Decision board
Recommended next 3 steps
Savings optimizer — tap the options
🏆 Every combination, ranked by yearly saving
Source documents — view & cross-check (opens inline, no download)
BSES bills (8)
click to open the original PDF in-page
Handwritten meter register (14 pages)
click a page to view; ← → to flip
📎 Reference — a real Domestic bill (cousin's, CA 102947115)
used to validate the domestic rates & slabs below — opens inline, 4 pages
How to read your bill (anyone can follow)
① YOUR bill — Non-Domestic (business rate)
- 🪪 CA No 100072405 — your account's ID number.
- 🏷️ Tariff: Non-Domestic — the dearer "business" rate.
- 🔢 Units used = 7,416 — new meter reading minus last month's.
- 💵 Price per unit ₹8.50 — flat, before add-ons.
- 🏠 Fixed charge ₹10,000/mo — paid even at zero use (₹250 × 40 kVA).
- ➕ Add-ons — PPAC + 8% + 7% pension + 5% tax stacked on top.
- 🧾 Total ₹92,870 — pay by the Due Date.
② A HOME bill — Domestic (cousin's, for comparison)
- 🪪 CA No 102947115 — a different account's ID.
- 🏷️ Tariff: Domestic — the cheaper "home" rate.
- 🔢 Units used = 1,638.
- 💵 Price rises in steps — ₹3 (first 200), ₹4.50, ₹6.50, ₹7, then ₹8.
- 🏠 Fixed charge much lower — ₹100/kW (not ₹250).
- ➕ Same add-ons — PPAC, surcharge, pension, tax.
- 🧾 Total ₹15,210.
👉 Tap either bill image to open the full document. The big difference: your "business" rate charges ₹8.50 for every unit; a "home" rate starts at ₹3 and only the top units cost ₹8.
Consumption — full timeline, till date
Consumption intensity (kWh/day)
Blue = from BSES bills · Purple = from handwritten register (manual, not yet billed)
Billed units (kVAh) vs cost (₹)
8 bills, Jun 2025 – Feb 2026
Cumulative meter reading (kWh)
register anchors, Nov 2025 → today
2-year month-wise history — units vs unit-price
Your bill = Units × Price
Bars = units used (kVAh — what you control). Line = all-in ₹/unit (what BSES/PPAC controls).
- Units (your lever) stay range-bound & seasonal — ~3,500–7,400/mo, peaking each winter & summer.
- ₹/unit (not your lever) swung ₹12.5 → ₹17.2 over 2 years — driven mostly by PPAC (the fuel pass-through), which was 35.8% in 2024, fell to ~6–7% in late-2025, and is 14.5% now.
- HONEST So bills are not simply "rising" — they're volatile. 2024 bills were dear because of a global fuel spike (PPAC 36%), not higher usage. At household level you can only act on units; the price you can only avoid (solar) or re-class (domestic).
Every bill (18 months)
🛡️ Solar = a hedge. It makes you “global-proof”.
The grid price you pay is set by global fuel — PPAC swung 6%→36% with coal/gas (Russia-Ukraine era). Solar flips that:
- Your solar cost is FIXED at ~₹3/unit for 25 years (locked at install) — immune to fuel shocks, PPAC and tariff hikes.
- Self-used solar gets MORE valuable when the grid spikes: in a 2024-style fuel crisis (₹17/unit) every solar unit you self-use saves ₹17 — solar is anti-fragile to global events.
- The export rate (APPC ~₹3.5–4.3) is stable/slow-rising, not fuel-volatile — but you size to self-use anyway, so this barely matters.
- NET Solar converts a volatile, externally-controlled cost into a fixed, self-controlled one. That certainty is worth as much as the savings.
Weather correlation — the U-shape
Mean temperature vs consumption
each point = one period · Delhi daily temps (Open-Meteo)
Both extremes drive usage
| Weather band | Avg kWh/day |
|---|---|
| 🥶 Cold ≤16°C (winter heating) | 230 |
| 🌤 Mild 16–30°C (sweet spot) | 137 |
| 🥵 Hot ≥30°C (summer AC) | 225 |
- Usage is ~65% higher at both temperature extremes — AC + heating. U-shaped, not linear.
