CP Flowers Housing Society in Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore had been looking for a practical way to reduce the electricity cost of its apartment common areas. What began as a competitive 9.9 kW Phase 1 rooftop solar project became something more meaningful: after seeing the execution quality and reduction in common-area electricity bills, the society returned to Scaler Solar for an additional 8.2 kW installation.
One housing society. Two phases. 18.1 kW of rooftop solar.
CP Flowers Housing Society Solar Project at a Glance
This housing society solar project was implemented for CP Flowers in Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore, with the objective of reducing electricity expenses associated with the apartment's common-area power consumption.
The project was executed in two stages. The first installation was a 9.9 kW rooftop solar system. After the association saw the quality of the work and the impact on its common-area electricity bills, Scaler Solar was awarded a second 8.2 kW phase.
| Project Detail | CP Flowers Housing Society |
|---|---|
| Location | Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| Customer Type | Housing Society / Apartment Association |
| Solar Application | Apartment common-area / common-line electricity |
| Phase 1 | 9.9 kW |
| Phase 2 | 8.2 kW |
| Combined Capacity | 18.1 kW |
| Subsidy Supported | ₹3.5 lakh |
| Subsidy Share | Approximately 30% of project cost |
The Problem: High Apartment Common-Area Electricity Bills
Like many apartment communities, CP Flowers had electricity consumption that residents could not avoid simply by reducing usage inside their individual homes. Lighting and other shared electrical requirements continued to contribute to the housing society's common-line EB bill.
The residents and association had therefore been considering ways to reduce the recurring common-area electricity expense for some time.
Rooftop solar offered an opportunity to convert available common rooftop space into an energy-producing asset for the association, but the committee wanted to make the decision carefully.
Five Solar Vendors Were Considered Before the Project Was Awarded
Phase 1 was not awarded to Scaler Solar without comparison. The housing society evaluated proposals from five different solar vendors.
For an apartment association, this kind of decision involves more than comparing the lowest quotation. The committee has to consider the system design, equipment being proposed, workmanship, installer credibility and whether the company can remain accountable after installation.
How CP Flowers evaluated the options
- Compared proposals from multiple solar vendors
- Reviewed the brands and materials proposed for the project
- Visited or inspected Scaler Solar's work at other installations
- Discussed technical questions with Scaler Solar's core technical team
- Evaluated workmanship and execution quality, not only project price
- Considered whether the installer could support the association throughout the project
Why this matters: housing society solar is a collective investment. A committee is not making a decision for one individual homeowner—it is making a long-term infrastructure decision on behalf of many residents.
Why CP Flowers Selected Scaler Solar for Phase 1
After the comparative evaluation, discussions and assessment of earlier Scaler Solar installations, CP Flowers awarded the first phase of the project to Scaler Solar.
The association's decision was influenced by the quality of completed work it could inspect, the materials proposed for the project and the ability to discuss the technical approach directly with the team responsible for execution.
That led to the installation of a 9.9 kW rooftop solar system for the apartment society's common electricity requirement.
Phase 1: 9.9 kW Apartment Rooftop Solar
The first 9.9 kW installation was the point at which the proposal became something the association could evaluate in the real world.
For the residents and committee, the quality of the completed installation mattered, but so did what happened after commissioning: whether the system actually helped reduce the electricity expense associated with the common line.
Phase 1 objective
- Use rooftop solar to offset common-area electricity consumption
- Reduce recurring common-line EB expenses
- Execute the project with materials and workmanship the committee had reviewed
- Create a system whose performance could be observed before further expansion
The Strongest Proof Came After Installation
The most significant part of this project came after Phase 1 was operating.
The association saw both the quality of the completed work and a reduction in the common-area electricity bills. Instead of the relationship ending after the first installation, CP Flowers decided to extend solar to another block.
Repeat business is particularly meaningful in a housing society project because the customer has already experienced the contractor's planning, installation quality, communication and post-installation performance before making the second decision.
Phase 2: Another 8.2 kW After Seeing Phase 1 Results
After seeing the results from the first block, CP Flowers awarded Scaler Solar an additional 8.2 kW rooftop solar project for the second block.
This took the combined rooftop solar capacity installed for the housing society to:
9.9 kW + 8.2 kW = 18.1 kW total solar capacity
What had initially been a competitive first-phase decision had developed into a repeat partnership based on actual execution and observed results.
| Phase | Capacity | What Drove the Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 9.9 kW | Competitive vendor evaluation, previous work inspection, technical discussion and material review |
| Phase 2 | 8.2 kW | Confidence built from Phase 1 workmanship and reduction in common-area electricity bills |
| Total | 18.1 kW | Two-phase housing society rooftop solar project |
₹3.5 Lakh Solar Subsidy Supported for the Housing Society
Alongside the technical execution, Scaler Solar supported CP Flowers through the applicable subsidy process.
Across the project, the housing society secured approximately ₹3.5 lakh in solar subsidy.
