Rooftop solar in Dehradun, October 2026: 39,384 homes under PM Surya Ghar

Amar Ujala reported on 12 October 2026 that 39,384 rooftop solar plants are now installed in Dehradun district under PM Surya Ghar, with ₹85,800 central subsidy on a 3 kW plant.

What happened

Dehradun's count. Amar Ujala reported on 12 October 2026 that 39,384 solar plants have been installed in Dehradun district under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. It put their combined capacity at about 146.64 MW. The same report gave the figure for all of Uttarakhand as 113,385 plants.

The subsidy. Amar Ujala reported that the government gives ₹85,800 as subsidy on a 3 kW plant, subject to eligibility and the scheme's rules. This matches the central rates for special category states, which include Uttarakhand. SolarQuarter, summarising the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) guidelines on 1 September 2026, gave those rates as ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹19,800 for the third kW. In general category states the cap is ₹78,000.

How it works. Amar Ujala described the steps as application, installation of the plant, inspection, and then release of the subsidy. SolarQuarter reported that households apply on the national portal, choose a registered vendor themselves and agree the price directly with that vendor. It said modules on subsidised systems must be made in India with Indian-made cells, and that collateral-free loans are available from banks through the Jan Samarth portal.

Pending applications. Amar Ujala quoted Ashish Arora, Chief Engineer (Solar Cell), as saying 39 applications were pending across the state and would be approved after checks, and that new applications keep coming in. That figure looks small next to the installation numbers. We could not confirm it from a second source.

What surplus power earns. Jantak reported on 3 March 2026 that the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) fixed ₹2 per unit as the rate at which UPCL buys surplus power from net-metered rooftop systems, effective from 20 August 2025. It reported that the rate applies whether or not the consumer received a subsidy.

The numbers do not line up neatly. Jantak's March report gave 70,183 rooftop systems and 253.88 MW statewide. Indian Masterminds reported on 29 May 2026 that the state had installed about 40,000 units and 290 MW of residential rooftop capacity, when Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released a solar awareness booklet. Amar Ujala's October figure is 113,385 plants. These may count different things, such as plants installed versus subsidy released. None of the reports explained the difference.

Is there a state top-up? Some installer websites say Uttarakhand pays an extra state subsidy on top of the central amount. Others say there is no separate state subsidy in 2026. None of the news reports we read mentioned a state top-up. We could not confirm one, so do not count on it unless UREDA or UPCL confirms it in writing.

What it means for homeowners and landlords in Dehradun

This section is our view.

Size the plant for your own use. With surplus power bought at ₹2 a unit, exporting extra power to the grid earns little. A plant sized to cover what the house actually uses gives better value. Look at your last 12 months of UPCL bills before talking to vendors. Our post on Uttarakhand electricity tariffs for 2026-27 gives the current grid rates to compare against.

The connection must be in your name. The subsidy goes to the person who holds the electricity connection for the house. If you have just bought a house and the meter is still in the seller's name, get the connection transferred first. Ask the seller for the UPCL papers at the time of sale.

Buying a house that already has solar. Ask for the vendor's invoice, the warranty papers, the net-metering agreement with UPCL and proof that the subsidy was released. Check that the net meter is actually installed and working. A plant without a net meter only helps while the sun is up. Add these to the usual checks before you pay for a flat.

Landlords and tenants. A landlord who installs solar on a rented house pays the cost, but the tenant who pays the bill gets the saving. Agree in writing how the bill and the benefit are shared, and who maintains the panels. Our checklist for owners renting out a house covers what to put in the agreement.

Pick the vendor carefully. The vendor is your choice and so is the price. Get two or three quotes, check the vendor is registered on the national portal, and do not pay the full amount before installation and inspection.

Questions people ask

How much subsidy do I get for rooftop solar in Dehradun?

Amar Ujala reported ₹85,800 for a 3 kW plant in October 2026. This is the central rate for special category states such as Uttarakhand: ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹19,800 for the third.

What does UPCL pay for extra solar power?

Jantak reported that UERC fixed ₹2 per unit for surplus power from net-metered rooftop plants, effective from 20 August 2025.

Does Uttarakhand give an extra state subsidy on rooftop solar?

We could not confirm one. Installer websites disagree, and the news reports we read mentioned only the central subsidy.

Sources

Buying or selling property in Dehradun and unsure about the paperwork? Call Neeraj Thapa on +91 98320 03494.

How we write these: the ILA Infra team reads the reports listed under Sources and links every one, so you can check each figure yourself. The section on what it means for buyers is our own view, not advice.