Day / Night (Time-of-Day registers)
TOD split — Feb-26
meter's Normal/Off-peak/Peak registers
Meaning
| Slab | kVAh | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 3,683 | 49.7% |
| Off-peak (rebate) | 2,002 | 27.0% |
| Peak (surcharge) | 1,731 | 23.3% |
- Net TOD effect only +₹688 — off-peak rebate ≈ cancels peak surcharge; little to gain from load-shifting, but the big day load is good for solar self-use.
Where the ₹13.63/unit goes — Feb-26, every cell reconciled
Charge build-up (₹92,867.90)
no arrears, no LPSC — 100% current charges
Cell-by-cell
| Component | ₹ | Basis |
|---|
All DERC / BRPL tariff categories (2025-26)
For context. Yours is Non-Domestic >3 kVA. Domestic & Non-Domestic are firm; Industrial/Agriculture indicative — verify vs DERC schedule.
- Riders on most categories: PPAC ~7.25%, Pension surcharge 7%, Electricity tax 5%, plus an 8% surcharge on your non-domestic bill.
- 📊 Prices are VOLATILE, not simply rising: across your 18 bills the all-in rate ranged ₹12.5–₹17.2/unit. The swing is almost all PPAC (fuel pass-through): 35.8% in 2024 (global coal/gas spike) → ~6–7% in late-2025 → 14.5% now. Base slabs barely change. See the 2-year history section.
Domestic case — you said it's a residence
Bill if reclassified Domestic (est.)
your actual monthly kWh on DERC domestic slabs
~21% cheaper (~₹1.7L/yr) — validated ✓
Cross-checked against two real Delhi domestic bills (CA 102947115 & 102225132, in Documents): identical slabs, domestic fixed ₹100–150/kW (vs ₹250/kVA non-dom), and the 8%+7%+5%+PPAC stack confirmed. Most units still hit the top ₹8 slab, so it's ~21%, not "half". (Both at the same today PPAC 14.51%.)
| Non-Domestic (your bills, annual) | ₹8,18,810 |
| Domestic (validated, annual) | ₹6,45,214 |
| Saving | ~21% · ≈ ₹1.74L/yr |
- UPSIDE If genuinely domestic, you'd also unlock the ₹78k PM Surya Ghar solar subsidy + simpler residential net metering.
- PURSUE File for re-classification with BSES (premises is a residence). Delhi farmhouses are often kept non-domestic, so get the decision in writing.
- NONE No senior-citizen or ex-servicemen electricity discount exists in Delhi (DERC has none). The only domestic subsidy (free ≤200 / 50% ≤400 units) never applies at your 4,500+ units/month.
- OPTION Two ≤21 kW domestic meters (vs one) would save ~₹2.13L/yr (cheap slabs counted twice + each stays under the 21 kW farmhouse cap) — but BSES may refuse two connections on one premises unless they serve genuinely separate dwellings.
If wrongly classified — claiming the difference back
Max demand vs sanctioned load
MDI per bill (kVA) vs 40 kVA sanctioned
you pay the ₹10k/mo fixed charge on 40 kVA, but peak demand only reached 30.24 kVA
- Oct hit 30.24 kVA — dropping sanctioned load below ~33 kVA risks overload penalty. Small fixed-charge saving possible; verify a full summer first.
Solar — 40 kWp proposal, risk-adjusted ROI
Scenarios (cash purchase)
| Scenario | Payback | IRR | 25-yr NPV |
|---|
Sensitivity — payback (yrs)
yield × effective saving (₹/unit)
🎩 Ace-investor verdict: STRONG BUY (execution-gated)
Treat solar as an asset, not a cost. It throws off a quasi-guaranteed, tax-friendly, inflation-linked return for 25 years — you will use power, and the saving grows as tariffs rise.
| Where you could put ₹21L | Return | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| This solar plant | IRR 29% (17% even on net-billing) | Low — savings are near-certain |
| Bank FD | ~7% (taxable) | Very low |
| Equity / mutual funds | ~12% (long-run) | High / volatile |
| Gold | ~9% | Medium |
- Numbers: Payback 3.4 yr (worst case 6.1) · NPV ₹55L in today's money · effective capex ~₹14L after AD + GST credit · cash-on-cash ~30% in year 1.
- Why it beats the alternatives: nothing safe pays 17–31%. This return is inflation-hedged (rises ~4%/yr with tariffs) and largely risk-free on the demand side.
