Telangana is one of India’s fastest-growing solar states, with Hyderabad’s IT and manufacturing sectors driving a sustained surge in C&I rooftop solar demand. TSSPDCL, covering South Telangana including the entire GHMC (Greater Hyderabad) zone, processes more net metering applications than any other Telangana entity — and first-pass rejection rates remain above 30 percent, concentrated in drawing format non-compliance and the state’s specific generation meter requirement.
This guide gives EPCs operating in the TSSPDCL jurisdiction a complete playbook for every drawing format, the Telangana DISCOM portal workflow, all five approval stages with realistic timelines, and the ten rejection causes that create the most avoidable delays.
Direct answer. TSSPDCL solar net metering is governed by TSERC (Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission) Net Metering Regulations 2018 (amended 2022), covering TSSPDCL’s South Telangana territory including Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, and Suryapet districts. Applications require five drawing types — TSSPDCL-format SLD, General Arrangement, Earthing Diagram, Net Meter Schematic, and Structural Certificate — submitted via the TS DISCOM online portal. Processing takes 30–55 days for ≤10 kW and 50–85 days for larger systems under the current TSERC framework. ALMM modules and MNRE-approved inverters are mandatory from 2023.
TSSPDCL’s Jurisdiction — Telangana’s Two-DISCOM Structure
Telangana distributes power through two DISCOMs, both regulated by TSERC:
| DISCOM | Area Served | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| TSSPDCL (Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company) | South Telangana: Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Suryapet, and adjacent districts | Hyderabad |
| TSNPDCL (Telangana Northern Power Distribution Company) | North Telangana: Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Khammam, Adilabad, Siddipet, Mancherial, and adjacent districts | Warangal |
This guide covers TSSPDCL. For a state-by-state comparison, see DISCOM net metering process across India. For state-specific guides on neighbouring DISCOMs, see APEPDCL Solar Net Metering Guide (Andhra Pradesh) and BESCOM Solar Net Metering Guide (Karnataka).
Why TSSPDCL is critical for rooftop EPCs. TSSPDCL's jurisdiction includes Greater Hyderabad — India's second-largest tech and financial hub. The GHMC zone alone has tens of thousands of commercial and industrial rooftop projects pending. Hyderabad's IT parks (Hitech City, Gachibowli, Madhapur), pharmaceutical clusters (Genome Valley, IDA Bollaram), and the Outer Ring Road manufacturing belt are the primary commercial demand drivers for net metering in TSSPDCL territory.
Eligibility — Consumer Categories Under TSERC 2022 Regulations
| Consumer Category | Tariff Code | Max System Size | Export Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic LT | LT Category I | Up to 10 kW (1-phase) / 75 kW (3-phase) | TSERC pooled cost |
| Commercial LT | LT Category II | Up to 150 kW | TSERC pooled cost |
| Industrial LT | LT Category III | Up to 500 kW | TSERC pooled cost |
| HT Commercial / Industrial | HT-I / HT-II | Up to 1 MW | TSERC pooled cost |
| Government | LT / HT Government | Up to 1 MW | TSERC pooled cost |
Note. TSERC's pooled cost rate for FY2024–25 was approximately ₹3.45–₹3.75/kWh. Telangana's IT and pharmaceutical industrial consumers pay TSSPDCL tariffs of ₹8–₹12/kWh — producing payback periods well below six years at current solar module pricing.
The Telangana Net Metering Drawing Standard — 5 Mandatory Formats
Like APEPDCL in Andhra Pradesh, TSSPDCL requires a generation meter in addition to the bidirectional net meter — a legacy of the two states’ shared APTRANSCO background before bifurcation. The Telangana Net Metering Drawing Standard defines the five formats required.
Single Line Diagram — TSSPDCL Format
TSSPDCL's symbol set for grid-side components differs from APEPDCL's despite their shared pre-bifurcation lineage. The [SLD](/glossary/sld/) must include: consumer service connection number in title block, inverter make/model, cable sizes, fault protection ratings, anti-islanding callout, and a generation meter callout on the inverter AC output side. The generation meter note is the most commonly missed SLD element in TSSPDCL submissions from EPCs entering from other states.
General Arrangement / Site Layout
To-scale layout of module rows, cable trays, inverter position, earthing pits, and distance from TSSPDCL meter board. North arrow and scale bar mandatory. TSSPDCL requires the GHMC building permission number on the GA title block for any installation within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits — an additional field not required outside GHMC boundaries.