According to the project figures, this subsidy covered approximately 30% of the society's project cost, materially reducing the association's effective investment.
Why subsidy support matters for apartment associations
For a housing society, the investment decision is usually reviewed collectively by committee members and residents. Reducing the effective upfront cost can improve the business case, but subsidy should be treated as one part of the decision alongside system design, expected generation, installation quality and long-term support.
Why Apartment Solar Is Different From Installing Solar for One Home
Rooftop solar for an apartment association involves a different decision process from a typical individual residential installation.
The electricity being addressed may belong to common-area services rather than individual flats, and the investment usually requires committee review, resident confidence and clarity on how the financial benefit will accrue to the association.
Housing societies commonly need clarity on:
- Which common electricity connection will be offset by solar
- How much capacity is appropriate for the common load
- Whether adequate rooftop space is available
- How the proposed system is expected to reduce the common EB bill
- Which equipment and mounting structure are included
- Who is responsible for installation, approvals and commissioning
- What subsidy may apply to the project
- What happens after the system begins operating
These questions should be answered before the committee evaluates the project only on the basis of price per kW.
What This Project Shows About Choosing a Solar Vendor for an Apartment in Coimbatore
CP Flowers did not choose Scaler Solar simply because solar itself was attractive. The association compared five vendors before making its decision.
For housing societies in Coimbatore evaluating rooftop solar, this project highlights the value of looking beyond a quotation total.
A stronger vendor evaluation can include:
- Inspect previous installations. Real completed sites reveal workmanship more clearly than presentation slides.
- Understand the materials. Compare what is actually included in the proposed system and structure.
- Speak to the technical team. Important engineering questions should not stop at the sales representative.
- Compare scope, not only price. Lower quotations can represent different equipment, installation scope or support assumptions.
- Ask how performance will be monitored. The association should understand how it will know whether the system is delivering as expected.
Project Outcome: From Competitive Bid to Repeat Order
The outcome of the CP Flowers project can be understood in three stages.
- Trust had to be earned before Phase 1. Five vendors were evaluated, previous Scaler Solar work was inspected and the technical proposal was discussed before the first 9.9 kW order was awarded.
- Performance had to justify the decision. After installation, the society experienced the quality of execution and observed a reduction in its common-area electricity bill.
- Phase 1 created the confidence for Phase 2. The association then awarded Scaler Solar another 8.2 kW project for the second block.
The final result was an 18.1 kW two-phase rooftop solar project supported by approximately ₹3.5 lakh in subsidy.
Key Project Takeaways
- 18.1 kW total rooftop solar capacity across two phases
- 9.9 kW installed in Phase 1
- 8.2 kW follow-on order in Phase 2
- Five solar vendors evaluated before the first project was awarded
- Previous Scaler Solar installations inspected before vendor selection
- Phase 2 awarded after the society saw Phase 1 workmanship and bill reduction
- ₹3.5 lakh in subsidy supported
- Subsidy covered approximately 30% of project cost
- Project located in Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore
- Solar used to address apartment common-area electricity consumption
Questions Apartment Associations Ask About Rooftop Solar
Can rooftop solar reduce an apartment's common-area EB bill?
Yes, when the system is appropriately designed for the relevant common electricity load. Solar generation can offset part of the electricity otherwise purchased for common-area requirements. The actual reduction depends on the society's consumption, system capacity, solar generation, tariff and applicable metering arrangement.
How should an apartment association decide the right solar capacity?
Capacity should be based on the common-area electricity consumption, available rooftop space, shading, electrical connection and applicable regulatory conditions. The largest system that fits on the roof is not automatically the most appropriate system.
Can a housing society install solar in phases?
A phased approach can be practical when the property configuration and electrical arrangement support it. CP Flowers began with a 9.9 kW first phase and later added another 8.2 kW after observing the performance and execution of the initial installation.
What should an apartment committee compare between solar vendors?
The committee should compare system sizing, proposed equipment, mounting structure, electrical scope, previous installations, execution capability, documentation support and post-installation responsibility—not only the quoted price per kW.
Why is a repeat solar order from the same housing society significant?
A repeat order is based on experience rather than expectation. The customer has already seen the installer work on-site and has had an opportunity to observe how the first system performs before deciding to expand.
Is subsidy available for apartment or housing society solar projects?
Eligibility and applicable subsidy depend on the prevailing scheme rules, system configuration and customer category. In the CP Flowers project, Scaler Solar supported the association in securing approximately ₹3.5 lakh in subsidy. Current eligibility should always be checked for each new project rather than assumed from a previous installation.
What Makes the CP Flowers Project Particularly Important for Scaler Solar
Many project stories can demonstrate that an installation was completed. This one demonstrates something more valuable: the customer's decision after experiencing the first installation.
CP Flowers had multiple vendors to choose from before Phase 1. After the project was installed and the association saw the workmanship and reduction in its common-line electricity expense, the second phase was awarded to Scaler Solar.