- The only real risks are execution, not economics: (1) get net-metering in writing, (2) a quality EPC + DCR panels, (3) roof/structure for 25 yrs. Clear these and it's a clear yes.
- Verdict: at a 17–31% risk-adjusted, inflation-linked return on a 25-yr asset, this clears any sensible hurdle rate. Worth it.
🏭 Think of it as a power plant you own
You produce a unit for ₹3.10 (all-in) and sell it — first to yourself (you avoid ₹11), then any surplus to BSES (₹4.30). Every unit clears your cost — self-use earns ~3.6×, even exported surplus earns ~1.4×.
| Per unit | ₹/unit | vs ₹3.10 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to produce (LCOE, 25-yr, incl O&M+insurance) | ₹3.10 | — |
| Sell to yourself (avoid the bill) | ₹11.07 | 3.6× markup |
| Sell surplus to BSES (APPC) | ₹4.30 | 1.4× markup |
| As a 25-yr project | Cash buy | On business books (AD+ITC) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakeven | ~3.4 yr | ~2.2 yr |
| IRR | 29% | ~43% |
| NPV @8% | ₹55.3L | ₹64.6L |
| Money back over life | ₹223L value on ₹21L spent ≈ 10.8× over 25 yr | |
- Assumes realistic 85% self-use / 15% export, 4%/yr tariff rise. Surplus isn't a loss — just a lower-margin sale; sizing to ~your own use maximises the high-paying customer (you).
Financing options (India, commercial)
Important: a 40 kWp Non-Domestic system is not eligible for the cheap residential PM Surya Ghar loans (those are capped at 10 kW / ₹6 L). It needs a commercial / MSME or green-NBFC loan (~9.5–12%). Rates indicative — verify on the lender pages (see Sources).
“But I don't have that kind of money”
You don't need ₹21 lakh. You don't need any savings at all.
You are already paying about ₹68,000 every month for electricity — money gone forever. A bank lends the full cost of the solar; you simply pay the bank instead of BSES.
| Every month | |
|---|---|
| Today — paid to BSES | ₹68,000 |
| With solar (bank pays, ₹0 down): loan ₹28,600 + tiny bill ₹12,900 | ₹41,500 |
| Extra money in your pocket — from month 1 | +₹26,700 / month |
Nothing upfront, and more money every month immediately (real commercial loan, ~10.5%). After ~10 years the loan ends — then you pay about ₹13,000/month and keep ₹55,000 every month for 15+ years.
Being short of money is the reason to do this — not the reason to wait. The bill is what's draining you; solar stops the drain.
Accounting & tax — for a business family (India)
On a business's books, the taxman funds a big chunk of the solar.
Hold the plant in a taxable business entity (not the residence) and you unlock three things a household — or a Domestic connection — cannot:
| Lever | How it works (India) | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated Depreciation | 40%/yr on written-down value (Income-Tax Sec 32), front-loaded; possible extra 20% if in manufacturing | ~₹6.0L tax saved over life (~₹2.4L in year 1) @30% |
| GST input credit (ITC) | plant & machinery for captive business use (Sec 17(5)); small reversal for grid-exported units | ~₹1.4L recovered |
| Loan interest | fully deductible business expense | ~₹3.9L tax saved over a 10-yr loan @30% |
Effective net cost ≈ ₹14L (after ITC + depreciation shield) → on a business's books, solar payback drops to ~2.2 years. P&L: power expense falls sharply, while depreciation & interest shelter tax. Balance sheet: a ₹21.2L asset that throws off ~₹6.6L/yr.
- YOUR EDGE You're a business family — so AD/ITC/interest are usable. For you, commercial + business-owned solar + AD usually beats the ₹78k domestic subsidy (a Domestic/residential asset forfeits AD).
- CONFIRM WITH CA Exact figures depend on entity, tax bracket, GST registration, manufacturing status and export share. Numbers use 30% tax & ~15% ITC reversal. First-principle that holds regardless: total depreciation = asset cost, so lifetime tax shield = tax-rate × cost.
