What is grid-tied solar?
Your rooftop system stays connected to the grid at all times. During the day, panels generate electricity that powers your home first; any surplus flows back to the grid through your net meter. At night or on low-sun days, you draw power from the grid as usual — there's no battery required and no interruption to supply.
Generation vs. consumption
Your system's output changes through the day, peaking around midday, while your consumption follows your own routine — mornings and evenings. Net metering reconciles the difference automatically, so you're only billed for the net units you draw from the grid over a billing cycle.
What is net metering?
Net metering is the DISCOM's mechanism for measuring both the power you draw and the power you send back, and settling the difference. Your net meter runs in reverse when you export more than you use, effectively banking those units against future consumption.
Why "grid-tied" rather than off-grid?
Off-grid systems need batteries to store power for use after sunset, which adds significant cost and maintenance. Grid-tied systems use the grid itself as backup — simpler, cheaper, and eligible for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, which only covers grid-connected systems.
Ready to see what size you need?
Compare system sizes by roof area and daily output in our kW guide.
See the kW Guide →