Maharashtra govt declares heavy subsidies for rooftop solar panel installation if usage is below 100 units per month

Mumbai: To encourage the economically weaker sections to install rooftop solar panels and give them the opportunity to have ‘zero' monthly electricity bills, the state govt on Monday issued a GR announcing a 90%-95% subsidy for below poverty line (BPL), SC and ST consumers with monthly power consumption below 100 units.

For a 1KW solar panel, which can generate around 120 units per month, the cost of installation will be around Rs 50,000. Of this, the Centre will provide Rs 30,000, the state will give a subsidy of Rs 17,500 to BPL consumers, and the rest (Rs 2,500) will be paid by the consumer, the GR stated.

For SC and ST consumers with less than 100 units of consumption, the subsidy will be Rs 45,000, and they will have to pay Rs 5,000 (10%). For other consumers who do not fall in the BPL, SC or ST category but have less than 100 units of consumption, the subsidy will be Rs 40,000, and the consumer will have to pay Rs 10,000 (20%).

"Approval is being given to allocate Rs 330 crore for 2025-26 and Rs 325 crore for 2026-27 for this scheme, which will be called the Swayampurna Maharashtra Residential Roof Top (SMART) solar scheme. The scheme will be implemented by MSEDCL, and funds required for this scheme will be provided from the state govt's budgetary grants," the GR said.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis previously announced in the assembly that the govt will soon come out with this scheme. "It is finally being implemented and with the low costs involved, electricity becomes almost free for these consumers from the economically weaker section of society," said MSEDCL managing director Lokesh Chandra. "They also get an additional source of income through the sale of surplus electricity generated from solar energy after domestic use," he said.

As per an estimate, at least 5 lakh domestic consumers will benefit immediately, comprising approximately 1.5 lakh domestic electricity BPL consumers and approximately 3.5 lakh economically weak domestic electricity consumers whose electricity consumption is less than 100 units.

"After installation of a 1KW rooftop solar energy system, the responsibility for maintenance and repairs for five years will be with the suppliers. This scheme should be implemented with priority in remote areas like Melghat, Nandurbar, and Gadchiroli," the GR said.