Frequently Asked Questions

The cost depends on your system size, roof type, and equipment selection. As a rough guide:

• Residential (3–10 kW): Approximately ₹60,000 per kW
• Small to medium systems (15–100 kW): ₹40,000–45,000 per kW
• Large commercial (100+ kW): ₹30,000–40,000 per kW

These are indicative ranges — we provide a detailed, transparent quote after assessing your site. No hidden costs, no surprises.

Yes, a small visit fee, and it is 100% adjustable. When you go ahead with the installation, we deduct the full amount from your final price.

During the visit our engineer checks the roof, shading, structure and wiring, and studies your bills, so your quote is based on real measurements rather than guesswork.

The first call and your initial estimate cost nothing.

This is the question we hear most — and the answer is genuinely exciting. Let us break it down with a real example for a typical residential customer:

Your electricity bill has two parts:

1. Fixed charges (meter rent, demand charges): ~₹500–₹1,000/month — these remain the same with or without solar.
2. Variable/unit charges: This is the cost per unit (kWh) of electricity you consume — and this is where solar makes a massive difference.

For a home consuming 500 units/month with a bill of around ₹5,000:

• Before solar: Fixed ₹800 + Variable ₹4,200 = ₹5,000/month
• After a 5kW system: Fixed ₹800 + Variable ₹100 (net metering* credits offset most units) = ₹900/month
• Monthly savings: ₹4,100 → Annual savings: ₹49,200

The variable charges make up 70-85% of most bills — and solar virtually eliminates them.

* Net metering regulations vary from state to state and are subject to change.

Absolutely — and here is why this is one of the most common misconceptions.

Yes, fixed charges (₹500–₹1,000/month) remain unchanged. But the variable charges — which make up the bulk of your bill — are where the real money goes.

Consider this: If your monthly bill is ₹5,000, fixed charges are only ₹800 (16%). The remaining ₹4,200 (84%) is variable — and solar reduces this to near zero through net metering*.

So even though your bill will not show ₹0, it will show ₹800–₹1,000 instead of ₹5,000. That is an 80%+ reduction.

Plus, electricity tariffs increase 5-8% every year. Without solar, your ₹5,000 bill becomes roughly ₹6,400 to ₹7,300 in 5 years. With solar, it stays at ₹800–₹1,000. The gap only widens in your favour.

* Net metering regulations vary from state to state and are subject to change.

• For residential systems (up to 10kW): about 4.5 years with the PM-Surya Ghar subsidy for eligible systems, and about 6 years without it.
• For commercial systems: 3–4 years (including the tax benefit from accelerated depreciation).

After payback, you enjoy essentially free electricity for the remaining 20+ year life of the system.

Example: A 5kW home system costing ₹3,00,000 before subsidy (₹2,22,000 after the ~₹78,000 subsidy) and saving ₹49,200/year = payback in approximately 4.5 years.

For commercial and small business owners, solar is not just about saving on bills — it is a genuine financial asset:

1. Immediate OpEx Reduction: A business spending ₹50,000/month on electricity can save ₹3.6-4.8 lakhs annually. That goes straight to your bottom line.
2. Tax Benefits via Accelerated Depreciation: You can claim 40% depreciation on the solar system in Year 1 itself. On a ₹20 lakh system, that is ₹8 lakhs of depreciation in the first year — significantly reducing your tax liability.
3. Predictable Costs for 25 Years: Electricity tariffs rise 5-8% annually. Solar locks in your energy cost. In 10 years, your competitors are paying roughly 1.6 to 2.2 times today's rate for electricity — you are paying the same.
4. Asset on Your Balance Sheet: A solar system is a depreciable capital asset. It increases your property value, improves your asset base, and generates measurable ROI of 20-30% annually after payback.
5. Better than an FD: A ₹20 lakh solar investment giving ₹4-6 lakh annual returns = 20-30% ROI. Compare that to a fixed deposit at 7%. The math speaks for itself.

