The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has clarified that rooftop solar projects with installed capacities between 500 kW and 1,000 kW can continue to be billed under net/gross metering arrangements.

Such projects must have been commissioned before the commencement of the APERC (The Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic System under Gross/Net Metering) Regulation, 2023.

However, the Commission added that projects covered by the APERC regulation must comply with the 500-kW cap on net-metered rooftop solar projects.

Clause 22 of the regulation provides that solar rooftop systems already commissioned and those at various stages of construction, including cases where feasibility reports were issued under earlier or existing guidelines, will continue to be governed by those guidelines until completion of the term of the respective agreements, subject to the conditions specified therein.

The clarification was issued after Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company sought clarification on whether net metering would continue to apply to rooftop solar projects with capacities ranging from 500 kW to 1,000 kW that were commissioned before the issuance of the APERC regulation in 2023.

In 2024, APERC issued guidelines for calculating electricity units exported by solar net-meter consumers during periods when meters are defective or non-functional.

According to Mercom India Research’s Q1 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report, India added 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter of 2026, a year-over-year growth of 125.4% from 1.2 GW and a 25.4% quarter-over-quarter jump from 2.2 GW.

Cumulatively, the industrial and commercial segments accounted for 18% of the quarter’s rooftop solar installations.

The residential segment accounted for 82% of rooftop solar installations, driven largely by the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

In May 2026, APERC also directed all distribution companies in the state to provide 24×7 electricity supply to all consumer categories, except agricultural consumers.

In a major relief to C&I power consumers, the Commission retained the existing Low Tension and High Tension power tariffs and structures approved for the financial year 2025-26, which will continue for FY 2026-27.

Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time Regulatory Updates to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.