Which solar company should I choose for my home in India?
Choosing a solar company for your home in India can feel overwhelming. Dozens of vendors compete on price alone, making it hard to separate reliable providers from those who disappear after installation. We built this guide to give you a transparent, scorecard based framework for evaluating any residential rooftop solar company, so your investment performs for decades, not just the first monsoon season.
TL;DR - Summary
- Which solar company should I choose? - Choose based on a structured scorecard covering MNRE approval, system design fit, warranty ownership, approvals support, maintenance commitment, and financial transparency. Price alone is a poor filter because it hides component quality gaps and missing after sales accountability.
- Why does MNRE approval matter? - An MNRE approved solar company is listed on the government portal, which is typically required for PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligibility. It also signals that the vendor meets minimum technical and quality benchmarks set by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- What should a good warranty look like? - Look for single point warranty ownership where one company covers panels, inverter, and structure. Avoid setups where you chase three different manufacturers if something fails. Strong providers can offer 10 year inverter warranties, 25 year structure warranties, and 25 to 30 year panel warranties under one roof.
- How do approvals and subsidies work? - Residential rooftop solar in India requires DISCOM net metering approval, and subsidy claims go through the PM Surya Ghar portal. A reliable company handles this paperwork end to end rather than leaving you to navigate government portals alone.
- What about maintenance after installation? - Dust, pollution, and Indian weather conditions can reduce panel output significantly. Choose a company that includes scheduled panel cleaning, health checkups, and inverter monitoring as part of a long term service commitment, not as an optional add on.
Why price alone fails
Most homeowners start by collecting quotes. The cheapest quote wins attention. But a low headline price often hides trade offs that cost more over 25 years than the initial savings.
Common corners cut at the budget end include thinner mounting structures that corrode within five to seven years, inverters that need sheltered mounting (adding civil work costs), and panels from batches with unchecked efficiency variation. The vendor collects payment, installs quickly, and moves on.
A slightly higher quote from a company that owns every component warranty, handles DISCOM approvals, and commits to multi year maintenance can deliver a faster payback period and higher lifetime generation. The real question is not “who is cheapest?” but “who is accountable after day one?”
The six point solar company scorecard
We recommend evaluating every residential solar vendor against six criteria. Score each on a simple scale of strong, acceptable, or weak. The company with the most “strong” ratings across all six is typically the safest long term choice.
| Criteria | What to check | Red flag if missing |
|---|---|---|
| MNRE approval | Listed on the MNRE portal as an approved vendor | Cannot help with PM Surya Ghar subsidy; may lack quality benchmarks |
| System design fit | Site survey by an engineer; sizing based on your roof, load, and shading | Generic quote without visiting your home |
| Approvals support | Company handles DISCOM net metering, grid connection, and subsidy paperwork | You are told to "apply yourself" on the portal |
| Warranty ownership | Single entity owns panel, inverter, and structure warranties | Three different manufacturers to chase for three different issues |
| Maintenance commitment | Scheduled cleaning, health checkups, inverter monitoring included | No post installation service plan; "call us if something breaks" |
| Financial transparency | Itemized quote showing component specs, subsidy deduction, and EMI terms | Lump sum quote with no component breakdown |
MNRE approval explained
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy maintains a portal listing approved solar vendors. This listing is designed to ensure that companies meet minimum technical standards for residential rooftop installations.
For homeowners, MNRE approval matters for two practical reasons. First, PM Surya Ghar subsidy disbursement typically requires installation by an approved vendor. Second, the listing process itself filters out fly by night operators who lack the infrastructure for quality installations.
You can verify any company's MNRE status directly on the MNRE portal by searching for their name and checking their rating. We maintain an MNRE rating of 4.9 and above, which reflects consistent installation quality and customer satisfaction across our operating cities.
How to verify MNRE status
Visit the MNRE portal's vendor section. Search by company name or city. Check the vendor's star rating and number of completed installations. A rating below 4.0 or very few completed projects should prompt further questions before you commit.
System design fit
A responsible solar company sends an engineer to your home before quoting. The site survey covers roof area measurement, structural load assessment, shading analysis (trees, water tanks, neighboring buildings), electrical panel readiness, and your monthly electricity consumption pattern.
This visit determines whether your home needs a 2 kW, 3 kW, 5 kW, or 7 kW system. It also determines the right mounting structure (floor mounted, elevated, or gazebo) and whether a string inverter or micro inverter setup is the better technical fit.
