Estimated WBSEDCL solar bill
Estimate only. Check your official WBSEDCL bill before paying.
How to use the WBSEDCL solar bill calculator
Four quick steps. No login and no download.
Enter your load
Type your sanctioned load. The tool picks net metering or net billing for you.
Copy meter units
Enter imported and exported kWh from your net meter, plus any units brought forward.
Add extras
Set the billing months, subsidy, meter rent, duty and any late payment.
Press Calculate
See billable units, carry-forward and the net payable amount.
Net metering, net billing and gross metering in West Bengal
Rooftop solar in West Bengal is now governed by the WBERC Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV System for Prosumers Regulations, 2025, in force from 31 July 2025. WBSEDCL earlier used its Procedures-C (2021), which limited net metering to 5 kW.
| Feature | Net metering | Net billing | Gross metering |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Exports offset imports | Net meter and generation meter, settled separately | All solar exported at a feed-in tariff |
| Capacity | 1 kW to 500 kW or sanctioned load, whichever is lower | Up to contract demand | Up to contract demand |
| Meters | Net meter plus generation meter | Net meter plus generation meter | Two separate meters |
| Surplus | Carried forward in the financial year | Settled at the feed-in tariff set by WBERC | Paid at the feed-in tariff |
Old rules for existing consumers
Plants already connected under net metering, or notified to WBSEDCL by 31 December 2021, continue with their existing accounting. The old WBSEDCL agreement bills on the export-import meter with a 90% rule: if exports are 90% of imports or less, you pay for imports minus exports. If exports are higher, you pay for 10% of imports and the excess carries forward. Choose this option in the calculator only if your agreement says so.
Worked example
A rural domestic consumer imports 180 units, exports 120 units, has no brought-forward credit and a 1 kVA demand over 3 months.
| Item | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Billable units | 180 - 120 | 60 units |
| Energy charge | 60 x 5.04 | Rs 302.40 |
| Fixed charge | 1 kVA x 30 x 3 months | Rs 90.00 |
| Subsidy | 60 x 1.17 | - Rs 70.20 |
| Rebate | 2% of 302.40 | - Rs 6.05 |
| Net payable | 302.40 + 90.00 - 70.20 - 6.05 | Rs 316.15 |
If the same house exported 250 units against 180 imported, no units would be billed and 70 units would carry forward.
Real bill check: March 2026, 2.59 kVA, 2.2 kWp
A domestic urban consumer imported 80.35 units, exported 136.93 units and had 32.14 units brought forward, so 169.07 units were available against 80.35 imported. Billable units were zero and 88.72 units carried forward.
| Item | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | 2.59 kVA x Rs 75 | Rs 194.25 |
| Meter rent | As billed | Rs 20.00 |
| Subsidy | 2.59 kVA x Rs 10 | - Rs 25.90 |
| Total charges | 194.25 + 20.00 - 25.90 | Rs 188.35 |
| Timely payment rebate | 1% of 194.25 | - Rs 1.94 |
| Payable within due date | 188.35 - 1.94, rupees only | Rs 186 |
| Paid by e-payment | Extra 1% off | Rs 184 |
This is why a solar bill rarely falls to zero: the minimum charge and meter rent still apply, and surplus units carry forward instead of being paid out.
Application fee, feasibility and timelines
| Item | Rule under the 2025 regulations |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Rs 1,000 for LV/MV and Rs 5,000 for HV/EHV |
| Feasibility study | Not needed up to 10 kW; 15 days for larger systems |
| Installation | Within 180 days of clearance, extendable by 90 days |
| Capacity | Not above sanctioned load or contract demand |
| Meters | Net meter and a generation meter, both with advanced metering support |
WBSEDCL must publish its procedure, model agreement and an online portal. Always confirm the current forms and fees on wbsedcl.in before applying.
PM Surya Ghar subsidy at a glance
Residential consumers can also claim central financial assistance under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana through pmsuryaghar.gov.in. The widely quoted amounts are Rs 30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and Rs 18,000 for the third kW, capped at Rs 78,000 for 3 kW or more. Check the portal for the current amounts.
