This Finance Minister announced a new rooftop solar scheme in the Budget 2024-25. Subsequently, the Prime Minister launched the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’ on 15 February 2024. Solar panels are installed in houses under this scheme to supply power to households and additional money for excess electricity output. The Central Government will provide substantive subsidies directly to people’s bank accounts and heavily concessional bank loans to ensure that there is no cost burden on the people. The government subsidy will cover up to 40% of the cost of installation of the solar panels.
This scheme will help poor and middle-class households save up to Rs. 15,000 to 18,000 crores annually by getting free solar electricity and selling surplus power to electricity distribution companies. Under this scheme, the government aims to install solar panels in one crore homes throughout the country. This scheme will help the government save around Rs. 75,000 crore per year for electricity costs.
Benefits of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana :
- Savings of up to Rs. 15,000 to 18,000 crores annually from free solar electricity and selling the surplus power to the distribution companies for charging electric vehicles.
- Charging of electric vehicles.
- Entrepreneurship opportunities for many vendors for the supply and installation of solar panels.
- Employment opportunities for the youth with technical skills in the installation, manufacturing and maintenance of solar panels.
- Reduction of electricity costs for the government.
- Increased use of renewable energy.
- Reduction in carbon emissions.
Required Documents :
- Aadhaar Card
- Income Certificate
- Residence Proof
- Electricity Bill
- Bank account details (for subsidy disbursement)
- Passport-sized photograph
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
Eligibility Criteria :
- Applicants should be residents of India
- Applicants should belong to poor and middle-income households
- Applicants should have their own residence with a roof suitable for installing solar panels.
- Applicants must have a valid electricity connection.
How to Apply Online :
- Step 1 : Visit the official website “pmsuryaghar.gov.in.”.
- Step 2 : Click on the ‘Apply for Rooftop Solar’ button available on the left-hand side of the homepage.
- Step 3 : Select the state, district, and electricity distribution company, enter your customer account number, and click on ‘Next’.
- Step 4 : Enter your mobile number and email, and follow the instructions to complete the registration.
- Step 5 : Log in with your customer account number and mobile number.
- Step 6 : Apply for the ‘Rooftop Solar’ as per the form.
- Step 7 : After applying for Rooftop Solar, wait for the feasibility approval from DISCOM. Once the feasibility approval gets approved, install the plant through a registered vendor in your DISCOM.
- Step 8 : Submit the plant details and apply for a net meter after the installation is over.
- Step 9 : After the installation of the net meter and DISCOM inspection, they will generate a commissioning certificate from the portal.
- Step 10 : Once you get the commissioning report, submit your bank account details and a cancelled cheque by logging into the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana portal. You will receive the subsidy in your bank account within 30 days.