Be cautious of any company that quotes a system size over the phone based only on your electricity bill. Without a physical site survey, the system may be oversized (wasting money), undersized (underperforming), or poorly oriented (reducing generation by 15 to 25 percent).
Matching system size to your home
| Home type | Typical system size | Approximate roof area needed | Monthly generation estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 BHK, 1 AC | 2 to 3 kW | 300 to 400 sq ft | 240 to 360 units |
| 2 to 3 BHK villa, 2 ACs | 4 to 5 kW | 400 to 500 sq ft | 480 to 600 units |
| 3 to 4 BHK premium villa, EV charging | 5 to 7 kW | 500 to 700 sq ft | 600 to 1050 units |
These are indicative ranges. Actual generation depends on your city's solar irradiance, panel orientation, and seasonal variation. A good company will share a generation estimate specific to your roof, not a generic national average.
Approvals and subsidy support
Residential rooftop solar in India involves multiple approvals: DISCOM application for net metering, grid connection clearance, and (if claiming subsidy) registration on the PM Surya Ghar portal. Each step has its own documentation requirements and processing timelines.
Many homeowners underestimate this paperwork. A vendor who handles approvals end to end, from DISCOM application to net meter installation to subsidy claim submission, removes a significant burden. Ask explicitly: “Do you handle all approvals, or do I need to apply myself?”
PM Surya Ghar subsidy overview
Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, homeowners can receive ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, with a cap of ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. This subsidy is credited after installation and inspection, not deducted upfront from the quote.
A transparent vendor will show you the pre subsidy price, the expected subsidy amount, and the effective post subsidy cost as separate line items. If a quote shows only a “subsidized price” without breaking down the components, ask for the full breakdown before signing.
Warranty ownership matters
This is where the difference between a product company and an assembler becomes critical. Most solar installations in India are assembled from components made by different manufacturers: panels from one brand, inverter from another, mounting structure from a third.
When something fails, the homeowner often has to identify which component caused the issue and then contact the relevant manufacturer. If the panel manufacturer blames the inverter, or the structure supplier has gone out of business, you are stuck.
Single point accountability
A product company that owns every component warranty under one brand eliminates this problem. One call handles any issue, regardless of which part is involved. We brand and warrant every component ourselves: panels, inverter, and structure. Our panels are serial tracked, our inverter is monitored every five minutes, and every structural bolt is epoxy sealed.
What strong warranties look like
| Component | Industry typical warranty | Strong provider benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | 10 to 15 year product warranty | 25 to 30 year product warranty with disclosed efficiency curve |
| Inverter | 5 to 7 years | 10 years, waterproof rated, remotely monitored |
| Mounting structure | 5 to 10 years (galvanized iron) | 25 years anti corrosion (Magnelis or equivalent alloy) |
Ask every vendor: “If my system underperforms in year eight, who do I call, and what happens?” The answer reveals whether you are buying a product or a collection of parts.
Maintenance commitment
Solar panels in Indian cities accumulate dust, bird droppings, and pollution residue. Without regular cleaning, generation can drop by 10 to 25 percent depending on location and season. Monsoon rain helps, but it does not replace professional cleaning.
A reliable solar company includes a maintenance plan covering scheduled panel cleaning (typically quarterly or more frequently in dusty areas), inverter health monitoring, and periodic system performance checkups. This is not a luxury add on. It is essential for protecting your payback period.
What maintenance should include
Professional panel cleaning using deionized water and soft tools. Inverter performance review with remote monitoring data. Visual inspection of structure, wiring, and earthing. Generation report comparing actual output against expected baseline. Early fault detection before small issues become expensive repairs.
We monitor every installed inverter at five minute intervals and include panel health checkups as part of our service commitment. If a system underperforms against its generation guarantee, our Arkashield guarantee means the customer is compensated at ₹7 per unit of shortfall.
Financial transparency
A trustworthy solar quote is itemized. It shows the panel brand and wattage, inverter type and capacity, structure material and warranty, installation labor, DISCOM and net metering fees, and any applicable taxes. It also clearly states the subsidy amount separately.
Compare quotes on a like for like basis. Two quotes for a “5 kW system” can differ by ₹50,000 or more because one uses premium components with longer warranties while the other uses entry level parts with shorter coverage. The cheaper system may cost more over its lifetime through earlier replacements and lower generation.
