Frequently Asked Questions about Solar in Bengaluru

Pai Power Solutions is based at Ambika Corner, West Side Service Road, 3M-219, Outer Ring Road, East of NGEF Layout, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru 560043. Call or WhatsApp 9008902222 to discuss your requirements and arrange a visit.

The best first step is to contact us for a free, no-obligation site assessment. Our team will visit your property, assess your roof, current electricity consumption, and local grid conditions, and recommend a suitable solar system. You can start by sharing your latest electricity bill with us on WhatsApp or filling our online enquiry form.

A recent electricity bill is the most useful starting point — it shows your monthly consumption. Additionally, knowing your property type (independent home, apartment, commercial), approximate roof area, and whether you experience power cuts regularly will help us give you a more accurate assessment.

Choose the size from your electricity consumption, daytime usage, usable roof area and connection requirements. Compare several months of bills rather than choosing from the house size alone. A site assessment should explain why the proposed capacity suits your usage and whether you also need backup.

Panels can generate electricity from daylight under cloud cover, but output falls when less sunlight reaches them. Seasonal weather and shading should be included in the generation estimate. Battery backup, if required, must be designed separately; cloudy-day generation is not a guarantee of uninterrupted power.

Savings depend on your current consumption, tariff slab, system size, roof orientation and shading conditions. For a typical home consuming 300–500 units per month, a suitably sized solar system can offset a significant portion of consumption. We provide honest estimates after assessing your specific situation — we don't make savings guarantees without knowing your actual usage.

Payback periods vary based on system cost, your electricity tariff, consumption pattern and available subsidies. We can calculate an indicative payback estimate for your specific situation after a site assessment. Our solar savings calculator on this website can give you a rough initial estimate.

Price depends on capacity, panel and inverter models, battery requirements, mounting structure, cabling, protection equipment, roof conditions and the agreed installation scope. Compare itemised quotations that state taxes, transport, approval or metering charges and service coverage. A low headline price may not include the same components.

Solar can reduce purchased electricity, but a zero bill is not assured. Fixed charges, consumption outside solar hours, system output and the applicable billing arrangement still matter. Use your actual tariff and usage pattern to assess savings instead of treating all generated units as equal savings.

A battery is not essential for every grid-connected solar installation. It is mainly considered when backup or energy storage is part of the requirement. Compare its extra cost, useful stored energy, expected operating conditions and warranty against the backup benefit you need.

PM Surya Ghar is a central residential rooftop solar scheme. Confirm your electricity connection, system eligibility, vendor requirements and current application process on the official portal before ordering. A product purchase alone does not establish subsidy eligibility; do not include a subsidy in your budget until the applicable requirements are confirmed.

PM Surya Ghar official portal (opens in a new tab)

Net metering allows you to export excess solar electricity back to the BESCOM grid and receive credit against your electricity bill. The eligibility, process and applicable regulations are managed by BESCOM and are subject to change. We can guide you through the application process as part of our installation service. Please contact us for the current applicable process.

Grid-connected solar needs the applicable distributor connection and commissioning process. Confirm the current application, metering, capacity and inspection requirements for your connection before installation. Do not energise an export connection simply because the equipment has been installed.

BESCOM rooftop solar portal (opens in a new tab)

PM Surya Ghar is a residential rooftop solar programme. Do not assume a commercial or industrial connection qualifies for residential assistance. Check the current scheme conditions for the actual connection category, and compare a business quotation without assuming that a residential subsidy will be paid.

MNRE rooftop solar programme information (opens in a new tab)

Our Bengaluru catalogue lists Novasys TOPCon panels, Waaree bifacial panels, Polycab on-grid inverters, Deye hybrid inverters, Solis storage inverters, Lion Solar LiFePO4 batteries, solar combo sets and irrigation pumps. Contact us for current model availability, pricing and an itemised quotation.

Share your electricity bill, roof details and any backup requirements. The panel array, inverter input limits and battery voltage and communication must be checked together. Compare the exact model datasheets and confirm the proposed components before ordering.

A standard grid-tied inverter stops supplying power when the grid fails as part of its anti-islanding protection. For power-cut backup, discuss a compatible hybrid or storage system with a correctly designed backup circuit. The exact inverter, battery, supported loads and operating mode determine what can run.

Solis energy storage inverter information (opens in a new tab)

Backup time depends on usable battery energy, the connected load, inverter efficiency and the permitted discharge limits. Voltage and amp-hours describe the battery but do not by themselves establish runtime. Share the appliances, their power ratings and the hours of backup you need for a suitable calculation.

