How to Choose a Rooftop Solar Vendor and Compare Quotes

Choose your rooftop solar vendor only from the list of registered vendors on pmsuryaghar.gov.in, after your DISCOM gives feasibility approval. Then get at least three written quotations for the same system size and compare them on what is included, not just the total: DCR panels, inverter, structure, earthing, net meter fees, warranties and the five-year maintenance the vendor must provide. A cheaper quote that leaves out these items costs more in the end.

Everything below is as of October 2026. For the subsidy amounts and loan, read our PM Surya Ghar subsidy and loan guide.

Who this applies to

• Households that have applied (or plan to apply) for rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar.
• Anyone comparing two or more vendor quotations.
• Borrowers who need a quotation and feasibility report for a solar loan.

What a registered vendor must provide

A vendor registered with your DISCOM on the national portal has scheme obligations, not just a sales role:

Registration is a minimum bar, not a quality guarantee. You still need to compare.

What a quotation must include

Ask every vendor to quote on the same system size (for example 3 kW) and list:

1. Modules: make, model, wattage per panel, number of panels, type (mono PERC, TOPCon, etc.) and DCR status.
2. Inverter: make, capacity, on-grid type, BIS certification, product warranty.
3. Mounting structure: material (hot-dip galvanised steel or aluminium), height, wind-load rating.
4. Electricals: DC and AC cables, AC and DC distribution boxes, earthing, lightning arrester.
5. Net meter: who pays the DISCOM's meter and application charges.
6. Installation and civil work: included or extra.
7. Warranties: module performance warranty, inverter warranty, five-year system warranty, five-year maintenance.
8. GST: shown separately.
9. Payment schedule: linked to delivery, installation and commissioning.
10. Timeline: installation date and who follows up with the DISCOM for inspection.

Worked example: comparing three quotations

A household in a general-category state compares three quotes for a 3 kW system. The prices are illustrative.

Cost per kW = total ÷ kW, for example ₹1,85,000 ÷ 3 = ₹61,667. Vendor C looks ₹20,000 cheaper, but the missing items, the unnamed inverter and the unclear DCR status are risks: if the modules are not DCR, the subsidy itself can be rejected, which would cost ₹78,000. Between A and B, the household pays ₹13,000 more for B only if the extra cleaning visits are worth it. If you are financing the system, compare the EMI on each net amount in the EMI calculator; our guide to rooftop solar subsidy vs solar loan explains how the subsidy reduces the loan.

Red flags when choosing a vendor

• The vendor is not listed on the portal for your DISCOM, or uses another company's registration.
• The quotation says "branded panels" or "Tier-1" without naming the make, model and DCR status.
• The vendor asks you to install before the DISCOM's feasibility approval "to save time".
• Full payment is demanded in advance, or in cash without an invoice.
• Generation is promised as a fixed number of units every month, regardless of season and shading.
• The vendor offers to "get the subsidy approved" for an extra fee.
• Five-year maintenance is offered only verbally.

Documents to collect from the vendor

• Signed quotation and agreement with all items above
• Site feasibility report (needed for the bank loan)
• DCR undertaking and module serial numbers
• Inverter and module warranty cards
• Tax invoice with GST
• Installation photos and the commissioning documents uploaded on the portal

The official process, step by step

1. Apply on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and wait for the DISCOM's feasibility approval.
2. Shortlist vendors from the portal list for your district and check how long they have been active locally.
3. Site visit by each shortlisted vendor; insist on a written shadow and roof assessment.
4. Compare quotations on the table above and sign an agreement with the chosen vendor.
5. Select the vendor in your portal login.
6. Installation, then the vendor uploads details and you apply for the net meter.
7. DISCOM inspection and commissioning, after which you claim the subsidy.

Status tracking

Your portal login shows the vendor selected, installation details, inspection and commissioning. Keep the vendor's helpline and your agreement handy for the five-year maintenance period.

If the subsidy is still not credited after commissioning, see solar subsidy pending after installation for where it usually gets stuck.

Common problems and fixes

• Vendor not on the portal list: do not sign; the subsidy will not be paid.
• Vendor delays uploading installation details: ask in writing with a deadline; raise a portal grievance if needed.
• Generation lower than promised: check shading, panel cleaning and inverter error logs; the vendor must fix faults within the maintenance period.
• Vendor stops responding after installation: file a grievance on the portal or with your DISCOM, quoting the five-year obligation.

How to complain

1. Vendor's helpline, in writing, with photos.
2. Portal grievance from your login on pmsuryaghar.gov.in, or the national helpline 15555.
3. DISCOM's rooftop solar cell for vendor and inspection issues.
4. CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) addressed to MNRE, or the National Consumer Helpline (1915) for deficiency in service.

Never pay a vendor or agent an extra "subsidy approval" or "registration" fee. Registration is free and the subsidy goes directly to you. Our guide on how to spot scams lists common warning signs.

Key takeaways

• Use only a vendor registered with your DISCOM on pmsuryaghar.gov.in, after feasibility approval.
• Get at least three written quotations for the same kW and compare cost per kW only after checking what is included.
• DCR modules, a named BIS inverter, a galvanised structure, earthing, lightning protection and five-year maintenance should all be in writing.
• A cheaper quote that risks the ₹78,000 subsidy is not cheaper.
• Pay in stages, keep a part until commissioning, and never pay for "subsidy approval".