Earthing and Lightning Protection Diagram
Standalone schematic showing GI strip earthing from module frames and inverter to electrode, lightning rod coverage radius, electrode specification (soil type, depth, target resistance ≤5 Ω). Hyderabad's red laterite soil in the eastern Rangareddy / Medchal areas and black cotton soil in the Mahbubnagar belt require different electrode designs — specify the soil type explicitly. Telangana's interior Deccan plateau areas experience high lightning frequency during pre-monsoon — lightning rod coverage radius calculation must cover the full array footprint.
Net Meter Connection Schematic
Shows both the generation meter (on the inverter AC output side) and the bidirectional net energy meter (at the TSSPDCL service entrance), along with the export flow path and isolation arrangement. The generation meter must be specified as a separate device from the net meter — TSSPDCL's metering department procures and installs both, and the net meter schematic tells them what they need to physically install at the premises.
Structural Load Certificate
Signed and stamped structural engineer certificate under IS 875. Required for all TSSPDCL applications. Hyderabad falls in IS 875 Part 3 Basic Wind Speed zone 44 m/s; interior Telangana districts fall in zone 39–44 m/s. Specify the applicable wind zone for the specific installation district — do not use a generic "IS 875 compliant" statement without the district-specific wind speed value.
Watch out. TSSPDCL's GHMC building permission number requirement on the GA title block applies to all installations within GHMC limits — roughly Hyderabad city, Secunderabad, Cyberabad, and surrounding areas out to the Outer Ring Road. For installations in HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) areas outside GHMC, a different permission reference may be required. Confirm the applicable municipal entity before preparing the drawing title block for Hyderabad suburban projects.
Full Document Checklist
Category A — Consumer and Property Documents
- TSSPDCL electricity bill (service connection number, tariff category, sanctioned load)
- Property ownership proof (patta passbook, registered sale deed, or municipal property extract)
- Aadhaar card / PAN card of consumer
- GHMC building permission / completion certificate for Hyderabad installations (or applicable municipal permission)
- NOC from property owner if tenant
Category B — Technical Drawings (5 Formats)
- SLD — TSSPDCL format with generation meter callout and anti-islanding note (Drawing 1)
- General Arrangement with GHMC building permission number in title block (for Hyderabad) (Drawing 2)
- Earthing and Lightning Protection Diagram with soil type and lightning rod coverage radius (Drawing 3)
- Net Meter Connection Schematic showing both generation meter and bidirectional net meter (Drawing 4)
- Structural Load Certificate with IS 875 wind zone for specific district (Drawing 5)
- Load calculation sheet — signed by licensed contractor
Category C — Equipment Compliance
- Module datasheets with ALMM compliance certificate
- Inverter on current MNRE-approved list
- Anti-islanding test certificate
- Generation meter specification sheet
Category D — Contractor and Inspection
- Electrical contractor licence — Telangana state scope, currently valid
- CEIG or TS Electrical Inspector report for systems above 25 kW
- Installation completion certificate signed by licensed contractor
Category E — Portal and Payment
- Application registered on TS DISCOM portal (tsspdcl.in) with scanned documents uploaded
- Portal reference number noted and attached to physical file
- Physical file submitted at TSSPDCL sub-division office
- Application fee and net meter / generation meter cost deposit
Stage-by-Stage TSSPDCL Approval Process
30–55
Days — ≤10 kW clean submission
Heaven Designs field data, Q1 2026
50–80
Days — 10–100 kW
Heaven Designs field data, Q1 2026
65–85
Days — 100 kW to 1 MW
Heaven Designs field data, Q1 2026
~64%
First-pass approval — TSSPDCL Hyderabad divisions
Mercom India, 2024 rooftop tracker
Stage 1 — Portal Submission and Physical File Acceptance
Complete the TS DISCOM portal application, upload scanned documents, obtain reference number. Submit physical file at the TSSPDCL sub-division serving the meter address. Sub-division AE performs a format check; both GHMC permission number (for Hyderabad installations) and generation meter notation on the SLD are checked at this stage.
Stage 2 — Technical Feasibility
DE/AE assesses feeder hosting capacity. Hyderabad’s high-density IT and commercial corridors (Hitec City, Kondapur, Gachibowli) have significant feeder constraints. TSSPDCL’s hosting capacity limit follows TSERC guidelines — typically 30% of feeder-rated capacity.
Timeline: 10–18 working days.
Stage 3 — Drawing Review
Five drawings reviewed by TSSPDCL’s technical team. The generation meter callout on SLD, GHMC building permission in GA title block, soil type in earthing schematic, and dual-meter arrangement in the net meter schematic are the primary TSSPDCL-specific checks.
Timeline: 10–18 working days. Drawing objections issued by portal notification and physical letter.
