Answer
Sri Lanka’s solar-project value depends on the applicable connection scheme, contract tariff, customer consumption and any confirmed tax treatment. PUCSL published updated feed-in tariffs in August 2026 and a later clarification on rooftop schemes. Review both with the distribution licensee before applying. A historical scheme description or tariff table alone does not establish a new applicant’s eligibility or an existing customer’s contract rate.
What to verify before choosing a solar scheme
Start with the electricity account, proposed capacity, connection arrangement and application status. Ask the distribution licensee to confirm the scheme available to the project and the tariff and conditions it will place in the agreement.
PUCSL’s Decisions and Orders page lists August 2026 approved feed-in tariffs and a subsequent clarification on implementation of Net Metering, Net Accounting and Net Plus. Read the current clarification with the licensee before relying on an older explanation of the available schemes. The scanned clarification was not text-extracted for this review, so this guide does not invent an effective date, grandfathering rule or mandatory scheme from it.
For a new application or an extension, obtain written confirmation of eligibility. An existing customer should also retain the signed agreement and any accepted amendment. Do not assume that a newly published tariff automatically replaces an existing contract.
Published August 2026 ordinary rooftop tariff bands
The regulator’s Annex 2 tariff summary lists these rates for new rooftop solar PV without the separate battery tariff treatment:
| Capacity band in the published table | Feed-in tariff, LKR/kWh |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 kW | 23.11 |
| Above 10 kW and up to 40 kW | 19.15 |
| Above 40 kW and up to 250 kW | 17.11 |
| Above 250 kW and up to 1,000 kW | 15.81 |
| Above 1,000 kW | 15.81 |
This is a dated summary of the listed ordinary rooftop bands, not a statement that every customer can claim these amounts. Verify the recognized capacity, scheme, contract date and applicability before modeling revenue.
The same annex separately contains power-plant tariff components and rooftop-plus-battery arrangements with prioritized feed-in periods and conditions. Those rows should not be substituted into the ordinary rooftop table. A battery’s presence alone does not establish eligibility for a premium tariff; obtain the applicable requirements and operating conditions.
Understand the scheme descriptions without assuming current access
PUCSL’s rooftop connection-scheme overview describes arrangements that have operated in Sri Lanka. Conceptually, Net Metering uses energy credits, Net Accounting values eligible surplus, and Net Plus treats generation and customer consumption separately. These distinctions explain why the financial model changes with the arrangement.
The current clarification and actual agreement govern access and implementation. A historical overview cannot establish that all three options remain open to every September 2026 applicant. Do not select a scheme solely because an older webpage describes it.
CEB’s business portal identifies rooftop-solar applications and information. Use the relevant licensee’s current forms and instructions rather than assuming that a contractor’s preliminary quote is a grid-connection approval.
Keep generation, imports and exports separate
Record modeled production and customer demand on a compatible time basis. Identify which generation is used on site, exported or otherwise treated under the actual metering arrangement. Then apply the correct contract terms to each flow.
For an illustrative calculation only, suppose 1,000 kWh is eligible for payment at an assumed contractual rate of LKR 23.11/kWh. Gross modeled payment would be LKR 23,110, before any applicable adjustments or charges. This arithmetic does not establish scheme eligibility, an actual monthly output or a customer’s net return.
A production estimate alone cannot establish bill savings. Imports may have tariff blocks or other billing conditions, and a separate-generation scheme needs a different calculation from on-site consumption. Retain a copy of the tariff and contract used by the model.
Tax concessions need their own evidence
Do not budget duty-free capital imports simply because the project exceeds a stated capacity. Identify the exact current tax or customs instrument, qualifying goods, applicant and programme conditions. Obtain the importer’s written classification and applicability review before treating a concession as a project saving.
Likewise, business capital allowances, grants and borrowing terms are separate questions. Confirm the taxpayer, eligible expenditure and benefit timing. This article does not assert a blanket cash rebate or that all residential systems have the same import-tax treatment.
A project requirements register
| Item | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|
| Scheme eligibility | Written licensee confirmation and current governing instruction |
| Connection | Application, capacity assessment and approval conditions |
| Contract | Signed agreement, tariff basis, period and amendments |
| Equipment | Exact model specifications and required documentation |
| Production | Weather, shading, equipment and loss assumptions |
| Customer load | Metered profile and bill assumptions |
| Tax treatment | Applicable instrument and project-specific review |
| Financial case | Cost quote, operating expenses, financing and scenario inputs |
Resolve material gaps before promising a payback period. Compare a base case with clearly labeled sensitivities, such as lower eligible energy or increased operating costs. Do not assign a national return range without a defined project dataset.
For a SurgePV proposal-workflow evaluation, bring the confirmed arrangement and project inputs to the demo. Ask which assumptions and outputs can be inspected. This guide does not establish that the product automatically imports current Sri Lankan tariffs or certifies tax and connection eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
What are the new rooftop solar tariffs in Sri Lanka?
PUCSL’s August 2026 annex lists ordinary new-rooftop rates by capacity, including LKR 23.11/kWh up to 10 kW. Apply a rate only after confirming the scheme and agreement conditions for the project.
Can every new applicant choose Net Metering, Net Accounting or Net Plus?
Do not infer that from a historical scheme overview. Check the latest PUCSL clarification and obtain the distribution licensee’s confirmation for the application.
Does a tariff table establish the project’s return?
No. The return also depends on eligibility, actual energy flows, project cost, operating expenses, financing and any verified tax treatment.
Sources and review scope
Reviewed September 29, 2026. The dated tariff figures come from PUCSL’s August annex. The September clarification is linked for project verification but was not independently text-extracted; no specific rule from its scanned contents is claimed here. Worked arithmetic is hypothetical. Confirm the applicable requirements and agreement before making a project commitment.
Where this fits
This article is part of SurgePV's Solar Incentives & Policy hub, which works through the topic from first principles to the decisions a project team actually has to make.
