The drawings are approved and the plant is built. Then the Electrical Inspector walks the site. A project that looked finished stalls on a missing label, a bolted earth strip, or a test sheet with no calibration certificate behind it. Each of those is an objection, and each one is closed by something you either have in the file or do not.
This guide is for the Indian EPC founder or design head who needs the site inspection to pass in one visit. It covers the inspection itself. For the application and drawing approval steps, read our CEIG drawing approval process first, because this post does not repeat them.
Quick answer. A CEIG inspection checks the built plant against the approved drawings and the CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023. Regulation 121 sets the solar-specific rules for earthing, protection, isolation, cabling, colour marking and access. The inspector’s report forms add test records. Every objection is closed by a drawing, a test record or a site fix, so build your file in that order.
When does a solar plant need a site inspection at all?
Only when the state says so. The CEA regulations do not set one national trigger. Two state notifications decide the route, and the CEIG glossary entry explains both in full.
- Regulation 34 leaves the capacity above which a generating unit, including a renewable one, must be inspected before commissioning to “the notification issued by the Appropriate Government”.
- Regulation 45 has the owner inspect, test and self-certify any installation at or below the state-notified voltage. The owner files a Schedule II report with the Electrical Inspector. Above that voltage, and for generating apparatus above the Regulation 34 capacity, the Electrical Inspector inspects and tests before supply starts.
Even on the self-certification route, the owner may ask the inspector to inspect instead (Regulation 45(1)(a), second proviso). So the checklist below is useful on both routes: the self-certifier signs the same report lines the inspector would.
A common misreading is that every solar system above 10 kW needs the inspector. That is a state figure, not a central one, and it changes by state and by scheme. The state table later in this post shows where the figures come from.
What does the inspector work from on the day?
Two documents, both in the Gazette text of the regulations. The first is Schedule II, the inspection report forms. Form II covers installations above 250 V up to and including 650 V, which includes most low-voltage rooftop plants. Form III covers installations above 650 V. Each form is a list of regulation numbers with a Yes or No or a measured value beside it. That list is, in effect, the inspector’s checklist.
The second is Regulation 121, “Safety requirements for solar installations”. Regulation 119 applies Chapter X to renewable generating stations in addition to Chapters I to VII. Regulation 121 therefore sits on top of the general rules.
One gap matters for planning. We searched the Schedule II forms for the words solar, photovoltaic, inverter and string and found none. The forms test general electrical safety. The solar-specific points come from Regulation 121, so you need to answer both lists. A file built only from a PV commissioning standard covers the second list well and the first list partly.
What is the inspection sequence from walk-down to approval?
The regulations do not prescribe a running order for the visit. The order below combines the regulation text, the Tamil Nadu Electrical Inspectorate’s published procedure for generators, and our suggested preparation steps. Steps 1 to 3 are the regulation and state procedure. Steps 4 to 6 are our recommended order.
- Confirm the route. Check the state notification for Regulation 34 capacity and the notified voltage under Regulation 45. Decide inspector or self-certification before you fix dates.
- Apply after erection is complete. In Tamil Nadu the consumer applies with the licensed contractor who erected the installation. The application carries a completion report and an equipment list.
- Expect a defect report, then an item-wise rectification report. The same Tamil Nadu page has the office inspect and issue a defects report. Approval follows an item-wise rectification report that is in order. Plan for a second visit or a document-only closure.
- Walk the site against the approved SLD first. Mark every difference between the built plant and the approved drawing. Regulation 45(6) bars connecting additions or alterations until they are approved or self-certified, so a deviation is a drawing problem before it is a site problem.
- Check people and paperwork. Licensed contractor, supervisor’s certificate of competency, worker permits (Regulation 31), and the designated-persons record (Regulation 3).
- Run the area checks, then the test records. Use the table in the next section. Above the notified voltage, Regulation 48(4) lets the inspector require tests before or after charging. Keep the instruments and a competent tester on site.