Field tip. TSSPDCL's Hyderabad City Circle divisions process a high volume of applications year-round. Applications submitted in November–February (post-monsoon, pre-summer) tend to move through Stage 3 faster than those submitted in March–June, when Hyderabad's summer heat drives a surge in residential solar applications. Plan submission timing to avoid the peak queue period if your project timeline is flexible.
Stage 4 — Net Meter and Generation Meter Installation
TSSPDCL installs both the bidirectional net energy meter and the generation meter. Dual-meter installation takes longer than single-meter installations — budget for 15–25 working days.
Timeline: 12–25 working days.
Stage 5 — Commissioning and Registration Certificate
EPC commissions with TSSPDCL AE present. TS CEI inspection required above 25 kW. TSSPDCL issues a Solar Net Metering Registration Certificate used for TSERC records, PM Surya Ghar disbursement, and insurance.
Net Metering Billing and Settlement in Telangana
TSERC’s pooled cost mechanism applies. Monthly net computation with year-end cash settlement.
| Billing Scenario | TSSPDCL Treatment |
|---|---|
| Monthly net import | Billed at applicable TSSPDCL tariff |
| Monthly net export | Banked as credit |
| Year-end surplus | Cash settlement at TSERC pooled cost |
| Generation meter data | Used for Telangana Solar Policy reporting |
| PM Surya Ghar eligible | Central subsidy disbursed post-commissioning |
PROS — TSSPDCL NET METERING
- 1 MW ceiling — accommodates large Hyderabad IT and industrial projects
- TSSPDCL portal provides application tracking
- Hyderabad's high commercial tariffs (₹8–₹12/kWh) produce excellent payback economics
- Strong C&I demand pipeline from Hyderabad's tech and pharma sectors
- Year-end cash settlement for surplus banked units
CONS — TSSPDCL NET METERING
- Dual meter (net + generation) requirement adds cost and drawing complexity
- GHMC building permission number requirement adds pre-drawing groundwork for Hyderabad
- Feeder saturation in Hitec City and Gachibowli corridors constrains large C&I systems
- High application volume in summer creates queue delays at Stage 3
- Dual-meter installation at Stage 4 takes longer than single-meter states
Verdict. TSSPDCL’s Hyderabad territory is one of India’s highest-value rooftop solar markets — Hyderabad’s IT and pharmaceutical industries pay among India’s highest commercial electricity tariffs, and the city’s solar irradiance (5.5–5.8 peak sun hours) is excellent for peninsular India. The EPCs that succeed in this market have three things in common: TSSPDCL-format drawing templates that include the generation meter, an upfront GHMC building permission pull for Hyderabad projects, and a reliable sub-division follow-up cadence at Stage 4.
Telangana Solar Market Context
Telangana has grown from essentially zero installed solar capacity at its 2014 formation to over 4,200 MW by Q1 2025. According to Mercom India’s Telangana solar tracker, rooftop and distributed solar account for approximately 750 MW of Telangana’s total installed base, with TSSPDCL’s GHMC jurisdiction driving the majority of that. Hyderabad ranks among India’s top five cities by rooftop solar pipeline based on PM Surya Ghar registrations.
MNRE PM Surya Ghar data shows Telangana’s residential programme is gaining momentum, supported by TSSPDCL’s relatively functional portal and the state government’s Telangana Solar Policy targeting 5 GW of distributed solar by 2030.
IEA Solar PV 2024 highlights Hyderabad alongside Bengaluru and Pune as India’s primary urban growth markets for distributed solar — driven by the combination of high commercial electricity tariffs, available industrial and commercial rooftop space, and sustainability mandates from multinational tenants in technology parks.
IRENA Renewable Energy Statistics 2023 notes India’s south-central states as globally significant distributed solar markets — Telangana’s combination of irradiance, urbanisation, and commercial tariffs positions it as a long-term volume market for EPC firms.
