kW" on the brochure ≠ 5 kWp on the roof. Check panel count × wattage. Get inverter brand/model in writing.
4. Indians distrust multi-quote marketplaces for a reason. That doesn't mean all quotes are bad — it means accountability matters more than choice overload. One clear scope, one responsible party.
5. Net meter and DISCOM fees are often extra. Not always in the quote. Ask before you sign.

Community vibe

Be direct, be helpful, call out bad advice when you see it — but stay constructive. New homeowners are anxious and getting pitched constantly. If you've been through an install, your experience is gold. If you're still researching, ask away.

We don't endorse installers or remove competitor mentions because someone paid. Partner content, when it exists, will be disclosed. The goal is an informed buyer, not a sold one.

How to get started

• Introduce yourself in the comments: city, roof type, bill range, where you are in the process.
• Post something today — even "₹2.7L for 4.8 kWp Waaree + micro-inverters in Pune, fair?" is a great thread.
• Invite someone stuck in WhatsApp installer hell.
• Want to mod? Message me — we want people who live in this stuff, not just want a badge.

Thanks for being here in the first wave. If we do this right, r/SolarPowerIndia becomes the place people check before they sign, not after they're stuck.

— u/LostSoul5