As of January 2026, new KSEB regulations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana have introduced significant changes for solar installations in Kerala, making it essential for homeowners to plan carefully to maximize their investment. While the central government provides subsidies up to ₹78,000 for systems of 3kW or higher, the new rules restrict standard net metering to systems up to 3kW unless a battery backup capable of storing 30% of production is included for systems up to 5kW. A critical update involves Time of Day (ToD) billing, where a normalization factor of 1.5 is applied during peak hours (6 PM to 10 PM), meaning one unit of electricity used at night consumes 1.5 units of solar power generated during the day. Despite these stricter regulations, KSEB has simplified the process by reducing registration fees and allowing application fees to be paid through the first bill, ensuring that with proper planning and authorized vendors, solar energy remains a highly profitable long-term investment that can eliminate heavy electricity bills within five to six years.