The 10 Most Common TSSPDCL Rejection Reasons
| # | Rejection Reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generation meter missing from SLD | Add generation meter callout on the inverter AC output side of the SLD — required by TSERC for all net metering systems |
| 2 | GHMC building permission number absent from GA title block | Pull GHMC permission number before drawing preparation for any Hyderabad/Secunderabad installation |
| 3 | Dual-meter arrangement not shown in net meter schematic | Show both the generation meter and the bidirectional net energy meter in Drawing 4 as separate devices |
| 4 | SLD uses TSNPDCL symbols instead of TSSPDCL symbols | Maintain separate TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL drawing templates; do not use one across both Telangana DISCOMs |
| 5 | IS 875 wind zone generic statement without district value | Specify the district-specific Basic Wind Speed (Hyderabad: 44 m/s; interior districts: 39 m/s) |
| 6 | Soil type not specified in earthing schematic | Note the soil type (laterite, black cotton, alluvial) and corresponding electrode design for the specific installation area |
| 7 | ALMM compliance certificate missing | Mandatory for all post-January 2023 applications; attach manufacturer’s compliance letter |
| 8 | Service connection number absent from SLD title block | Add the 11-digit TSSPDCL service connection number to every drawing’s title block |
| 9 | Contractor licence not Telangana-state scope | Telangana-registered electrical contractor required; AP or other state licences are not accepted |
| 10 | Portal and physical file data inconsistent | Cross-check system capacity, module, and inverter models between portal entry and physical file before submission |
How Heaven Designs Helps Telangana EPCs
TSSPDCL’s generation meter requirement and GHMC building permission dependency add two pre-drawing steps that EPCs entering the Hyderabad market from other states consistently miss. Heaven Designs maintains TSSPDCL-specific drawing templates — with the generation meter pre-built into every SLD and net meter schematic — and the GHMC permission pull is part of our Telangana project initiation checklist.
- Solar Rooftop Detailed Engineering Design — Full TSSPDCL-format drawing package: SLD with generation meter, GA with GHMC permission slot, earthing schematic with soil type, dual-meter net meter schematic, structural certificate with district wind zone. Delivered 3–5 business days.
- Electrical CEIG Drawings — TS Electrical Inspector-ready drawings for systems above 25 kW; Telangana-specific CEIG format requirements met.
- Solar 3D Pre-Design — 48-hour 3D layout for Hyderabad rooftop projects; preliminary yield estimate confirms project economics before full drawing preparation commitment.
- Solar Rooftop Design Company India — Engineering bench for EPCs managing simultaneous projects across TSSPDCL, TSNPDCL, APEPDCL, and BESCOM; all South India DISCOM libraries maintained and updated quarterly.
- Download sample deliverables — Sample pack includes a TSSPDCL-format SLD with generation meter callout from a completed Hyderabad IT park rooftop project.
Foundational glossary: DISCOM, net metering in India, SLD.
FAQ
What is TSSPDCL’s maximum net metering system size?
1 MW for HT consumers under TSERC Net Metering Regulations 2022. For LT domestic consumers, the limit is the sanctioned load (typically 10 kW for single-phase, 75 kW for three-phase). All systems are subject to feeder hosting capacity — confirm feeder availability for systems above 100 kW in Hyderabad’s dense commercial zones.
Why does TSSPDCL require a generation meter in addition to the bidirectional net meter?
TSERC requires gross solar generation data for Telangana Solar Policy 2030 compliance reporting. The generation meter measures total solar output (not just net export), providing TSSPDCL with the data needed to report progress against the state’s distributed solar target. This requirement comes from Telangana’s shared administrative heritage with Andhra Pradesh — APEPDCL has the same requirement. The generation meter is installed and owned by TSSPDCL; the consumer pays the meter cost as part of the connection fee.
Do all TSSPDCL applications require GHMC building permission?
Only applications within GHMC limits (Greater Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Cyberabad areas). Applications in districts outside GHMC (Rangareddy district rural areas, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy, Suryapet) do not require GHMC permission — they may need a municipal or gram panchayat permission depending on the specific location. Confirm the applicable municipal body before drawing preparation for suburban or rural TSSPDCL projects.
What is the export tariff rate for TSSPDCL net metering?
TSERC’s pooled cost rate, revised annually with the TSERC tariff order. For FY2024–25, this was approximately ₹3.45–₹3.75/kWh. The pooled cost applies uniformly across both Telangana DISCOMs (TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL). For financial modelling, use the current TSERC order rate and assume ±10–15% variability in outer years.
How does TSSPDCL’s process compare to TSNPDCL in North Telangana?
TSNPDCL (Northern Telangana) follows the same TSERC regulations and drawing format requirements. TSNPDCL’s territory includes Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Khammam — a more industrial-agricultural mix than TSSPDCL’s commercial-tech-focused territory. TSNPDCL typically has faster processing for residential LT systems due to lower application volume; TSSPDCL handles higher C&I application volumes in Hyderabad but has more divisional capacity. Drawing templates must be adapted between the two — TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL have different SLD symbol sets.
Is Hyderabad’s irradiance significantly different from other Telangana districts?
Hyderabad’s GHI is approximately 5.5–5.7 peak sun hours per day on average. Interior Telangana (Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool) has slightly higher GHI (5.7–6.0) due to lower humidity and haze. For financial modelling and payback calculations, use district-specific Meteonorm or Solargis data rather than a statewide average — the difference between Hyderabad and interior Telangana can shift generation yield by 3–5%, which is meaningful in payback calculations for large C&I systems.
