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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nagpur dist leads as Maha crosses 1,000MW rooftop solar milestone
Nagpur: Maharashtra scripted a green energy success story by crossing the 1,000 MW rooftop solar power generation mark under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme. Nagpur district has emerged as the top performer in the state. The scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024, aims to provide free electricity to households and enable them to sell surplus power to the grid. In just a year and a half, over 2.5 lakh households in the state installed rooftop solar projects, with the combined capacity now touching one gigawatt. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) is driving this drive across the state. In Nagpur, 40,152 consumers have taken benefit of the scheme with an installed capacity of 157 MW, which is far ahead of other districts. Pune follows with 19,195 consumers (89 MW), Jalgaon with 18,892 (70 MW), Amravati with 15,245 (63 MW), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with 16,664 (59 MW), and Nashik with 15,468 (55 MW). MSEDCL officials said that the central govt has so far sanctioned subsidies worth Rs1,870 crore to Maharashtra's beneficiaries. Under the scheme, households can receive Rs30,000 for a 1 kW system, Rs60,000 for 2 kW, and Rs78,000 for 3 kW. Housing societies can get Rs18,000 per kW for systems up to 500 kW. Lokesh Chandra, MSEDCL chairman and managing director, congratulated consumers, employees and rooftop solar suppliers while attributing the rapid progress to guidance of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and minister of state for energy Meghna Sakore Bordikar. Officials also said that rooftop solar projects typically generate power for up to 25 years, covering household needs and allowing excess electricity to be sold back to MSEDCL. "Consumers can register online at or visit their local Mahavitaran office for assistance," said the officials. "Maharashtra has set a benchmark for the country in rooftop solar adoption, and Nagpur has shown the way," said an MSEDCL official, urging more households to join the green power revolution.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nagpur dist leads as Maha crosses 1,000MW rooftop solar milestone
Nagpur: Maharashtra scripted a green energy success story by crossing the 1,000 MW rooftop solar power generation mark under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme. Nagpur district has emerged as the top performer in the state. The scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024, aims to provide free electricity to households and enable them to sell surplus power to the grid. In just a year and a half, over 2.5 lakh households in the state installed rooftop solar projects, with the combined capacity now touching one gigawatt. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) is driving this drive across the state. In Nagpur, 40,152 consumers have taken benefit of the scheme with an installed capacity of 157 MW, which is far ahead of other districts. Pune follows with 19,195 consumers (89 MW), Jalgaon with 18,892 (70 MW), Amravati with 15,245 (63 MW), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with 16,664 (59 MW), and Nashik with 15,468 (55 MW). MSEDCL officials said that the central govt has so far sanctioned subsidies worth Rs1,870 crore to Maharashtra's beneficiaries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Sign Up Under the scheme, households can receive Rs30,000 for a 1 kW system, Rs60,000 for 2 kW, and Rs78,000 for 3 kW. Housing societies can get Rs18,000 per kW for systems up to 500 kW. Lokesh Chandra, MSEDCL chairman and managing director, congratulated consumers, employees and rooftop solar suppliers while attributing the rapid progress to guidance of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and minister of state for energy Meghna Sakore Bordikar. Officials also said that rooftop solar projects typically generate power for up to 25 years, covering household needs and allowing excess electricity to be sold back to MSEDCL. "Consumers can register online at or visit their local Mahavitaran office for assistance," said the officials. "Maharashtra has set a benchmark for the country in rooftop solar adoption, and Nagpur has shown the way," said an MSEDCL official, urging more households to join the green power revolution. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Indian Express
08-08-2025
- Indian Express
Electricity theft won't be tolerated, criminal case will be filed: MSEDCL chief
Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited Lokesh Chandra Friday called for intensifying the campaign against electricity theft and said that criminal cases will be filed against the offenders. 'We will not tolerate electricity theft or any kind of manipulation of the electricity meter. It will be registered as a criminal offence and action will be taken,' he warned while speaking at a review meeting of various works at MSEDCL at Prakash Bhavan in Pune. Chandra said that to achieve the goal of reducing electricity losses, it is necessary to launch a strict campaign against electricity theft. He said it was a serious matter that arrears of electricity bills have been increasing for the last few months and also called to speed up the collection of arrears. Along with this, immediate local measures should be taken to increase the rate of accurate bills. He also clarified that billing of each unit should be done. There is an increasing demand for electricity in Western Maharashtra and according to Chandra the delays in new electricity connections when electricity is available as per demand will not be tolerated. He also directed that complaints regarding electricity bills of the consumers whose rooftop solar projects have been implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, should be resolved. Among those present at the meeting were the utility 's directors Sachin Talewar (Operations/Projects), Yogesh Gadkari (Commerce) and Rajendra Pawar (Human Resources), as well as executive directors Paresh Bhagwat and Dinesh Agarwal.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Over 1,000 Feeder Separation Projects, 727 Substations Nearing Completion in Vid