Approval in writing must be in hand before supply starts (Regulation 45(4)). DISCOM metering and commissioning steps follow, and our DISCOM net metering process guide covers them.
CEIG inspection checklist: what the inspector checks, the clause and the record that answers it
This is the objection map. Read each row left to right: what is physically checked, the clause behind it, and the record that closes the objection. Clause numbers are from the Gazette text of the CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023, notified on 8 June 2023.
| Area | What is physically checked | CEA 2023 clause | Record that answers an objection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthing layout | Array structures, inverter frames, metal casings and control systems earthed; earth strips welded, not bolted; enough interconnected earth pits with the gap the standard requires | 121(2)(ii) to (v) | Earthing layout drawing, earth pit schedule, photos of welded joints before backfill |
| Earthing test | Earth electrode resistance value, equipotential bonding, fault loop impedance | 43(ix), Form II item 19 | Test sheet per pit and per circuit, with the design target beside the measured value |
| Own electrode above 250 V | Independent electrode linked to the supplier’s earthed terminal | 18(1) proviso | Earthing drawing showing the link and its location |
| Protection functions | Overload, surge current, surge voltage, short circuit, high temperature, over and under voltage, over and under frequency, reverse polarity and lightning, on input and output | 121(1)(ix) | Protection schedule on the SLD, inverter datasheet, settings sheet |
| Combiner boxes | SPD with arc extinguishing capability, input overcurrent protection, output isolation, disconnect at a readily accessible location | 121(3)(ii) to (iv), 121(1)(v) | Combiner box schedule, datasheets, GA drawing showing locations |
| Fault detection | Earth fault protection and insulation monitoring on arrays and inverters | 121(3)(v) | Inverter datasheet listing the function, commissioning record showing it enabled |
| Grid isolation | Manual disconnection switch outside the AC combiner box; accessible control near the point of supply | 121(1)(viii), 37(2) | SLD and switchgear datasheet |
| Lightning protection | Lightning arresters per the relevant standards | 121(3)(i), 77(1) | Lightning protection layout and design report |
| Cabling | Cables in trenches on ground mount; DC cable UV protected or in UV protected pipe; AC and DC not in contact on the same box | 121(1)(iii) and (vii), 28(2) | Cable schedule, trench section detail |
| Colour marking and notices | AC phases and DC positive and negative in different colours; danger notice; panel identification front and rear; circuits distinguishable | 121(1)(vi), 20, 21(6), 26 | Colour code table on the SLD, label schedule, dated photos |
| Clearances and access | Roof pathway at least 75 cm wide with handrails; walkways between rows; 1.8 m fence on ground mount; clear space in front of switchboards | 121(1)(i), (ii) and (iv), 39(iii) | Dimensioned GA drawing, fence detail |
| Fire | Fire detection and automatic suppression per the relevant standards; extinguishers inspected and tested with records | 121(4), 29(2) | Fire layout, extinguisher inspection tags |
| Insulation resistance | Measured resistance between conductors and earth | 36, 42, Form II item 16 | IR sheet per circuit, with the instrument calibration certificate |
| People and records | Licensed contractor, competency holder, permits, designated persons | 31, 3 | Licence copies and the designated-persons register |
Three areas need more than a table row.
Earthing and bonding
Regulation 121(2)(iv) requires earth strips to be interconnected by welding and not bolted. A bolted joint on a structure earth is visible in seconds and cannot be fixed with paperwork. Photograph every welded joint before the trench is closed.
The regulation names no ohm value. Regulation 121(2)(i) says solar earthing shall be “as per the relevant standard”. Regulation 43(ix)(b) asks for a loop impedance low enough for the protective device to operate in the stipulated time. The pass value is therefore derived from your design. Write the design target and the measured value next to each other on the test sheet. Our solar earthing and lightning protection guide covers how the design target is set. Treat any single ohm figure quoted by a checklist, including ones we or others have published, as a design target and not a statutory limit.
