Rooftop solar survey checklist for West Bengal homes

Start with your local electricity connection

For a home in Siliguri or elsewhere in West Bengal, first check the distributor named on your bill. WBSEDCL publishes its rooftop solar application process.[1] If another distributor supplies your home, ask that provider. Your address alone does not confirm approval, metering terms or scheme eligibility.

Collect electricity-use information

Bring bills that show units consumed and the connection details. Include different seasons where possible. Describe daytime use and any planned appliances or machinery. Business sites should also prepare sanctioned load, shift patterns, shutdown periods and interval consumption records if available. This helps the designer ask the right questions instead of sizing from one unusually high or low bill.

Confirm roof rights and access

Explain who owns the roof and who can authorise work. For leased premises or shared buildings, identify the landlord or society representative. Note access restrictions and planned construction. Ask what permissions are needed before a design or installation commitment. Do not climb onto an unsafe roof to prepare measurements or photographs.

Flag roof condition and shade

Tell the surveyor about leaks, repairs and the roof's age. Trees and other shade, roof size, shape and condition can affect suitability.[5] Ask the team to review structural suitability, drainage, usable layout and maintenance access. A clear-looking roof is not a structural assessment.

Explain the electrical setup

Identify the meter and main electrical distribution area. Mention any existing solar, generator, inverter or battery. Ask the surveyor to assess connection points, cable routes, protection and earthing. Only qualified personnel should open or test electrical equipment. Keep critical-power requirements separate from the normal solar-generation discussion.

State what backup means to you

Standard on-grid solar switches off when grid power fails.[6] If you need backup, list essential appliances, their ratings and typical outage duration. For a business, identify loads that cannot be interrupted. Ask what the proposed system will and will not support during a cut.

Ask for clear survey outputs

Request a proposed layout, equipment schedule and capacity rationale. Ask for approval responsibilities, roof-work requirements, exclusions and payment terms. Generation estimates should state their inputs and remain separate from measured results. Request the warranty split between equipment, workmanship and support.

Want to understand what follows the survey? See the survey-to-support service journey ↗

Home and business checks differ

Homeowners should ask about their electricity distributor's process and any residential subsidy requirements. Businesses should request load-matching assumptions, export treatment, access plans and installation shutdown needs. Do not carry household subsidy figures into a commercial business case.

Helping customers prepare their first enquiry? Explore Brijstar’s dealer programme ↗

Keep documents proportionate

Start an enquiry with your PIN code, customer type and electricity-use summary. If a bill is needed, agree the sharing method and remove unrelated personal information. Do not send banking details or identity documents merely to request a survey. Keep a copy of the final written scope before approving work.