- 01The comparison table
- 02What each size actually runs
- 03Should you go to 5 kW?
- 04On-grid vs hybrid vs off-grid
- 05Why bills have jumped
- 06Sizing rule of thumb
- 07What a proper quotation includes
The comparison table
| 1 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | ₹60,000–70,000 | ₹1,10,000–1,40,000 | ₹1,50,000–1,90,000 |
| Subsidy (central + UP) | ₹45,000 | ₹90,000 | ₹1,08,000 |
| Net cost | ~₹20,000–25,000 | ~₹40,000–50,000 | ~₹70,000–75,000 |
| Generation per day | 4–5 units | 8–10 units | 12–15 units |
| Generation per month | 120–150 units | 240–300 units | 360–450 units |
| Shadow-free roof needed | 80–100 sq ft | ~200 sq ft | ~300 sq ft |
| Number of 540 W panels | 2 | 4 | 5–6 |
| Simple payback | ~3 years | 2–3 years | 2–2.5 years |
Subsidy shown is for Uttar Pradesh; central subsidy alone is ₹30,000 / ₹60,000 / ₹78,000. Beyond 3 kW there is no additional subsidy — see our subsidy amount guide.
What each size actually runs
This is the part most vendors gloss over.
1 kW — 4–5 fans, 3–4 LED bulbs, a small TV, a laptop, phone charging, and a small pump for short spells. It will not run an air conditioner, a cooler or a washing machine. Suitable for a 1–2 room household with a bill under ₹1,000.
2 kW — everything above plus a fridge, cooler and washing machine. Still not enough for an AC. If you have an AC, skip 2 kW and go to 3 kW — the subsidy jump (₹90,000 → ₹1,08,000) makes the marginal kW cheap.
3 kW — 10–20 LEDs, 4–5 fans, 1–2 TVs, 1–2 fridges, cooler, washing machine, plus one 1-ton inverter AC during daylight hours. Not: two ACs together, a pump above 1.5 HP, a geyser or room heater.
The daylight qualifier matters
Should you go to 5 kW?
Yes if you run two ACs, a submersible pump or an electric geyser, or your monthly consumption is above 500 units. The subsidy stays at ₹78,000 central, so you pay the full cost of the extra 2 kW — but the per-kW cost of the increment is lower than the first 3 kW because inverter, structure, cabling, net meter and DISCOM charges are already covered.
Your sanctioned load must be at least 5 kW; apply for load enhancement first.
On-grid vs hybrid vs off-grid
| On-grid | Hybrid | Off-grid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | No | Yes | Yes |
| Net meter | Yes | Yes | No |
| Works during power cut | No | Yes | Yes |
| Subsidy eligible | Yes | Solar portion, yes | No |
| 3 kW indicative cost | ~₹1.8 lakh | ~₹5 lakh | ~₹4 lakh |
| Best for | Cities with reliable supply | Villages/small towns with 2–4 hour daily cuts | Sites with no grid |
The PM Surya Ghar subsidy flows through the DISCOM inspection and net meter, so off-grid systems are effectively ineligible even though this is rarely stated plainly. If you want backup, the sensible route is an on-grid system under the scheme now, with a battery added later — or a hybrid inverter from the start, accepting that the battery is unsubsidised.
Why bills have jumped — and why solar pays faster than it used to
The rollout of smart prepaid meters has ended estimated billing in many DISCOM areas. Households that were paying ₹1,500–2,000 on estimated bills are reporting ₹3,500–4,000 as actual consumption, fixed charges, fuel surcharge and regulatory surcharges become visible.
At ₹4,000 a month, a 3 kW system with a ₹72,000 net cost pays back in under two years.
Sizing rule of thumb
- Take your last 12 electricity bills and average the monthly units.
- Divide by 120 (units per kW per month in North India).
- Round up to the nearest kW, capped by your sanctioned load and shadow-free roof area.
- If the answer is 2.5, go to 3 — the subsidy ceiling is at 3 kW and the incremental cost is small.
380 units a month
What a proper quotation includes
- Module brand, wattage and count (e.g. 6 × 540 W = 3.24 kW DC)
- Inverter brand and rating (kVA)
- Structure type and height
- DC/AC cabling, earthing, lightning arrester, DCDB/ACDB
- Net-meter charges and DISCOM fees stated separately
- Gross price, subsidy, net price — on three separate lines
- Warranty: modules (25-year performance), inverter (5–10 years), workmanship (5-year CMC)
- Confirmation that modules are DCR/ALMM-listed and that a B2C DCR certificate will be issued
A quotation that only says “3 kW solar — ₹1,80,000” is not a quotation.
Send us your last bill
Planning a rooftop solar project?
Talk to our solar team for vetted vendors, DCR-compliant modules and end-to-end procurement support.
No obligation · Response within 24 hours
