Patna: The Bihar Cabinet has approved additional financial assistance for residential consumers installing rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the state government said on Wednesday.
Under the approved arrangement, Bihar will provide Rs 10,000 per kW, subject to a maximum state contribution of Rs 20,000 per consumer, in addition to the financial assistance provided by the Centre.
The state government said the additional support is intended to reduce the upfront cost of rooftop solar installations and encourage more households to generate electricity from their own premises.
How Much Assistance Will Consumers Get?
According to the government, the combined Central and state assistance will be:
| Solar Capacity | Central Assistance | Bihar Assistance | Total Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | Rs 30,000 | Rs 10,000 | Rs 40,000 |
| 2 kW | Rs 60,000 | Rs 20,000 | Rs 80,000 |
| 3 kW and above | Rs 78,000 | Rs 20,000 | Up to Rs 98,000 |
The state assistance will be capped at Rs 20,000 even when a consumer installs a system larger than 2 kW.
Who Will Be Eligible?
The additional Bihar assistance will be available to eligible residential consumers on a first-come, first-served basis.
The government has set a maximum limit of five lakh eligible residential consumers for the state assistance programme.
The eventual financial liability for the state will depend on the number of beneficiaries and the rooftop solar capacity installed.
Low-Interest Loans Also Available
Consumers can also seek financing under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
According to the state government, loans of up to Rs 2 lakh without collateral are available at an interest rate of 5.75% for rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW.
The government said the combination of financial assistance and concessional loans could reduce the initial investment required from households.
Nearly 26,000 Households Already Have Solar
Rooftop solar systems have already been installed at the premises of nearly 26,000 consumers in Bihar, according to the state government.
The installations have been carried out by empanelled companies under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
The state government expects its additional subsidy to increase participation in the scheme and expand household-level solar generation.
State’s Maximum Financial Liability
The government has estimated a maximum financial burden of Rs 1,000 crore for providing the additional state assistance.
Energy Minister Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal said the decision would reduce the initial cost of rooftop solar installations for domestic consumers and encourage households to adopt solar energy.
Energy Secretary and Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited chairman-cum-managing director Ajay Yadav said the department would continue to review implementation to ensure eligible consumers receive the assistance within the stipulated process.
What The Scheme Means For Consumers
For households considering rooftop solar, the additional state assistance could reduce the amount they need to finance upfront.
The government said wider adoption of rooftop solar would allow households to meet part of their electricity requirements through locally generated renewable energy while potentially reducing their electricity expenditure.
The state assistance will remain subject to the five lakh consumer ceiling, with applications to be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