Above 250 V, Regulation 18(1) also expects your own earthing system with an independent electrode, linked to the supplier’s earthed terminal. If the drawing does not show that link, expect the question.
Protection and isolation
Regulation 121(1)(ix) lists eleven protection functions for input and output. The Form II line for Regulation 47 asks whether protections and interlocks for the generating units are provided and asks for the details. Form III asks for the protection schemes and their settings. So the one document that closes most protection objections is a settings sheet that matches the SLD, with the inverter datasheet clipped behind it. For a plant that must not export, the reverse power relay settings belong on that same sheet, as set out in our zero export solar design guide.
Where a transformer sits between the plant and the grid, the transformer rating, its switchgear and its protection come under Regulations 37 and 47. DISCOM capacity on that transformer is a separate feasibility question, covered in our transformer feasibility guide.
Test records
The Schedule II forms ask for insulation resistance in megohms. For earthing they ask for the resistance value, the bonding test, and the loop impedance at the origin, at each circuit and for all sources. They do not ask for string open-circuit voltage or I-V curves. Those belong to the commissioning standard that lenders and owners use, covered in our solar plant commissioning checklist. Run both sets, and keep them in one file so a reading is never quoted in one report and missing from the other.
Calibration is the quiet failure. Regulation 33(3) requires test equipment to be calibrated by a Government-authorised or NABL-accredited laboratory, in the context of the supplier’s pre-supply test. The same instruments usually produce the readings in your inspection file, so carry the certificate for every instrument.
Which documents should be on site for a CEIG inspection?
The exact list comes from the current state form. As a working base, keep one binder or one shared folder with:
- The approved SLD, earthing drawing and GA drawing, with every as-built difference marked and, where needed, a revised drawing.
- Equipment datasheets and manufacturer test certificates (Regulation 48(1) allows the inspector to ask for them).
- The protection settings sheet that matches the SLD.
- Earth resistance, bonding, loop impedance and insulation resistance records, with instrument calibration certificates.
- The contractor’s licence, the supervisor’s certificate of competency and worker permits.
- The designated-persons register, and for a factory with more than 250 kW connected load, the Electrical Safety Officer’s appointment (Regulation 5(3)).
- The completion report, equipment list, application acknowledgement and fee receipt.
As a worked example, the Tamil Nadu Electrical Inspectorate lists these documents for generators above 10 kW. They are the contractor’s completion report, the list of erected equipment, the purchase bill, a No Objection Certificate if the connection is not in the applicant’s name, a photocopy of the meter card and the fee challan. Other states use other forms, so do not copy that list across borders.
If the drawing set is the weak point, the Electrical CEIG Drawings service covers the SLD, cable layout, earthing layout and load calculations. Site readiness stays with the EPC, the licensed contractor and the owner.
How do you answer an objection on site?
Sort each objection into one of four kinds before you reply. The reply differs for each.
| Kind of objection | Illustrative wording | Reply that closes it |
|---|---|---|
| A record exists | ”Earth test value not shown” | Hand over the test sheet with the calibration certificate and the clause number |
| A site fix is needed | ”Earth strip bolted at structure joint” | Re-weld, photograph, add to the item-wise rectification report |
| The drawing and the build differ | ”Inverter make differs from approved SLD” | Submit the revised drawing for approval before connecting (Regulation 45(6)) |
| The reading is disputed | ”Loop impedance seems high for this circuit” | Show the design calculation, retest in the inspector’s presence |
The wording in the second column is illustrative, written by us to show the pattern. It is not a quoted defect report.
Ask for every objection in writing, with the regulation number if the inspector gives one. A written defect report is what the rectification report answers line by line. If the DISCOM, as supplier, declines supply because it calls the installation defective, Regulation 40 lets you appeal to the Electrical Inspector to test it. The test must happen within seven days of the application. If the inspector finds the installation free from the defect, the supplier must commence supply within twenty-four hours.
Which state notifications set the thresholds?
