For residential, commercial, agricultural, institutional, off-grid tea garden

For residential, commercial, agricultural, institutional, off-grid tea garden in Assam — this guide covers the Assam Solar Energy Policy 2021 / Assam Rooftop Solar Programme (AEDA). Administered by Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) / APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Co. Ltd.). Below are subsidy rates, eligibility, technical rules, documents, and scheme process.

Subsidy benefits

• Central CFA (PM Surya Ghar): up to Rs.78,000
• additional 10% NE special category
• Assam state additional: 20% state subsidy (AEDA)
• Agricultural solar pumps (PM KUSUM): 50% central (NE rate)
• 30% state = 80% total for Assam farmers
• Off-grid tea garden solar: 90% subsidy

Authority and scope

• Government body: Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) / APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Co. Ltd.)
• Nodal agency: AEDA (Assam Energy Development Agency)
• Eligible for: residential, commercial, agricultural, institutional, off-grid tea garden
• Installation type: Rooftop on-grid + off-grid tea garden microgrids + floating solar (Umiam Lake pilot)

Eligibility and disbursement

• Open to multiple consumer categories.
• Income restrictions: No income restriction; tea garden workers (largely ST/SC) get off-grid solar priority.
• Disbursement timeline: 30–60 days post-commissioning
• Disbursement mode: DBT via AEDA/APDCL; state component via AEDA
• Maximum capacity: 500 kW

Net metering and technical rules

• Net metering is available under this scheme.
• Net metering policy: AERC Net Metering Regulations 2018 (amended 2022). 1 kW–500 kW. Single DISCOM: APDCL (all of Assam).
• Gross metering policy: AERC gross metering for >500 kW. PPA-based tariff for utility-scale.
• Hybrid policy: Assam Solar + Biomass hybrid: tea garden residue (tea waste) + solar hybrid systems supported under AEDA pilot.
• DISCOM requirements: APDCL: Single DISCOM for all Assam (except border areas served by village microgrids).

How to apply

Apply on AEDA portal or pmsuryaghar.gov.in

APDCL feasibility check

AEDA-empanelled vendor selection

Installation + net meter

APDCL inspection + commissioning

Enhanced central CFA + state subsidy via DBT

Documents required

• Aadhaar card
• Electricity bill
• Property documents (Patta/Sanadi)
• Bank account details
• Tea garden worker certificate (for tea garden scheme)

Additional details

• Scheme budget: Assam RE target: 2,228 MW by

• PM Surya Ghar NE special category: 50% central CFA (+10%) for Assam.
• Target beneficiaries: All Assam consumers. Key areas: Guwahati (781xxx), Silchar (788xxx), Dibrugarh (786xxx), Jorhat (785xxx), Tezpur (784xxx), Nagaon (782xxx). Tea garden solar microgrids: major initiative.
• Progress: Assam: 600+ MW solar installed (April 2025). Assam Tea Solar Microgrid Project: 50,000+ tea garden households electrified with off-grid solar.