GESCOM SRTPV Online Application 2026: Net Metering Guide for Kalaburagi, Ballari and Kalyana Karnataka

If you live in Kalaburagi, Ballari, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir or Vijayanagara, your electricity comes from GESCOM (Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company), not BESCOM. That means your rooftop solar net metering application goes through the GESCOM SRTPV portal, and a few steps work differently from what you may have read in Bengaluru-focused guides.

This guide explains the GESCOM SRTPV online application step by step: which route to choose (with or without the PM Surya Ghar subsidy), what the form asks for, the documents to keep ready, Karnataka’s new 2026 rooftop solar rules, what GESCOM pays for the units you export, and the mistakes that most often hold applications up.

Which areas does GESCOM cover?

GESCOM supplies power across the Kalyana Karnataka region in the north-east of the state: Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir, Ballari and Vijayanagara districts. If your electricity bill carries the GESCOM name, this is your guide. If you are in Bengaluru or the surrounding districts, read our BESCOM SRTPV online application guide instead.

This part of Karnataka gets some of the strongest sunshine in the state, so a well-installed system here generates more units per kW than the same system in Bengaluru. The flip side is heat and dust, which we cover further down.

SRTPV, DSPV and net metering: what the terms mean

SRTPV (Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic) is the name Karnataka used for grid-connected rooftop solar under its 2016 regulations, and it is still the name of the GESCOM portal. In 2025 KERC (the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) renamed these plants DSPV (Distributed Solar Photovoltaic), because panels can now also go on walls and elevated structures, not just roofs. You will see both names; they mean the same thing for a homeowner.

Net metering means a bidirectional meter records the units you draw from the grid and the units your panels send back. You pay only for the difference, and any surplus at the end of the billing cycle is paid for at the KERC solar tariff.

Karnataka’s 2026 rooftop solar rules (they apply to GESCOM too)

The KERC DSPV Regulations 2026 were notified in August 2026 and replace the 2016 rooftop solar regulations for every electricity supply company in Karnataka, including GESCOM. Agreements signed before then keep their original terms. The main points for a new applicant:

• Net metering is open to all consumer categories, from 1 kW up to your sanctioned load, with a ceiling of 1,000 kW.
• Your solar capacity cannot exceed your sanctioned load. If you want a bigger system, get the load enhanced first.
• Other arrangements exist: net billing, gross metering, group net metering (one owner, several connections) and virtual net metering (shared by apartment residents or housing societies).
• You can switch arrangement only once in the life of the plant, so choose carefully. Most homes stay on net metering.

What GESCOM pays for the units you export

KERC’s solar tariff order of 25 August 2026 sets the rate for surplus units for plants that sign up between 25 August 2026 and 30 June 2029. The rate is fixed for the 25-year agreement.

The export rate matters less than it looks. Every unit your panels produce while you are using power is a unit you do not buy from GESCOM at the full retail tariff, which is worth far more than the export rate. Size the system to your own consumption and most of the value comes from that.

Subsidy or non-subsidy: pick the right route first

The GESCOM SRTPV portal has two separate application routes under Online Service, and starting on the wrong one is a common reason applications have to be redone.

• PM Surya Ghar (subsidy) route: for homes claiming the central subsidy. You register on the national portal first, then submit the GESCOM application using the reference code the national portal gives you. The subsidy is ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, up to ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. It needs DCR (made-in-India cell) panels from a manufacturer on the government’s approved list, and a vendor registered on the national portal.
• Non-subsidy route: for commercial, industrial and educational buildings, and for homes not claiming the subsidy. You apply directly on the GESCOM portal.

The subsidy is paid into the homeowner’s bank account after commissioning, so the subsidy route also needs your bank details on the national portal.

The GESCOM SRTPV online application, step by step

Step 1: Register on the PM Surya Ghar portal (subsidy route only)

On pmsuryaghar.gov.in, select Karnataka and GESCOM, enter your electricity account number and mobile number, and complete the registration. Keep the reference code it generates; the GESCOM form asks for it.

Step 2: Start the application on the GESCOM SRTPV portal

Go to gescomsrtpv.in, open Online Service and choose the subsidy (PM Surya Ghar) or non-subsidy application. The same portal has View Application Status for tracking later.