On cloudy days, your system still generates power — typically 30-50% of its peak capacity. Solar panels work on light, not direct sunshine.

At night, your home draws power from the grid as usual. But here is the smart part: during the day, your system feeds excess power back to the grid through net metering*. Those exported units become credits that offset your nighttime consumption.

So even though solar does not power your home 24/7, net metering* ensures you are credited for everything you generate. The net result: dramatically lower bills.

* Net metering regulations vary from state to state and are subject to change.

We exclusively use Tier-1 solar panels and inverters from established, financially stable manufacturers.

Why Tier-1 matters:

• Bankability — these manufacturers are financially stable and will be around to honour warranties
• Performance — certified efficiency ratings that actually deliver in real-world conditions
• Degradation — Tier-1 panels lose only 0.5-0.7% output per year vs 1-2% for low-quality panels
• Warranty — product warranty of up to 15 years and linear performance warranty of up to 25 years, backed by solvent manufacturers

Many low-cost installers use unbranded or Tier-2 panels that degrade faster, fail sooner, and have warranty claims that go nowhere because the manufacturer has closed shop. We vet every supplier.

The physical installation takes 1-3 days for residential systems and 1-2 weeks for larger commercial systems.

The total process from first conversation to a working system:

• Residential: 3-4 weeks (including design, approvals, and installation)
• Commercial: 4-8 weeks (depending on system size and DISCOM approvals)

We handle the entire process end-to-end — you do not need to chase anyone.

• For individual homes with their own roof: typically not required.
• For apartments or housing societies: we guide you through the approval process. In most states, housing societies cannot unreasonably deny solar installations.
• For commercial properties: we handle all building and electrical approvals.

Under the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (applicable for residential rooftop solar installations up to 10kW):

• 1 kW System: ₹30,000 subsidy
• 2 kW System: ₹60,000 subsidy
• 3 kW up to 10 kW System (>3kW <10kW): ₹78,000 subsidy
• Maximum Subsidy Available: ₹78,000 (for systems from 3kW up to 10kW)

The subsidy is credited directly to your bank account after installation and inspection, significantly lowering your upfront investment and accelerating your payback period. Certus Power manages the entire subsidy documentation, portal registration, and DISCOM paperwork on your behalf.

Note: This direct subsidy is exclusively available for residential rooftop systems up to 10kW. Systems above 10kW, institutional, commercial, and small business installations are not eligible for the residential subsidy; however, commercial and business systems benefit from accelerated depreciation (40% in Year 1) offering substantial tax savings.

Net metering* is the mechanism that makes solar economically brilliant.

During the day, your solar system generates electricity. Whatever you do not use instantly is exported to the grid. A bi-directional meter records those exported units and credits them to your account.

At night or on cloudy days when you need grid power, those credits offset your consumption. You only pay for the net difference.

Example: If you generate 600 units and consume 500 units in a month, the 100 excess units become credits carried forward to next month. Credits left unused at the end of the settlement period are handled as per your state's rules.

We handle the entire net metering* application and DISCOM coordination.

* Net metering regulations vary from state to state and are subject to change.

Very little — solar panels have no moving parts. Here is what is needed:

• Monthly panel cleaning: Remove dust and grime for optimal solar generation. We provide optional professional Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC), with pricing customized based on your system capacity, roof type, and location.
• Inverter checks: Periodic performance monitoring (tracked proactively through the real-time monitoring app).
• Annual inspection: Visual safety check of wiring, mounting structure, earthing, and electrical connections.

For customers who prefer to manage cleaning on their own, we provide complimentary maintenance guidance and recommended cleaning instructions.

• Solar Panels: Product warranty: up to 15 years. Linear performance warranty: up to 25 years.
• Inverters: 5-10 years depending on brand and capacity.
• Workmanship: 1 year warranty from Certus Power covering any faults arising from installation.

We vet manufacturers and distributors to ensure warranty support is genuinely available in your area — not just on paper.