In a significant milestone for renewable energy adoption, electricity bills of 48,741 domestic consumers in the Amravati circle have dropped to zero, thanks to the central government's ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana.' The initiative provides free electricity to households consuming up to 300 units per month through subsidised rooftop solar installations.
Subsidy and Financial Support
Under the scheme, consumers receive a subsidy of up to Rs 78,000 to install solar rooftop projects. The subsidy structure includes Rs 30,000 each for the first two kilowatts and Rs 18,000 for the third kilowatt. The amount is credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts, and easy loan facilities are also available to facilitate installation.
District-Wise Achievements
Amravati district has emerged as the frontrunner with 33,846 completed installations, including 19,272 in Amravati city alone. Achalpur recorded 5,912 projects, followed by Morshi with 4,606 and Amravati Rural with 4,056. In neighbouring Yavatmal district, 14,895 consumers have adopted rooftop solar systems under the scheme. Yavatmal division leads with 6,257 projects, while Pusad accounted for 3,430 installations, Pandharkawada 3,360, and Darwha 1,846.
Implementation and Demand
MSEDCL officials stated that the implementation of the scheme gained pace under the leadership of Chief Engineer Ashok Salunke and Superintending Engineers Deepak Deohate and Pravin Daroli. Fast online application processing, technical guidance, and quick net metering have driven demand in both urban and rural areas. The success of the scheme in Amravati circle serves as a model for other regions to accelerate rooftop solar adoption and reduce household electricity costs.