Step 3: Fill in the applicant and system details

The form asks for:

• Your account ID / consumer ID and RR number exactly as printed on your GESCOM bill
• Sanctioned load, connection type (single phase, three-phase LT or HT) and tariff category
• Whether it is an individual home or an apartment / group housing application
• Proposed capacity in kWp, net or gross metering, and panel type (DCR or non-DCR)
• Shadow-free rooftop area in square metres, the installation address, PIN code and the roof’s latitude and longitude
• Your latest electricity bill and the sanction document (PDF, under 2 MB)

The two errors the portal throws most often are an invalid account ID (copy it from the bill, not from memory) and a capacity higher than your sanctioned load.

Step 4: Verify, pay and e-sign the PPA

Verify your mobile number with the OTP, pay the application fee shown on screen and e-sign the Power Purchase Agreement. Before you sign, check the name, address, RR number, capacity and tariff on the PPA; correcting them later is slow. The agreement runs for 25 years from commissioning, at the tariff KERC has fixed.

Step 5: Installation and work-completion report

Your installer fits the panels, structure, inverter, earthing and protection, then submits the work-completion report with the test results and equipment details on the portal.

Step 6: Inspection, net meter and commissioning

GESCOM’s section officer inspects the installation, the bidirectional meter is fitted and the system is synchronised with the grid. From the next billing cycle your bill shows imported and exported units. If you took the subsidy route, the commissioning report goes up on the national portal and the subsidy is released to your bank account.

Documents to keep ready

• Latest GESCOM electricity bill in the applicant’s name
• Proof of sanctioned load (sanction order)
• Aadhaar and PAN
• Property document: sale deed, khata or property tax receipt
• Photos of the roof and a simple layout sketch of where the panels will go
• System design and single-line diagram (your installer prepares these)
• Cancelled cheque or passbook first page (subsidy route)

Missing paperwork is the biggest single cause of delay, so collect everything before the application starts. If the bill is in a deceased parent’s name or the property is jointly owned, sort out the name transfer or a no-objection letter first. For the full eligibility checklist, see rooftop solar requirements in Karnataka.

How long it takes

In our experience a home system on GESCOM typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from application to commissioning when the documents are in order:

• Application and technical feasibility: 1 to 2 weeks
• PPA signing: a few days (it is online)
• Installation: 2 to 5 days for most homes
• Inspection, net meter and synchronisation: 1 to 3 weeks

Load enhancement, transformer capacity checks in rural feeders, and meter availability at the sub-division are what usually stretch these timelines.

Why GESCOM applications get delayed or rejected

• Wrong route. Starting on the non-subsidy route and then wanting the subsidy means starting again.
• Capacity above sanctioned load. Apply for load enhancement first, or size the system to your current load.
• Name mismatch. The bill, property document and bank account should be in the same person’s name.
• Non-DCR panels on a subsidy application. The subsidy needs made-in-India cells from an approved manufacturer.
• Unregistered vendor. For the subsidy, the installer must be a registered vendor on the national portal. The cheapest quote is sometimes from someone who is not.
• Incomplete work-completion report. Missing earthing or test details send the file back.

Designing for heat and dust in Kalyana Karnataka

Strong sun is good for generation, but summer roof temperatures in Kalaburagi, Raichur and Ballari regularly push panels well above 60°C, and output drops as panels get hotter. Three things make a real difference here:

• Panels with a good temperature coefficient (TOPCon or good mono PERC) lose less output in the heat.
• Raised, well-ventilated mounting keeps air moving under the panels and keeps them cooler.
• Regular cleaning. Dust from construction, roads and mining areas can cut output noticeably within weeks. Plan for cleaning at least twice a month in the dry season.

Local guides: rooftop solar in Kalaburagi and rooftop solar in Ballari. For prices, see what a 5 kW system costs; equipment prices are the same across Karnataka.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GESCOM SRTPV portal address?

It is gescomsrtpv.in. The Online Service menu has separate subsidy (PM Surya Ghar) and non-subsidy applications, plus View Application Status to track your file.

Can I apply for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy in GESCOM areas?

Yes. Register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in first, choosing Karnataka and GESCOM, then submit the GESCOM SRTPV application with the reference code. Homes get up to ₹78,000 for a system of 3 kW or more.

How big a system can I install on GESCOM net metering?

From 1 kW up to your sanctioned load, with a maximum of 1,000 kW under the 2026 rules. If you want more than your current sanctioned load, apply for load enhancement first.

How long does GESCOM take to install the net meter?

Usually 1 to 3 weeks after the work-completion report, as part of a 4 to 8 week process from application to commissioning when the documents are complete.

Is the process different from BESCOM?

The rules and export tariffs are the same across Karnataka because KERC sets them. The difference is the portal (gescomsrtpv.in instead of srtpv.bescom.org), the offices that handle inspection, and local practicalities such as transformer capacity in rural feeders.