Rooftop solar for flats — individual terrace vs RWA common-area plant

Individual flat plant — when it works

You may qualify for the same individual residential CFA bands as a bungalow if:

• Your sale deed or allotment clearly gives you exclusive terrace / roof rights, and
• The DISCOM domestic connection is in your name on that roof area, and
• Society / builder NOC is obtained where the roof is technically common property

Many mid-rise societies allow a per-flat plant on the owner’s allotted terrace slab (common on penthouse units). CFA then follows the normal individual structure described in our PM Surya Ghar guide — commonly up to ₹78,000 for eligible 3 kW+ systems.

Reality check: even when rules allow it, managing committees sometimes block individual installs until a society-wide policy exists. Budget 4–12 weeks for NOC politics, not just DISCOM paperwork. Full walkthrough: how society NOC for solar works.

RWA / GHS common-area plant — ₹18,000 per kW

When the RWA installs solar on the shared roof (clubhouse, lift backup, common lighting, or pooled benefit to flats), the published PM Surya Ghar residential group-housing route commonly pays ₹18,000 per kW — not the ₹30,000-per-kW rate for the first 2 kW on individual homes.

Example framing (confirm on portal): a 50 kW society plant might see roughly ₹9,00,000 central CFA at ₹18k/kW, credited to the society’s designated account after commissioning — then internally allocated via maintenance credits, fixed rupee per flat, or proportional to unit share as the AGM decides.

Why societies choose this path:

• One structural audit and one vendor contract instead of 40 fragmented terrace jobs
• Cleaner waterproofing and cable routing when done professionally
• Common load (pumps, lifts, corridor lights) offset directly — sometimes easier than splitting export on 40 domestic meters

Trade-off: per-flat “subsidy in my pocket” is lower per kW than an individual ₹78k cap. Run both models in the AGM — do not let a vendor compare a 3 kW individual quote to a 100 kW society quote without showing the CFA math side by side.

Society NOC and AGM — what actually delays projects

These are the objections we see most often in Indian RWAs:

• Structural load: committee asks for a stamped structural certificate; older buildings may cap total kW.
• Waterproofing: who pays if terrace leaks after penetration — vendor warranty vs society fund.
• Fire / access: maintenance walkway and fire tank clearance must stay open; panel layout matters.
• Aesthetics: visible rows from the street — some bylaws require flush mount or screening.
• AGM quorum: special resolution for long-term vendor contract or roof lease may need 51%+ owners present.

Honest advice: bring a one-page FAQ to the committee before the vendor’s sales deck. Include load certificate sample, insurance clause, and a draft NOC template. Sealix is advisory — we are not your RWA’s lawyer. For step-by-step NOC framing see society NOC for solar.

Which model fits your building?

• Penthouse with private terrace + own meter: start with individual CFA maths and a bill check; parallel-track society NOC early.
• Mid-floor flat, no roof rights: push for RWA common-area discussion; individual plant on common roof without AGM approval is high risk.
• New gated township with developer handover pending: clarify whether roof is still builder-controlled — subsidy applicant must match portal records.
• High-rise with limited roof area: size from shadow-free area first; may cap below 3 kW per block — see 3 kW vs 5 kW.

Equipment and subsidy compliance

Whether individual or RWA, CFA requires eligible ALMM-listed panels and DCR rules as published for your application date. Non-compliant modules void subsidy — not a society issue, a procurement issue. Plain-English explainer: ALMM & DCR for PM Surya Ghar.

Related guides

PM Surya Ghar subsidy · Society NOC steps · Net metering basics · City & state guides · Mumbai · Pune · Bengaluru.

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