1 2 3 Nagpur: As part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and chief minister's Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme 2.0, major infrastructure upgrades are underway across Vidarbha, with 1,007 power feeder separations and capacity enhancement of 727 substations nearing completion. The push aims to ensure a seamless and high-quality electricity supply to all consumers, along with timely integration of new connections. Presiding over a regional review meeting in Akola on Wednesday, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) chairman and MD Lokesh Chandra instructed officials to prioritise uninterrupted power supply, consumer convenience, and aggressive recovery of outstanding electricity dues. Reviewing progress across the Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Gondia circles, Chandra emphasised that daytime electricity supply for agricultural pumps and 24x7 power to non-agricultural users must be ensured without compromise. "Of the 1,007 feeder separation works underway, 314 have been completed. More than 3,000 km of high and low tension lines and over 9,600 km of aerial bundled cables are being laid under the scheme," he noted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Singapore Spots Raising the Bar Epicure Asia Read More Undo Chandra urged officials to maintain quality and meet project deadlines. "Every effort must be made to reduce technical losses and recover pending dues. Financial stability of MSEDCL depends on full revenue recovery," he said, adding that a steady rise in unpaid bills since April is a serious concern. "There is no alternative to recovering both outstanding and current dues. Negligence in this area will invite action," he warned. He also highlighted the success of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in Vidarbha, under which rooftop solar installations have been completed in 1.42 lakh households, making their monthly bills virtually zero. He instructed officials to create more awareness about the scheme to increase adoption among domestic consumers. With all MSEDCL services now accessible online via its website and mobile app, Chandra directed officials to process applications promptly without requiring consumers to visit offices. He called for immediate steps to ensure smooth supply, and for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to be planned locally and executed swiftly. Chandra also interacted with industrialists from Akola district and discussed power-related issues faced by local businesses. Independent director of MSEB Holding Company Ashish Chandarana was present during the meeting. Chandra said Maharashtra, under the leadership of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, has achieved notable progress in the power sector over the last two and a half years. "For the first time, industrial power tariffs have been reduced, and the rates for both low and high-tension consumers will continue to fall over the next five years," he said.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
5 lakh consumers opt for e-bills, MSEDCL saves Rs6 crore annually
Nagpur: In a significant step towards promoting eco-friendly practices, over five lakh electricity consumers across Maharashtra enrolled in Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd's (MSEDCL) 'Go-Green' initiative. By opting out of printed electricity bills and choosing to receive them via email and SMS, these environmentally conscious citizens are not only contributing to sustainability but also collectively saving more than Rs6 crore every year. As of June 30, 5.03 lakh low-tension category consumers joined the voluntary scheme. Under this initiative, each participating consumer receives a one-time discount of Rs120 on their electricity bill, which earlier was given as Rs10 per bill over a year. The full discount is now directly credited in the very first bill after enrollment. MSEDCL said that the initiative, launched to reduce the use of paper in bill printing, gained steady momentum in all regions of the state. "Western Maharashtra has seen the highest participation with 2.01 lakh consumers, followed by Konkan with 1.13 lakh, North Maharashtra with 70,226, Vidarbha with 63,731, and Marathwada 55,351. Collectively, these regions have accounted for savings of over Rs 6.04 crore annually," said MSEDCL. Mahavitaran's chairman and managing director, Lokesh Chandra, encouraged more consumers to join the digital shift, stating that contributing to this green initiative is a simple yet impactful way to support environmental preservation. The Go-Green facility can be accessed online through the official Mahavitaran website and mobile app. Once enrolled, consumers receive their electricity bills directly via their registered email and mobile numbers. The system ensures timely delivery of bills, and those who make payments within seven days of bill generation are also eligible for an additional 1% rebate. The digital format also allows consumers to store soft copies of their bills and access up to 12 months of billing history on MSEDCL's portal, with the option to download or print copies. The increasing response to the Go-Green campaign highlights a growing public awareness about sustainability and the ease of managing electricity bills digitally.
