Most apartments in India can't go solar the traditional way — the top-floor flat owns the roof, everyone else is out. Community solar with virtual net metering solves this: one large plant on the society roof, solar credits distributed to every participating flat's DISCOM bill.
What Is Virtual Net Metering (VNM)?
Under VNM, a society installs a single solar plant on the common rooftop. The DISCOM connects the plant's generation meter to a group account. Generated units are distributed to each participating flat's meter in proportion to their share — determined by capital contribution or flat allocation set in the AGM resolution. Each member sees the solar credit directly on their monthly electricity bill.
How It Differs From Individual Rooftop Solar
| Factor | Individual Rooftop | Community Solar (VNM) |
|---|---|---|
| Who can participate | Only top-floor owners | Every flat |
| Cost per kW | ₹55–67k | ₹40–50k (scale discount) |
| Subsidy availability | Yes (PM Surya Ghar) | Yes (group application) |
| Maintenance | Each owner manages theirs | Society manages one plant |
| Credit visibility | On individual bill | On individual bill (via DISCOM split) |
Typical Community Solar Economics (80-Flat Society, 100 kW Plant)
- Plant size: 100 kW
- Monthly generation: ~11,700 units
- Per flat average credit: ~146 units/month (at equal 80-flat split)
- Monthly saving per flat (at ₹6.50/unit): ~₹950
- Capital cost per flat (at ₹40k/kW, 100 kW total): ₹50,000
- Payback per flat: ~4.4 years
Getting Your RWA to Approve It
- Raise it at the AGM — a simple majority resolution is sufficient in most states
- Commission a feasibility study — Vermson India does this free at your RWA meeting
- Determine the opt-in list — even 50% participation makes the project viable
- Lock the share structure in the AGM resolution (equal shares, or proportional to flat size)
- File the group net-metering application — we handle all DISCOM paperwork
States With Active VNM Policies (2026)
Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh all have working VNM policies in place. Punjab's policy is in the final approval stage. If your DISCOM hasn't approved VNM yet, a single-meter group connection (common area billing) is an interim alternative that works in all states.
What About Members Who Sell Their Flat?
The solar share transfers with the flat by default. New owners inherit both the credit and any pending capital instalments — exactly like a maintenance deposit. We help draft the AGM resolution to make this explicit, so there's no ambiguity when flats change hands.
