Solar Calculator Puducherry 2026
Size a rooftop system for Puducherry using PED domestic tariffs, coastal sun-hours and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy.
1 Your electricity
Enter your 6-digit PIN to auto-fill your district's average daily generation from NASA satellite data. You can always edit it below.
Indian residential tariffs typically run ₹6–₹9 per unit and rise every year. Check a recent bill for your exact slab rate.
2 Cost & generation
A complete on-grid setup (panels, inverter, structure, wiring, installation) runs about ₹50,000–₹60,000 per kW in 2026. Tier-1 brands (Tata, Adani, Waaree) cost a little more.
Most of India gets about 4 units (kWh) per kW per day on average; sunnier states (Rajasthan, Gujarat) can reach 4.5–5.
3 Subsidy & state top-up
Central subsidy: ₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW, +₹18,000 for the 3rd kW, capped at ₹78,000 for any system 3 kW and above (residential, up to 10 kW). As of May 2026 (per MNRE). Always confirm current rates at pmsuryaghar.gov.in before applying.
Some states add their own subsidy on top of the central one (e.g. Gujarat has offered ₹10,000/kW). Enter your state's per-kW top-up if any — leave 0 if unsure. Verify with your DISCOM.
4 How you'll pay
Indicative estimates only. Subsidy rules and tariffs change by government notification and vary by state/DISCOM. Assumes a gradual annual tariff rise and panel degradation. Confirm current PM Surya Ghar rates and get installer quotes before purchasing.
How PM Surya Ghar subsidy is calculated
• Up to 2 kW:
₹30,000 per kW (1 kW = ₹30,000; 2 kW = ₹60,000)• 3rd kW:
+₹18,000 (so 3 kW = ₹78,000)• 3 kW and above: capped at
₹78,000 (no extra above 3 kW; residential eligibility up to 10 kW)Net cost =
system cost − central subsidy − state top-up. Annual savings = annual units generated × tariff (capped at your usage). Payback = net cost ÷ annual savings; the free-electricity date is today plus the payback period. Source: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy / pmsuryaghar.gov.in — verify current values before applying.
Rooftop Solar in Puducherry
The Puducherry Electricity Department (PED) is the sole distribution utility across the UT's four geographically separate regions - Puducherry and Karaikal on the Coromandel coast, Mahe on the Malabar coast and Yanam in Andhra Pradesh. PED offers grid-connected net metering for residential rooftop systems and has promoted uptake through the national PM Surya Ghar portal.
Tariffs and net metering
Domestic slabs are telescopic and billed from the very first unit: roughly Rs 2.70 up to 100 units, Rs 4.00 for 101-200, Rs 6.00 for 201-300 and about Rs 7.50 above 300, plus a small fixed charge per kW and a 5 percent electricity duty. Because the upper slabs are relatively high, a rooftop system that trims 300-plus-unit usage delivers strong savings. Exported surplus earns net-metering credits that offset later consumption; confirm the current settlement rate and sanctioned-load limits with PED before you apply.
Coastal sunshine
Puducherry's coastal, tropical location gives dependable year-round sun, averaging about 4.4-4.7 peak hours per kW per day, with the monsoon months being the main dip. Humidity and salt-laden coastal air mean panels benefit from regular cleaning and corrosion-resistant mounting, and a modest tilt near the local latitude works well. The Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam enclaves see broadly similar tropical exposure, though local shading, roof orientation and available area matter more than any regional average. Fine-tune yours with our tilt angle calculator.
How PM Surya Ghar applies
The central PM Surya Ghar subsidy pays Rs 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW and Rs 18,000 for the third kW, capped at Rs 78,000 for 3 kW and above (residential up to 10 kW), released by direct benefit transfer after commissioning, with collateral-free loans around 7 percent. Puducherry is not a special-category UT, so the standard central amounts apply; check pmsuryaghar.gov.in for the latest position and any temporary local incentives.
Worked example
A 3 kW system at about 4.2 units per kW per day produces roughly 12.6 units a day, near 370 units a month. For a home consuming 350-400 units, this offsets most of the costly upper slabs and can pay back within a few years after subsidy. Model your numbers below.
- National solar calculator for a quick estimate
- On-grid calculator for net-metered sizing
- Savings calculator to project returns
Tariffs and subsidy rules change periodically, so use these as indicative figures.
Solar generation in Puducherry, month by month
From PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), ERA5 solar data 2005-2023: a 1 kW grid-tied system at the best fixed angle with 14% system losses. Figures are the average of Puducherry, Karaikal. The calculator above uses 4.2 units per kW per day as its default.
| Month | units per kW per day | 3 kW system, units in the month |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4.4 | 405 |
| February | 4.9 | 412 |
| March | 5.0 | 464 |
| April | 4.8 | 428 |
| May | 4.4 | 412 |
| June | 4.0 | 359 |
| July | 3.8 | 349 |
| August | 4.0 | 369 |
| September | 4.2 | 376 |
| October | 3.9 | 366 |
| November | 3.4 | 309 |
| December | 3.6 | 338 |
Solar output by city
| City | units/kW/day | units/kW/year | 3 kW, units/year | Best tilt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karaikal | 4.2 | 1,534 | 4,602 | 11° |
| Puducherry | 4.2 | 1,524 | 4,571 | 13° |
What each system size produces in Puducherry
| System | units per day | units per month | units per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 4.2 | 127 | 1,529 |
| 2 kW | 8.4 | 255 | 3,058 |
| 3 kW | 12.6 | 382 | 4,586 |
| 5 kW | 20.9 | 637 | 7,644 |
| 10 kW | 41.9 | 1,274 | 15,288 |
How Puducherry compares
Puducherry ranks #15 of 36 states and union territories for output per kW: 1,529 units a year, 2% above the middle state (1,495). The range runs from 1,150 in Sikkim to 1,939 in Ladakh — see the full state ranking.
Solar calculators for nearby states & UTs
Compare subsidy, tariff and net-metering figures with the neighbouring states, or see all 36 in the India states directory and the national India solar calculator.
Frequently asked questions
The Puducherry Electricity Department (PED) is the single distribution utility for all four regions - Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Your bill and net-metering application go through PED.
Yes, PED offers net metering for grid-connected residential systems, crediting surplus units you export. Confirm the current export settlement rate with PED before finalising your system size.
Puducherry is not a special-category UT, so the standard central PM Surya Ghar amounts apply and our calculator keeps the state top-up at zero. Check pmsuryaghar.gov.in for any temporary schemes.
At around 4.2 units per kW per day, roughly 12.6 units per day or near 370 units a month. That can offset most of a household's costly 300-plus-unit slab consumption.
Learn more
Sources & standards
Puducherry's subsidy and net-metering figures are checked against the national renewable-energy ministry, the PM Surya Ghar portal, the Puducherry Electricity Department that connects rooftop systems and the joint regulator that sets its tariffs.
- PVGIS 5.3 — Photovoltaic Geographical Information System — European Commission, Joint Research Centre
Monthly and annual output per kW for Puducherry, Karaikal (ERA5, 2005-2023; 14% losses, optimal fixed angle). Retrieved 2026-11-09. - Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) — Government of India
National ministry behind the PM Surya Ghar capital-subsidy structure this calculator applies. - PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — Government of India
Official portal for the ₹30,000-78,000 per-kW subsidy Puducherry receives as a non-special-category UT. - Electricity Department, Government of Puducherry — PED, Puducherry
Sole distribution utility for Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, and the point of contact for net-metering applications referenced above. - Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for Goa and Union Territories (JERC) — JERC
Sets the tariff and net-metering regulations that PED applies for Puducherry's domestic rooftop-solar customers.