The numbers
From September 2026, Tamil Nadu pays its own subsidy on top of the central PM Surya Ghar amount. It was announced in the August budget and notified as G.O. (Ms) No. 102 of the Energy Department, dated 19 September 2026.
| System | Central | State top-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹35,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹70,000 |
| 3 kW and above | ₹78,000 | ₹22,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
Both amounts stop at 3 kW. A 5 kW or 10 kW home system gets the same ₹1 lakh as a 3 kW one.
What it means for a 3 kW home
A 3 kW on-grid system with made-in-India panels costs about ₹1.8–2.2 lakh. Take off ₹1 lakh and you pay roughly ₹80,000 to ₹1.2 lakh. It makes about 720 units per two-month bill, enough to bring most 600-unit bills close to zero. Try your own units in the TNEB bill calculator.
Who qualifies
- Individual domestic connections only. Shops, schools, factories and farm connections are not covered.
- You must have registered on the PM Surya Ghar portal on or after 5 August 2026. Earlier registrations do not get the state share.
- The system must be grid-connected (hybrid is fine, off-grid is not) and installed by an empanelled vendor.
- It is limited to the first one lakh eligible applicants.
How the money reaches you
You pay the full price upfront. After the plant is commissioned, inspected and the net meter is fitted, the central subsidy is released through the PM Surya Ghar portal. The state share is paid separately, by direct transfer from TEDA, so expect the two amounts on different dates.
Don't wait too long
The state has set aside ₹50 crore. At ₹22,000 a home, that covers about 22,700 full claims, far fewer than the one lakh homes the scheme talks about. If the money runs out first, late applicants may miss the state share. If you are planning solar anyway, we would apply this quarter.
These details come from the G.O. as reported and the TNEB rooftop portal (tnebltd.gov.in/usrp). Rules can change, so check the portal before you sign anything.
FAQ
Is the ₹1 lakh solar subsidy only for 3 kW systems?
₹1 lakh is the maximum, reached at 3 kW: ₹78,000 central plus ₹22,000 state. A 1 kW system gets ₹35,000 and 2 kW gets ₹70,000. Larger home systems still get ₹1 lakh in total.
I registered on PM Surya Ghar before 5 August 2026. Do I get the ₹22,000?
As the G.O. is reported, no. The state top-up applies only to registrations made on or after 5 August 2026. You still get the central subsidy.
Can a school, shop or apartment association get the state top-up?
No for schools and shops; the top-up is for individual domestic connections. Apartment associations can still claim the central ₹18,000 per kW for common areas; check state eligibility with TNPDCL.