What could go wrong — upkeep & risks
Running costs (already inside the ~29% IRR)
| Item | Frequency | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| AMC — cleaning + checks (Delhi dust: clean ~fortnightly in dry months, else lose 15–25%/quarter) | ongoing | ~₹25k/yr (₹0.3–0.6/Wp) |
| Insurance (fire/storm/theft) | yearly | ~₹12k/yr (~0.5–1% of capex) |
| Inverter replacement (the #1 wear item) | ~year 10–15 | ~₹2.4–4.8L (₹6–12/W) — ₹3L budgeted |
| Panels | 25-yr warranty (~0.5%/yr fade) | — |
Risk register
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net-billing instead of net-metering | Medium | High payback 3.4→6 yr | Get net-metering in writing from BSES before you sign |
| Dust / soiling (Delhi) | High if neglected | High 15–25%/qtr | Monthly cleaning in the AMC; optional auto-cleaning |
| Inverter failure | Medium (yr 10–15) | ₹3L | 5–10 yr warranty + AMC; budgeted; ventilated mount |
| Under-generation vs promised | Medium | Medium | Performance/generation guarantee in the EPC contract |
| EPC vendor quality / longevity | Medium | Med–High | Reputable EPC, ALMM/DCR modules, milestone payments + retention |
| Storm / hail / lightning / fire | Low | High if hit | Insurance + lightning arrestor (in the quote) |
| Theft (remote farmhouse) | Low–Med | Medium | Insurance + secured/fenced mounting |
| Shading (trees / new construction) | Low | Medium | Site survey; plan layout; trim growth |
| No power during a grid cut (anti-islanding) | Certain | Low | Solar isn't a backup — add a battery only if you need one |
| Roof leak / structural (RCC mount) | Low | Low–Med | Proper mounting + waterproofing + structural check in scope |
- BOTTOM LINE Even with full O&M + insurance + an inverter swap priced in, the plant still returns ~29% IRR / ~3.4-yr payback. The two risks that actually move the needle are net-metering (policy) and EPC quality — both handled by the due-diligence questions in Action items.
Net cash flow — stay on grid vs solar (IREDA loan)
All scenarios — cumulative saving, both paths
zero-down (100% commercial loan ~10.5%); tariff escalation 4%/yr; vs do-nothing
The four end-states
⚠️ The cost of doing nothing (lifetime value lost)
Staying on the grid isn't "free" — it's the expensive choice. Over 25 years you'd pay ₹3.41 Cr to BSES; with solar, ~₹1.20 Cr. The gap is money you simply hand over by not acting:
| If you skip solar… | Value lost |
|---|---|
| by year 10 | ₹40.7 L |
| by year 15 | ₹87.6 L |
| by year 25 | ₹2.21 Cr |
| in today's money (NPV @8%) | ₹55.3 L |
⏳ Every year you wait ≈ ₹2.8 L of saving gone — and it grows ~4%/yr as tariffs (and PPAC) keep rising.
Selling extra solar back to BSES
Plain-English dictionary — every word on the bill
Sources & references — verify everything
Action items — verify before signing
Questions for BSES
Questions for the vendor (SV Nextgen)
Ready-to-send drafts (tap to copy)
edit the blanks, then send. Keep all replies in writing.
Integrity & cross-check · audit
Data & assumptions — full transparency
- FACT All bill amounts, units, meter readings & tariff rates are transcribed and re-verified from 8 real BSES bills + 2 domestic reference bills — each reconciles to the rupee. The hand-written register is independent corroboration.
- DERIVED "Today" figures (₹14.2/unit, ~₹8.2L/yr) = your 8 bills' consumption re-priced at the current PPAC 14.51%; annualised ×365/240 (conservative — excludes the missing July peak). All figures are all-in (energy + fixed + PPAC + 8% + 7% + 5% tax).
- ASSUMPTION Solar: 40 kWp × ~1,450 kWh/kWp/yr (Delhi net yield); capex ₹21.2L (DCR + GST + liaison); O&M ₹25k/yr; one inverter swap ~yr 12. Savings assume net-metering (1:1); on net-billing payback ~6 yr.
- PROJECTION 25-yr figures (₹2–3.4 Cr) use 4%/yr tariff escalation (conservative vs the recent PPAC jump); IRR/NPV at 8% discount.
- TO CONFIRM net-metering vs net-billing · domestic eligibility for a 40 kVA farmhouse · exact DCR re-quote — see the questions above.