If you have decided on rooftop solar in Chennai, the paperwork is the part most likely to slow you down, and most of it is easier than it sounds.
The documents required for solar panel installation fall into three stages: what you need to sign with an installer, what the PM Surya Ghar subsidy needs, and what net metering and switch-on need. You supply the identity, property and electricity-bill papers; a good installer handles the drawings and applications.
Quick answer: Gather this week: your latest TANGEDCO bill (ideally 12 months), ID and address proof, property ownership proof, a cancelled cheque or bank passbook page, and a mobile number linked to Aadhaar. Flat owners also need a written association approval for roof use. Rules and portal steps change, so check the PM Surya Ghar portal and TANGEDCO before submitting.
In this guide
- Why we ask for paperwork before we talk about panels
- Stage 1: what you need to sign with an installer
- Stage 2: what the PM Surya Ghar subsidy needs
- Stage 3: net metering and final switch-on
- Who supplies what
- A house versus a flat: how the list changes
- What delays or rejects applications
- Questions we get that the checklists skip
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
- Get your documents checked before you commit
Why we ask for paperwork before we talk about panels
We check documents before design because the name on the electricity connection, the sanctioned load and the right to use the roof decide whether an application is accepted. A system can be designed perfectly and still sit switched off because the bill is in a late father's name. Fixing that after installation costs weeks. Fixing it before costs a visit to the TANGEDCO office.
Stage 1: what you need to sign with an installer
To get a proper quote and design, an installer needs proof of who you are, proof the connection is yours, and information about the roof. You supply all of it.
- Latest TANGEDCO bill. It carries your consumer number, sanctioned load, tariff category and meter details. Share it before the system is designed. If you can, give us the last 12 months so we can see seasonal use, especially with several ACs.
- ID proof. Aadhaar is the one most often needed, since the subsidy portal links to it. PAN or a passport is useful as backup.
- Address proof. Usually the electricity bill itself works if the address matches your ID. If not, a property tax receipt or Aadhaar address helps.
- Roof details. Photos of the terrace, any water tanks, staircase rooms and shadows. We measure on a site visit, but photos help us give a sensible first estimate. As a rule of thumb, 2 kW needs about 160–200 sq ft of shadow-free area, 3 kW about 250–300 sq ft, and 4 kW about 330–400 sq ft. The terrace total is not the usable area.
The installer's own documents matter too. You should receive a written quotation with the system size, panel and inverter make, warranty terms and payment schedule. Ask to see it before paying anything.
Stage 2: what the PM Surya Ghar subsidy needs
The subsidy is applied for on the national portal, and the order matters: complete the portal and DISCOM process before installation, not after. Installing first and checking eligibility later can put the claim at risk.
- Your consumer number and a registered mobile number and email.
- Aadhaar details, and an Aadhaar-linked mobile for verification.
- A bank account in your name, with a cancelled cheque or passbook page. The subsidy is credited there after commissioning.
- Proof the roof is yours or you have the owner's consent.
- An installer who is registered for the scheme, and equipment that meets its requirements. You can read how to check that on our page about approved PM Surya Ghar vendors in Chennai.
For indicative planning, a 3 kW system for a typical 2-3 BHK house comes to about ₹1.35–1.5 lakh after the ₹78,000 subsidy (indicative 2026 pricing). Use the Chennai solar subsidy calculator for your own case, and confirm the current amount on the portal.
Stage 3: net metering and final switch-on
Net metering paperwork is mostly the installer's job, but your signature and your documents feed it. The application to TANGEDCO typically includes the bill details, sanctioned load, technical drawings or single-line diagram, equipment specifications, and your consent. After installation come the DISCOM inspection, meter replacement or reprogramming, and commissioning paperwork.
The document that holds the key project specifications is the technical design package: the single-line diagram, layout drawing and equipment datasheets, with the system size and inverter rating. Ask for a copy. It is what TANGEDCO inspects against, and it is what you will need for any warranty claim later.
Who supplies what
| Document | Stage | Who supplies it |
|---|---|---|
| TANGEDCO bills, consumer number | 1, 2, 3 | You |
| Aadhaar, PAN, address proof | 1, 2 | You |
| Property or tenancy proof | 1, 2 | You |
| Bank details, cancelled cheque | 2 | You |
| Association NOC (flats) | 1, 3 | You, from your association |
| Portal registration and application | 2 | Installer, with your login and OTPs |
| Technical drawings, datasheets | 3 | Installer |
| Net metering application, inspection, commissioning | 3 | Installer, with your signature |
Exact lists vary by scheme and DISCOM and are updated from time to time; confirm against the official portal and TANGEDCO.
A house versus a flat: how the list changes
Take two owners. The first has an independent house with a single-phase connection in their own name. Their list is short: bill, Aadhaar, property tax receipt, bank details.
The one thing we check is load: a single-phase connection may limit the system size, and the sanctioned load and phase type on the bill tell us what is workable. A 3 kW system is common for a 2-3 BHK house, so we confirm that early.
The second owns a flat. Their bill covers only their own meter, and the roof belongs to everyone. They need all of the above plus a written approval from the association (a resolution or NOC) that allows panel installation, roof access and cable routing. Without it, neither the subsidy nor net metering should be pursued.
Our guide on solar for apartments in Chennai explains how associations usually approach this. Flats often need a different arrangement from a house, so verify what applies to your building.
Tenants should get a signed consent letter from the landlord, and the connection usually needs to be in the owner's name for the subsidy.
What delays or rejects applications
- Name mismatch. Bill in one name, Aadhaar and bank account in another. Transfer the connection first.
- Unlinked mobile. OTPs go to the Aadhaar-linked number, so keep that phone with you.
- Arrears on the bill. Unpaid dues can hold up an application.
- Missing association approval. This is the commonest delay for flats.
- Installing before approval. It puts the subsidy at risk.
- Roof problems. Leaks, ponding or an asbestos-cement roof need assessing first. Do not drill into asbestos without a qualified assessment.
Questions we get that the checklists skip
What if the bill is in a parent's or former owner's name?
Transfer the connection into the applicant's name with TANGEDCO first. The subsidy and net metering both check the name on the bill against your Aadhaar and bank account, so an application made before the transfer is likely to be rejected. Bring the property or succession papers the TANGEDCO office asks for.
Can a tenant apply?
Usually the subsidy requires the connection to be in the owner's name. A tenant needs a signed consent letter from the landlord, and the owner's name on the bill. Ask your installer which combination the portal accepts before you pay anything.
What should I do if the association refuses?
Ask for the refusal in writing, with the reason. Check the building's bylaws for a process to appeal or for a general body resolution. Without a written approval, do not install on common roof space or pursue the subsidy or net metering.
Frequently asked questions
How many kW is one solar panel?
Typically about 0.4 to 0.6 kW per panel. A 3 kW system therefore uses roughly 5 to 8 panels, depending on rating. The panel count and rating go on your quotation and in the technical design package.
Do I need all 12 months of bills?
No. Your latest bill is enough to start an application. If you have the other months, send them so we can size the system to your actual usage.
Related guides
- Solar panel installation process in Chennai, from paperwork to switch-on
- PM Surya Ghar eligibility and application guide
- TANGEDCO solar rules in plain English
Get your documents checked before you commit
Send Arka Solar Energy your latest TANGEDCO bill and a few roof photos, and we will tell you what is missing, what we will file for you, and what system size fits, before you sign anything.
Before you sign anything, we check the name and sanctioned load on your bill, the Aadhaar and mobile linkage, the association NOC status if you live in a flat, and the roof area against the system size. You get back a written list of anything missing and the system size we would file for.