Qbits warranty and service terms: Qbits public datasheets describe an expandable warranty but do not define a universal duration, remedy, registration deadline, service SLA, or exclusions. Obtain the current written terms for the exact model and sale before relying on a headline claim.
ALMM and inverter compliance: MNRE’s current ALMM page publishes solar PV module and cell lists, not an inverter list. Verify the inverter’s exact model documents and applicable scheme or DISCOM requirements separately.
The first year of solar ownership in India follows a predictable pattern, but most homeowners do not know what that pattern is. Many new owners are surprised by the monsoon generation dip, and by delays that are normal, so setting expectations before commissioning matters; we cite no survey figure on how common this is. Actively watching the monitoring app in Year 1 also helps, because faults caught early are cheaper to fix than faults that run on. The result of not knowing the pattern is unnecessary anxiety about delays that are normal, seasonal dips that were always expected, and missed maintenance tasks that compound into losses in Year 2. This month-by-month guide maps the entire first year so you know what is coming and what to do about it.
Direct answer. The Solar Year-1 Calendar for Indian rooftop solar: Month 1 is the DISCOM connection delay (normal, 15–90 days); Month 2 brings the first net metering bill (learn to read it); Month 3 is the first panel cleaning; Months 4–5 are summer peak generation (compare to estimate); Month 6 is the monsoon dip (normal); Months 7–9 see good generation resume; Months 10–11 bring a slight winter dip; Month 12 is the annual review. The framework below explains what is normal versus what needs a call to your installer.
For the monitoring app metrics you will be watching throughout Year 1, see how to read your solar inverter monitoring app.
Month 1: DISCOM Connection Delay (Normal)
The most common complaint in Month 1 is not a technical problem, it is bureaucratic delay. Your panels are on the roof, the inverter is commissioned, and the system is generating power. But the DISCOM has not yet installed the bidirectional net meter, so:
- The system may be running in zero-export mode (the inverter’s built-in zero-export function prevents power flowing to the grid through the old one-way meter)
- Or the installer has applied for net metering and the DISCOM inspection is pending
Is this normal? Completely. DISCOM net metering approval takes 15 days (Gujarat, best case) to 90 days (Kerala, worst case) from application submission. In the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the mandated timeline is 30 days, but enforcement is inconsistent across states.
What you can do: Ask your installer for the application reference number and track status on your state DISCOM portal or the PM Surya Ghar portal. Follow up weekly. If 45 days have passed without inspection, file a formal complaint through the DISCOM’s consumer grievance cell.
Is your system wasting energy? During the zero-export wait, any surplus solar power not consumed by your home is not exported, it is essentially wasted. Minimise this by running appliances between 10 AM and 3 PM to maximise self-consumption during the wait period.
Month 2: Your First Net Metering Bill
The first net metering bill often confuses new solar owners. It looks very different from a standard electricity bill.
What to look for:
| Bill Line Item | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Total Import (units) | Units drawn from the grid during the billing period |
| Total Export (units) | Units your solar system sent to the grid |
| Net Consumption | Import minus Export; this is what you pay for |
| Solar Generation | Some DISCOMs show this separately |
| Fixed Charges | These do not change with solar - you still pay them |
| Credit Carried Forward | If Export > Import, this rolls to next month |
Verify the numbers: Compare the Export figure on the bill to the export total shown in your monitoring app for the same billing period. A 5–10% difference is acceptable calibration tolerance. Net metering meters in India must comply with CEA Metering Regulations 2006, which specify accuracy standards, a persistent difference above 15% warrants a query to the DISCOM for a meter accuracy test. Your bill may also show the period from the date the net meter was installed rather than a full calendar month, this partial billing period for Month 1 is normal.
Months 3–4: First Cleaning and Summer Peak
Month 3, First cleaning: By Month 3, dust accumulation on your panels in India’s dry season (October–May) will have reduced output by 10–20% from clean-panel levels. The first cleaning is the highest-ROI maintenance task of the year. Use plain water with a soft brush or cloth; clean in the early morning when panels are cool.
Months 4–5, Summer peak generation: April and May are typically the peak generation months for most Indian states (except Kerala and the north-east, where March–April peaks), with NREL India irradiance data showing monthly GHI peaks in April–May across most states. Your monitoring app should show the highest daily generation figures of the year in April–May.
- Compare actual peak-month generation to the installer’s estimate for April–May
- A 5–10% shortfall from estimate is within normal calibration tolerance
- A 15%+ shortfall from estimate in a clear-sky month warrants investigation
If your system is reaching or exceeding the installer’s estimate during peak months, the financial performance is tracking as modelled, which is a strong signal the system was correctly sized and installed.