This table lists only what we could read or trace. A figure marked reported has not been checked against the notification text. Confirm every row against the current state notification before you quote it to a client.
| State | What is notified | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 33 kV notified voltage for self-certification. Generating units above 10 kW, including renewable, inspected before commissioning, except solar under PM Surya Ghar, which is self-certified provided the protection scheme prevents injection into the grid during a supply outage | G.O.Ms.No. 17, Energy (Power-II) Department, 11 March 2026 | Read in full (a hosted copy of the order) |
| Tamil Nadu | Inspection and safety certificate procedure under Regulation 34 applies to MV generators above 10 kW | Tamil Nadu Electrical Inspectorate procedure page | Read on the inspectorate page. We did not read the underlying government order |
| Rajasthan | Units up to 1 MVA self-certified or inspector-certified by choice, above 1 MVA inspector certification mandatory, per a notification dated 23 April 2026 | TeamLease RegTech summary | Reported, notification text not read |
| Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka | We could not reach a post-2023 notification for the notified voltage or the Regulation 34 capacity from official pages on 31 October 2026 | None | Not confirmed. Ask the state inspectorate |
Two lessons come out of the confirmed rows. First, the same state can run different routes for different generators: Andhra Pradesh inspects above 10 kW but self-certifies PM Surya Ghar solar. Second, a state can attach a protection condition to self-certification, here the no-injection provision, and an inspector can still ask to see it.
Where does Heaven Designs fit?
Heaven Designs prepares the electrical drawing package: SLD, cable layout, earthing layout, equipment schedule and load calculations. It also handles responses to CEIG office queries within the agreed scope. The service page does not describe attending the site inspection, so we do not claim it here.
Use this post as a pre-inspection review. If your SLD and earthing layout no longer match what you built, see the Electrical CEIG Drawings service. You can also download the design samples and compare them with your own set.
FAQ
Is a CEIG inspection the same as CEIG drawing approval?
No. Drawing approval reviews the design before construction in states that run that step. The site inspection checks the built plant and its test records before supply starts. The drawing approval guide covers the first. This post covers the second.
Does the regulation set a maximum earth resistance for a solar plant?
No number appears in the 2023 regulations. Regulation 121(2)(i) refers to the relevant standard, and Regulation 43(ix)(b) requires a loop impedance low enough for the protective device to operate in time. Your design calculation sets the target, and the inspector reads your measured value against it.
What is the most avoidable objection?
Any item the inspector can see on a walk-down that has no record behind it. An unwelded earth joint, a missing danger notice or an instrument with no calibration certificate can all be checked in a few minutes on site. A matching drawing, a test sheet and a dated photo file are what keep them from becoming a second visit.
Do rooftop systems need the shock-treatment chart and fire buckets?
Regulations 29 and 30 name generating stations. Whether the inspectorate treats a rooftop plant as a generating station is the office’s call. Ask in advance, and carry the chart and extinguisher records either way.
Can the owner skip the inspector and self-certify?
Only where the state notification allows it. At or below the notified voltage, Regulation 45(1)(a) requires self-certification and a Schedule II report to the Electrical Inspector. The report counts as received only once the office has it, or after three working days without acknowledgement. Above the notified voltage, or above the Regulation 34 capacity, the inspector must inspect.
Source and review note
The regulation numbers above were read from the Gazette text of the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2023, notification No. CEA-PS-16/1/2021-CEI Division, New Delhi, 8 June 2023. The CEA’s own address for that PDF returned an error on 31 October 2026. We read the Internet Archive capture of the CEA-hosted PDF dated 14 July 2024 and extracted its text. An amendment to the regulations exists and is described in the CEIG glossary entry. Check the CEA regulations archive before relying on this checklist for a new project. State notifications change, so recheck the state table before each client conversation. This guide is engineering information, not approval advice. Verify project-specific requirements with the state Electrical Inspector and the DISCOM. To discuss an inspection file, contact us. We reply within 1 business day. You can also message us on WhatsApp.