Tips to get more from your solar plant
- Use daytime power directly, since self-used units never reach your import meter.
- Use up carried-forward credit before 31 March, because it resets to zero.
- Match plant size to your load, as it cannot exceed sanctioned load.
- Keep the panels clean, since dust and soot cut generation.
বাংলায় সংক্ষেপে: ২০২৫-এর WBERC নিয়মে নেট মিটারিং ১ কিলোওয়াট থেকে ৫০০ কিলোওয়াট বা সেংশন্ড লোড পর্যন্ত (যেটা কম)। আবেদন ফি এলভি/এমভিতে ১,০০০ টাকা। ১০ কিলোওয়াট পর্যন্ত ফিজিবিলিটি স্টাডি লাগে না। বাড়তি ইউনিট আর্থিক বছরের মধ্যে জমা থাকে, বছর শেষে শূন্য হয়। পুরনো চুক্তিতে ৯০% নিয়ম আছে।
Also try the standard WBSEDCL Bill Calculator for homes without solar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the WBSEDCL solar bill calculator?
It is a free estimator for rooftop solar consumers of WBSEDCL. Enter the units imported from the grid, the units exported by your solar plant and your tariff category, and it shows the energy charge, fixed charge, subsidy, rebate and net payable amount under net metering or net billing.
What is the net metering limit in West Bengal now?
Under the WBERC Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV System for Prosumers Regulations, 2025, net metering is available from 1 kW up to 500 kW or your sanctioned load or contract demand, whichever is lower. The older 5 kW limit from WBSEDCL Procedures-C (2021) applied before these regulations.
What is the difference between net metering, net billing and gross metering?
With net metering, the units you export offset the units you import. With net billing, import and solar generation are measured with a net meter and a generation meter and settled separately. With gross metering, all solar power is exported at a feed-in tariff set by WBERC while your full consumption is billed at the retail tariff.
What happens to extra solar units at the end of the year?
Surplus credits carry forward from month to month within the financial year and reset to zero at the end of it. Check your agreement for whether any payment is made for the surplus, because early draft rules proposed paying at the licensee's average power purchase cost.
Why is my WBSEDCL solar bill not zero when I export more than I import?
Even when billable units are zero, WBSEDCL charges a minimum charge. On a recent domestic bill with a 2.59 kVA connected load the minimum charge was Rs 194.25, which is Rs 75 per kVA per month. Meter rent was added and the government subsidy deducted, so the payable amount was about Rs 186. Your surplus units are not paid out; they carry forward.
What is the 90% rule in WBSEDCL net metering?
It comes from the older WBSEDCL agreement annexure. If exports are 90% or less of imports you are billed on imports minus exports. If exports exceed 90% of imports you are billed on 10% of imports and the excess is carried forward. A recent WBSEDCL solar bill we checked used full offset without the 90% cap, so use this option only if your agreement says so.
What is the application fee for rooftop solar with WBSEDCL?
The 2025 regulations fix the fee at Rs 1,000 for low and medium voltage consumers and Rs 5,000 for high and extra-high voltage consumers. The older Procedures-C (2021) listed Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 plus GST. Meter and testing charges are quoted separately.
Do I need a feasibility study for a small rooftop plant?
Systems up to 10 kW are deemed technically feasible without a study. For larger systems the licensee has 15 days to complete the feasibility study. Installation must be finished within 180 days of clearance, extendable by 90 days.
What is the minimum and maximum solar capacity I can install?
The minimum is 1 kW. The plant cannot exceed your sanctioned load or contract demand, and net metering is capped at 500 kW.
Does the calculator give the exact bill?
No. It is an estimate based on slab rates and a simple accounting of imports and exports. Adjustments, arrears, MVCA, meter rent, duty and your agreement terms can change the printed bill, so always check your official WBSEDCL bill.
Is this calculator for CESC or Kolkata?
No. It is for WBSEDCL areas. CESC consumers are billed on a different tariff.