Everyone tells you solar "saves money". Few people show you the actual arithmetic. This guide breaks down where rooftop solar savings come from for homes, housing societies, and businesses across Noida and Delhi NCR, so you can judge the numbers for yourself before you commit.
SIA Solar is an MNRE-approved, ISO-certified EPC based in Sector 132, Noida, with 25+ years of experience and 500+ projects across Delhi NCR and Uttar Pradesh.
Where the savings actually come from
Rooftop solar cuts your bill in three ways:
- Self-consumption: every unit your panels produce and you use immediately is a unit you do not buy from the grid.
- Net metering: surplus units you do not use are exported through a bidirectional meter and credited against future bills.
- The subsidy: PM Surya Ghar reduces your upfront cost, which shortens your payback period.
A worked example for a Noida home
Take a 3 kW system on a Noida rooftop. It generates roughly 360 to 450 units a month. For a household paying Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 a month, that can offset most or all of the bill, which is where the "up to 90% lower bills" figure comes from.
On cost: the central PM Surya Ghar subsidy gives Rs 30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and Rs 18,000 for the third kW, up to a maximum of Rs 78,000. UP residents add a UPNEDA top-up of about Rs 15,000 per kW, capped at Rs 30,000. After subsidy, a well-designed 3 kW system typically pays back in about 4 to 5 years, then runs largely free for another 20.
What changes for housing societies and businesses
Housing societies and RWAs can put shared rooftop systems on common areas to cut common-area electricity costs (lifts, pumps, lighting) and pass the benefit to residents.
Commercial and industrial sites in UP work differently. They do not get upfront residential-style cash subsidies, but they do get strong fiscal benefits: accelerated depreciation at 40%, electricity duty exemptions, and a net-metering cap of up to 2 MW. For many businesses the bigger story is cost certainty, locking in a generation cost for 25 years against rising grid tariffs.
Protecting your savings over 25 years
Savings only hold if the system keeps performing. Dust and soiling can cut output by 10 to 30%, so clean panels 2 to 4 times a year in Noida, more often in high-pollution pockets. One shaded panel can drag down a whole string, so shading matters at the design stage. Monitoring apps such as iSolarCloud, Enphase Enlighten, and Tata Power let you track daily generation and catch problems early.
Frequently asked questions
How fast does a home system pay back?
Usually about 4 to 5 years for a subsidised residential system, depending on your usage and tariff.
Is the subsidy still available?
Yes. PM Surya Ghar is currently active, with central slabs up to Rs 78,000 and a UPNEDA top-up for UP residents.
Do businesses get the same subsidy as homes?
No. Commercial and industrial projects get fiscal benefits like accelerated depreciation and duty exemptions rather than upfront cash subsidies.
What reduces my savings over time?
Mostly dust, shading, and poor maintenance. Regular cleaning and an annual inspection keep output high.
How do I get a number for my own roof?
Book a free site visit. We size the system to your real consumption and give you a generation and savings estimate.
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