Fadnavis Unveils Rooftop Solar Push for 0–100 Unit Consumers in Maharashtra

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a new rooftop solar subsidy policy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme will benefit domestic electricity consumers using 0-100 units monthly, aligning with the government’s larger vision to accelerate renewable energy usage across households.

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The announcement was made in response to a calling attention motion by NCP legislator Chetan Tupe in the state Assembly. Fadnavis, who oversees the energy portfolio, emphasised that the policy would help low-usage consumers shift from conventional power sources to solar energy — a crucial step towards energy sustainability.

Key Benefits and Measures

From subsidies to tariff measures and underground cables, the new policy has introduced several provisions:

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Rooftop Solar Subsidy

Consumers falling under the 0–100 unit consumption category will be eligible for state subsidies to install rooftop solar systems. This initiative is expected to reduce long-term electricity expenses and promote household-level solar adoption.

Tariff Relief

Nearly 70 percent of Mahavitaran (MSEDCL) consumers, particularly those using between 0 and 100 units, have experienced a 26 percent reduction in electricity tariffs. This marks the first relief of its kind in two decades. Fadnavis assured that there are no plans for an additional 10 percent tariff hike for this segment.

Underground Power Cabling

To improve safety and reliability, the government will expand underground electricity cabling across the state. Subject to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) approval, a nominal surcharge of 1, 2, or 5 paise per unit may be introduced to fund the programme.

Smart Meter Rollout

Fadnavis highlighted that Maharashtra has installed 40 lakh smart meters across the state, with only 1 percent complaints, each addressed promptly. Consumers using these meters benefit from a 10 percent rebate during solar hours. They can also track real-time electricity usage through a dedicated mobile app. 

Notably, the installation cost is not paid by consumers but is offset by energy savings. The implementation is managed by contracted agencies.

In response to queries from Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh, Fadnavis reaffirmed that there have been no reported cases of inflated bills due to smart meters, thereby allaying public concerns about overcharging.

The state administration has been pushing for solar growth aggressively in recent times, snubbing reliance on conventional energy sources. Recently, Maharashtra tied up with a UK-based firm to build a 1.2 GW capacity solar park in Solapur.