Industry price context
On grid residential solar systems in India typically fall within these ranges (before subsidy):
| System size | Typical price range | Post subsidy estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | ₹1.3 lakh to ₹1.6 lakh | ₹52,000 to ₹82,000 |
| 4 kW | ₹2 lakh to ₹2.4 lakh | ₹1.22 lakh to ₹1.62 lakh |
| 5 kW | ₹2.4 lakh to ₹3 lakh | ₹1.62 lakh to ₹2.22 lakh |
These are general market ranges, not specific to any single provider. Actual pricing depends on component quality, structure type, and city specific factors.
EMI and financing
If upfront payment is a barrier, look for providers offering no cost EMI options. We offer 12 month no cost EMI (fully interest free), which is designed to let homeowners start saving on electricity bills from month one while spreading the investment. Standard bank EMI options are available for longer tenures at prevailing market rates.
When comparing EMI plans, check: Is the EMI truly interest free, or is the interest built into a higher system price? What is the tenure? Are there processing fees? Can the EMI amount be close to your current monthly electricity bill, effectively replacing one payment with another?
Detailed scoring matrix
Use this matrix when comparing two or three shortlisted vendors side by side. Fill in each cell based on what the vendor tells you (and verify independently where possible).
| Evaluation criteria | Vendor A | Vendor B | Vendor C |
|---|---|---|---|
| MNRE portal listing (yes/no, rating) | |||
| Engineer site visit before quoting (yes/no) | |||
| Handles DISCOM and net metering (yes/no) | |||
| Handles PM Surya Ghar subsidy application (yes/no) | |||
| Panel warranty (years, product vs performance) | |||
| Inverter warranty (years, waterproof rating) | |||
| Structure warranty (years, material type) | |||
| Single point warranty ownership (yes/no) | |||
| Generation guarantee with compensation (yes/no) | |||
| Scheduled cleaning included (yes/no, frequency) | |||
| Remote inverter monitoring (yes/no) | |||
| Itemized quote with component specs (yes/no) | |||
| No cost EMI available (yes/no, tenure) | |||
| Installation timeline commitment (days) |
Print this matrix or save it digitally. Fill it in during your conversations with each vendor. The vendor who scores strongest across all rows, not just on price, is typically the safest long term choice.
Three vendor archetypes
The Indian residential solar market broadly has three types of providers. Understanding which type you are speaking with helps you ask the right questions.
The local vendor installs at the lowest cost, then moves on. Accountability after installation is minimal. Corners are often cut on panel quality, structure durability, and paperwork support. If something breaks in year three, you may find the vendor has shifted to a different business.
The formal EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) company offers a more professional installation experience. However, they typically assemble components from separate manufacturers. If a panel fails, you deal with the panel manufacturer. If the inverter fails, you deal with the inverter brand. The EPC company may help coordinate, but they do not own the component warranties.
A product company owns the full system: every component is branded, warranted, and serviced by one entity. One call resolves any issue. This model is designed to eliminate the accountability gaps that frustrate homeowners in years five through twenty five of system life.
We operate as a product company. Every component (panel, inverter, structure) is branded under our name, and we own all warranties ourselves. Our Arka Assured quality process includes EL inspection of every panel, wattpeak verification against spec, structure testing to 180 km/h winds, and roof inspection before installation to determine the correct inverter configuration.
Questions to ask every vendor
Before signing with any solar company, ask these questions directly. The answers will reveal whether you are dealing with a reliable long term partner or a transactional installer.
Are you listed on the MNRE portal, and what is your rating? Will an engineer visit my home before you quote a system size? Do you handle all DISCOM, net metering, and subsidy paperwork? Who owns the warranty on panels, inverter, and structure? Is it one company or three? Do you offer a generation guarantee, and what happens if the system underperforms? What maintenance is included after installation, and for how long? Can you show me an itemized quote with component specifications? What EMI options are available, and is any portion interest free?
A company that answers all of these clearly and confidently is worth paying a modest premium over one that deflects or says “we will figure it out later.”
Choosing with confidence
The right solar company for your home is not necessarily the cheapest or the most expensive. It is the one that scores highest on the criteria that matter for a 25 year investment: MNRE approval, proper site assessment, approvals handling, warranty ownership, maintenance commitment, and financial transparency. Use the scorecard and matrix in this guide to compare vendors objectively. We built this framework because we believe informed homeowners make better decisions, and better decisions lead to solar systems that actually perform for decades. If you want a partner who owns every component, handles every approval, and guarantees generation with real compensation, we are ready for that conversation.
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FAQs
MNRE approval, warranties, and quote comparison questions answered.
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