Only use a battery that is compatible with the inverter’s voltage range, charging settings, discharge limits and any required BMS communication. A physically matching connection does not establish compatibility. Ask for a model-specific check before replacing a lead-acid battery or adding storage.

The exact package is defined by the quotation. Confirm panel quantity and rating, inverter model, whether a battery is included, mounting structure, cables, protection equipment and installation scope. A listed system size alone does not describe all components or guarantee backup capability.

Bifacial panels can use light reaching their rear side, but the benefit depends on rear clearance, mounting design, shading and the surface beneath them. A closely mounted panel on a shaded roof may not receive much rear-side light. Compare the proposed installation layout rather than selecting only from the panel label.

An association can assess rooftop solar against common-area loads such as lighting, pumps and other shared equipment. Planning needs roof-use permission, association approval, load and meter details, structural assessment and the applicable connection arrangement. Confirm how savings will be allocated before agreeing to the project.

Start by confirming your right to use the shared roof and getting the required building or association permission. An individual flat connection and a common-area connection are different design cases. The connection and billing arrangement must be checked with the electricity distributor before assuming solar generation can offset your flat bill.

Solar is worth assessing where the property has suitable roof space and electricity use during the day. Review the business operating hours, load profile, roof rights, meter arrangement and budget. The proposal should distinguish daytime savings from any separate backup requirement for essential equipment.

Check roof condition and load-bearing suitability, wind exposure, safe access, shading, electrical protection and the facility load profile. Discuss shutdown windows and cable routes with the operations team. Structural suitability should be assessed by a qualified professional before finalising the mounting design.

Use the campus electricity bills, operating calendar, available roofs and essential-load requirements to plan the system. Holiday periods and changing daytime use affect self-consumption. Critical equipment needs its own reliability and backup assessment; ordinary rooftop generation should not be treated as an emergency power system.

Obtain the property owner’s permission and clarify roof access, equipment ownership, maintenance responsibilities and the intended tenancy period. Also confirm the electricity connection and application permissions. These details should be agreed before paying for equipment or installation.

Choose from the required water flow and total pumping head, including water level, delivery height, pipe length and friction losses. Also review the water source and irrigation schedule. Horsepower alone is not enough; match the pump curve, controller and solar array to the actual site.

A pump driven directly by a solar array depends on the sunlight available. Night operation needs a separately designed compatible power source or storage arrangement. Where suitable, storing pumped water can help meet irrigation needs outside solar hours. Confirm the required daily water volume and the proposed operating method.

Check the current Karnataka implementing-agency notices and the official PM-KUSUM portal for any open allocation, eligibility and approved-vendor requirements. Programme information does not mean applications are currently open or that every pump purchase qualifies. Confirm the applicable approval route before placing an order.

Official PM-KUSUM FAQs (opens in a new tab)

The installation timeline depends on system size, structural requirements, product availability and local authority approvals. We will discuss a site-specific schedule during project planning and confirm the installation scope in your quotation.

The usable area depends on the panel dimensions, number of panels, mounting angle, setbacks, access paths and shading. Water tanks, neighbouring buildings and terrace equipment reduce the available area. Ask for a roof layout using the actual proposed panel model rather than a single area-per-kW assumption.

Confirm the component models, capacity, roof layout, structure, electrical protection, installation and commissioning scope, exclusions, payment milestones and warranty responsibilities. Ask who handles connection paperwork and what happens if a site change is needed. Keep the agreed details in writing.

Expansion depends on spare roof area, inverter capacity and input limits, panel compatibility, cabling and the approved connection arrangement. Additional battery storage also needs compatibility checks. Mention future loads during the initial design so that any planned expansion is considered from the start.

Warranty terms depend on the exact panel, inverter, battery and installation scope. Panel product and power-performance warranties cover different things. Ask for the manufacturer's warranty documents and any installation workmanship coverage in writing, including exclusions, claim procedure and the party responsible for service.

Use the manufacturer’s cleaning guidance and the actual level of dust, bird droppings and local soiling to set a schedule. Arrange safe access and suitable cleaning methods; do not walk on panels or use abrasive materials. Electrical faults or unsafe roof access should be handled by a qualified service team.

Maintenance can include reviewing generation, cleaning when needed and checking the condition of mounting hardware, cables, connections and protective equipment. Electrical inspections and inverter fault diagnosis need qualified personnel. Ask for a written service scope, visit schedule and charges rather than assuming all maintenance is included.

MNRE rooftop solar knowledge centre (opens in a new tab)

Compare output over similar weather conditions and check for new shading, soiling or inverter alerts. Record the model, error code and recent generation data before contacting the installer. Avoid opening equipment or resetting electrical protection repeatedly without professional advice.