look news india
Due to rising inflation and changing seasons of summer and winter, huge electricity bills spoil the monthly budget of common families. Thousands of rupees have to be paid every month to the electricity board only for the use of AC, cooler, fan and geyser. To provide permanent relief to the common citizens from this financial burden and to promote green energy in the country, the ambitious scheme of the Central Government ‘PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Scheme’ (PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana) is bringing a revolution in the entire country. Under this scheme, the government is not only giving a bumper subsidy of up to Rs 78 thousand directly into the bank account, but has also started a ‘zero downpayment model’ in collaboration with vendors and banks in many states, under which the consumer does not have to spend a single rupee from his pocket initially and gets the benefit of up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
Often, middle class families shy away from installing solar panels thinking that a huge lump sum amount of ₹ 1.5 to ₹ 2 lakh will have to be raised for it. To overcome this hesitation, the government has arranged ‘RESCO Model’ and ‘Collateral-Free Solar Loan’ in collaboration with banks and authorized solar vendors:
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Government subsidy directly into account: On rooftop solar systems ranging from 1 kW to 3 kW, the government transfers financial assistance (Direct Benefit Transfer) ranging from ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 78,000 directly into the bank account of the consumer.
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Cheap and Easy Bank Loan: For the remaining cost, nationalized banks are providing easy loans without any guarantee (Collateral-Free Loan) at a very concessional interest rate of only 7%.
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Payment of EMI only by saving electricity bill: The consumer does not have to pay any extra money from his own pocket. After installation of solar panels, the electricity bill which used to be ₹ 2,500 to ₹ 4,000 every month, reduces to zero or nominal. Due to this savings in the bill, the small installment (EMI) of the bank is deducted every month.
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After 3 to 4 years everything is absolutely free for 20 years: The solar loan is completely repaid in four to five years, after which the consumer continues to get free electricity 24 hours a day without any expense for the next 20-22 years.
The subsidy slab set by the government for rooftop solar panels is as follows:
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1 kilowatt (1 kW) system: Suitable for small houses, where 4 to 5 units of electricity is consumed daily. On this, a direct subsidy of ₹ 30,000 is available from the government.
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2 kilowatt (2 kW) system: Suitable for medium families, where 8 to 10 units of electricity is consumed. On this the government provides a cash subsidy of ₹60,000.
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3 kilowatts (3 kW) or more: A 3 kW plant is suitable for a house where 1 or 2 ACs, fridge, washing machine and geyser are running regularly. A maximum subsidy of ₹ 78,000 is given by the government on this.
The biggest attraction of this scheme is the ‘Net Metering’ system. During the day, when the solar panels generate more electricity than required during bright sunlight, the excess electricity is automatically transferred to the grid (power corporation). You can get the same amount of power back from the grid at night or on cloudy days. If the electricity you supply to the grid exceeds your consumption, the concerned electricity distribution company (DISCOM) adds its credit to your account or pays it into your bank account.
To avail the benefits of this scheme, the applicant must have some basic qualifications:
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Eligibility: The applicant must be a citizen of India and have a valid domestic electricity connection (Consumer Number) in his/her name. Apart from this, it is necessary to have sufficient shadow-free space to install solar panels on the roof of the house.
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Mandatory Documents: Aadhaar card, recent 6 months electricity bill, documents related to ownership of house or roof, bank passbook (for subsidy transfer) and passport size photograph.
There is no need to visit any government office to apply for PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the entire process is online:
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First official national portal pmsuryaghar.gov.in Go to.
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Go to the homepage and click on ‘Apply for Rooftop Solar’ option.
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Select your state name, district name, your electricity distribution company (DISCOM) and enter the ‘Consumer Number’ of the electricity bill.
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Complete the registration by entering mobile number and email ID.
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After login, fill the application form for rooftop solar and upload the required documents.
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After getting Technical Feasibility Approval from Discom, get solar panels installed at your home from any authorized vendor registered on the portal.
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On completion of installation, net meter will be installed by the vendor and electricity department and commissioning report will be issued.
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Once the commissioning report is generated, you will have to enter the bank details on the portal, within 30 days of which the subsidy amount will be deposited directly into your bank account.
Installing solar panels on your home’s rooftop is not just a means of economic savings, but it is also a revolutionary civic contribution towards reducing dependence on coal-generated electricity and reducing carbon emissions. One smart move with modern solar panels that come with a 25-year warranty can save your entire family from power outages and rising tariffs for a lifetime.