Maharashtra has successfully reached 100 MW of power generation capacity under the government scheme PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Almost 250,86 consumers have installed rooftop solar plants with a combined capacity of 101.18MW and have prevailed benefits from the scheme.
The scheme is being executed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Maha Vitaran). Lokesh Chandra, chairman and managing director of MahaVitaran, has engaged consumers to avail the advantages of the scheme.
The scheme was launched in February 2024, under the scheme the government has provided a maximum subsidy of Rs 78,000 for a 3 KW solar power plant under this scheme.
A direct subsidy payment process of Rs 160 crore has begun for the 25,086 consumers who have installed the rooftop solar plants. A total of 351,942 people have applied for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana out of which 233,431 people have used the MahaVitaran portal to register for the scheme.
Consumers have the privilege of receiving zero electricity bills by generating more power than they consume and they can also earn money by selling excess power to MahaVitaran.
Households who have rooftop solar plants of 2 kilowatts can avail subsidy of Rs 30,000 per kilowatt. In addition, for the third kilowatt, there is a subsidy of Rs 18,000 for the plant.
Solar plants which exceed 3 kilowatts have a fixed subsidy of Rs 78,000. The Residential Cooperative Housing Schemes benefit from Rs 18000 as a subsidy per kilowatt for up to 500 kilowatts which will also include the facility of charging vehicles. The maximum subsidy for such schemes is Rs 90,00,000.
Solar Net Metering will also be provided for rooftop solar power by MahaVitaran with automatic approval given up to 10 kilowatt. Additionally, bank loans are available with special interest rates on rooftop solar installation.
