Bihar Plans Relief For Electricity Consumers; Draft Bill Reduction Scheme Sent To Ministry

Ahead of the recently concluded assembly elections, the Bihar government had announced 125 units of free electricity for all domestic consumers. Building on this initiative, the state is now planning to install grid-connected solar panels on household rooftops, aiming to reduce electricity bills for domestic users to nearly zero while also lowering the subsidy burden on the government exchequer.

The Energy Department has prepared a draft of the rooftop solar panel scheme and sent it to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for approval. Once cleared, the proposal will be placed before the State Cabinet for final sanction.

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Unlike the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, which offers subsidies and bank loan provisions for rooftop solar installations based on kilowatts, the state government’s scheme will be implemented at the government level, with financial assistance provided directly by the state. Assistance slabs will be set according to different income groups, ensuring support reaches households based on their economic status.

Consumers will have the choice to consent to installation and select companies from a government-approved panel of solar installation firms. Standardised rates will be fixed for installation in each area, and multiple companies will be assigned to different regions to ensure smooth execution. 

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The scheme is designed to promote energy conservation while offering substantial financial relief to domestic electricity users.