Month 6: Monsoon Dip (Normal and Expected)
June brings the pre-monsoon transition, and July–August bring the heaviest cloud cover of the year. This is the most common source of first-year anxiety among new solar owners, “my generation fell by 40%, is something wrong?”
The Solar Year-1 Calendar
| Month | Typical Generation (% of clear-sky peak) | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 80–100% | DISCOM wait; zero-export mode possible |
| Month 2 | 80–100% | First net metering bill |
| Month 3 | 75–90% | First panel cleaning; dry-season dust |
| Month 4–5 | 95–100% | Summer peak; compare to estimate |
| Month 6 | 60–80% | Pre-monsoon; generation falls |
| Month 7–8 | 30–60% | Full monsoon; significant cloud cover |
| Month 9 | 60–80% | Monsoon retreating |
| Month 10–11 | 80–90% | Good generation; winter approaching |
| Month 12 | 75–85% | Winter slight dip; annual review |
What is not normal: If generation falls to near-zero on a day with moderate cloud cover (not heavy rain), or if the inverter shows fault codes during or after a thunderstorm, these warrant investigation. Post-monsoon is also the time to check for water ingress in any outdoor junction boxes or conduits.
Months 7–11: Normal Operation and Seasonal Variation
Months 7 through 11 trace the recovery from monsoon and the gradual shift toward the winter season.
- Months 7–9 (monsoon and post-monsoon): Generation gradually improves as cloud cover reduces through September. Do a post-monsoon cleaning in October to remove the grime deposited by rain (which is surprisingly dirty in Indian cities due to pollution).
- Months 10–11 (October–November): Good generation in most states as irradiance is high and temperatures are lower (which improves panel efficiency). Northern India starts to see haze and foggy mornings that reduce early-day generation.
- What to track: Compare monthly generation to the installer’s monthly estimate. Any month showing below 85% of the estimate warrants monitoring, and repeated months below 85% warrant an installer call.
According to MNRE’s Rooftop Solar Guidelines, registered solar owners under PM Surya Ghar have access to DISCOM solar helplines that can assist with generation queries and net metering discrepancies.
Month 12: Annual Review
The 12-month mark is the time for a formal Year 1 review. Complete all of the following.
Financial review:
- Total annual generation (from monitoring app) vs installer’s Year 1 estimate
- Total bill savings (from DISCOM bills before and after solar)
- Payback progress: Year 1 savings ÷ System cost = percentage of capital recovered. A solar savings calculator can project the remaining payback timeline using your actual Year 1 numbers.
Documentation: File your Year 1 annual review report (from the service visit), all DISCOM bills from the past 12 months, monitoring app annual generation report, and warranty certificate copies. These documents are essential for any future warranty claim. If your installer did not hand over an as-built record at commissioning, a post-installation as-built design report is worth requesting now, it becomes useful for insurance claims and resale documentation.
The solar annual maintenance checklist provides the full 10-point technical checklist for the Year 1 review and every subsequent year.
What Requires an Immediate Call to Your Installer
Not everything in Year 1 warrants attention. But these specific events require an immediate call, not a WhatsApp message that can wait.
- Zero generation on a clear sunny day: the inverter is not operating at all; could be a grid fault, isolation fault, or inverter failure
- Burning smell or visible burning near the inverter or DC cable: see the caution below
- Inverter displaying an isolation fault repeatedly: indicates DC-to-ground insulation has deteriorated; requires professional diagnosis
- A single string consistently 30%+ below others in generation: indicates a panel failure or wiring issue in that string
- Any physical damage to panels from hailstorm or falling tree: check whether the installer’s installation insurance covers accidental damage
For the complete list of inverter fault codes and their meanings, see solar inverter underperforming India.
Elsewhere in the Heaven Group network, see what an AMC covers and how to verify a solar installation.
Qbits model documentation
- Hybrid Inverters: Review current QBH model documents and confirm the exact battery, firmware, PV, backup-output, transfer, communication, warranty and project requirements in writing.
- Solar Inverter App Monitoring guide: Full comparison of monitoring platforms across Indian inverter brands.
Contact Qbits with the exact model, seller, commissioning record and issue details. Confirm the responsible party, support scope, any charges and response process after submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect in the first month after solar installation in India?
How do I read my first solar net metering bill in India?
Is it normal for solar to underperform in the first monsoon season?
When should I clean my solar panels for the first time in Year 1?
What is a normal performance ratio for a solar system in Year 1 India?
When should I be concerned about solar generation in Year 1?
Do I need to register my solar panels' warranty separately from the inverter warranty?
What maintenance tasks should I complete in Year 1 of solar ownership?
Nirav Dhanani CEO, Qbits Energy
Co-founder & CEO driving Qbits Energy's product strategy and growth across India.