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The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bihar Cabinet gives nod to provide 125 units of free electricity to 1.67 crore power consumers
The Bihar Cabinet on Friday (July 18, 2025) gave its nod to provide up to 125 units of free electricity to 1.67 crore domestic consumers of the State a day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's announcement. It was the only agenda to be taken up in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Mr. Kumar. The Janata Dal (United) leader had on Thursday (July 17, 2025) made the announcement to give free power up to 125 units. The decision will come into effect from August 1 this year. Also read: Nitish Kumar promises jobs, employment for one crore people in five years 'The Cabinet has taken a decision to provide a 100% subsidy for those consumers who consume up to 125 units of electricity,' Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting. Mr. Yadav, who was accompanied by Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit and Energy Department Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, said it has been decided to reduce the usage of conventional energy and increase the use of non-conventional energy. To promote solar energy, the State government has decided to install 1.1 KW capacity rooftop solar panels. The government would give 100% subsidy to 58.89 lakh Kutir Jyoti BPL power consumers for installing rooftop solar panels. Out of 1.86 crore domestic power consumers of the State, 1.67 crore consumers consume up to 125 units per month, Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit said while making it clear that it would provide 100% subsidy up to 125 units. No fixed charge and other charges will be levied on households consuming up to 125 units, he added. Mr. Amrit added that the relief would reflect in the next power bill cycle for July. The decision to give free 125 units will not be applicable to commercial and industrial consumers. Making it clear that the move will be applicable to all types of 1.86 crore domestic consumers across the State, Manoj Kumar Singh, who is also the Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd (BSPHCL), Patna, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, said that 'consumers using above 125 units will continue to get subsidised rate of electricity under Mukhya Mantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana.' If a person consumes 200 units of electricity in a month, 125 units will be deducted from 200 consumed units and the person will be charged on the remaining 75 units at subsidised rate. 'All the domestic consumers are getting covered with the decision. No family will be spared from the benefit,' Mr. Singh emphasised. Rooftop solar panels Talking about installing rooftop solar panels for Kutir Jyoti BPL consumers, Mr. Singh further said that ₹60,000 is the cost for installing rooftop solar panels and the consumers will get ₹33,000 as subsidy under Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana and the remaining cost of ₹27,000 will be borne by the state government. The move to give free power up to 125 units is expected to increase the State's subsidy burden. The government is currently giving an annual subsidy of ₹15,995 crore to power consumers in the current financial year which is 4% more than the previous year's subsidy amount of ₹15,343 crore. The announcement of subsidised free power will put an additional financial burden of ₹3,797 crore, taking the total annual subsidy amount to ₹19,792 crore.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PM solar scheme faces hurdles in six states despite national rooftop solar push
Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana ( PMSGY ) beneficiaries are facing biggest hurdles in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal, with less than 5 per cent applications resulting in installations. The scheme is facing major challenges in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh as well, according to official data. These six states have performed much below the national conversion rate of 24.4 per cent under the scheme which has led to 1.14 million rooftop solar installations across the country till date. The absence of easy financing, despite directives issued by the Centre, is a major bottleneck hindering PMSGY implementation, said experts. Another key reason, according to them, is the lack of trained technicians, which has resulted in poor application to installation conversion rate in the eastern and north-eastern states. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan account for 78 per cent of rooftop solar installations in India. With a 75.7 per cent conversion rate, Gujarat has the highest efficiency with regard to PMSGY implementation. "High conversion rates indicate effective policy implementation and consumer awareness," said a study by The Energy and Resources Institute ( TERI ). The Centre approved a ₹75,021 crore outlay for PMSGY in February 2024. It aims to provide up to 300 units of electricity for free to 10 million Indian households which opt to install rooftop solar generation projects. The scheme offers 60 per cent subsidy on the cost of rooftop solar projects (up to 2 kW capacity) and 40 per cent of additional system cost for those with 2-3 kW capacity. "Bank loan is one of the major hurdles for marginalised segments seeking benefits under PMSGY as it is taking more time than envisaged," Alekhya Datta, associate director, electricity and renewables division, TERI, told ET.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PM solar scheme lags in Andhra, Karnataka, Bengal
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana ( PMSGY ) beneficiaries are facing biggest hurdles in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal, with less than 5% applications resulting in installations. The scheme is facing major challenges in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh as well, according to official six states have performed much below the national conversion rate of 24.4% under the scheme which has led to 1.14 million rooftop solar installations across the country till absence of easy financing, despite directives issued by the Centre, is a major bottleneck hindering PMSGY implementation, said experts. Another key reason, according to them, is the lack of trained technicians, which has resulted in poor application to installation conversion rate in the eastern and north-eastern Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan account for 78% of rooftop solar installations in India. With a 75.7% conversion rate, Gujarat has the highest efficiency with regard to PMSGY implementation."High conversion rates indicate effective policy implementation and consumer awareness," said a study by The Energy and Resources Institute ( TERI ).The Centre approved a ₹75,021 crore outlay for PMSGY in February 2024. It aims to provide up to 300 units of electricity for free to 10 million Indian households which opt to install rooftop solar generation projects. The scheme offers 60% subsidy on the cost of rooftop solar projects (up to 2 kW capacity) and 40% of additional system cost for those with 2-3 kW capacity."Bank loan is one of the major hurdles for marginalised segments seeking benefits under PMSGY as it is taking more time than envisaged," Alekhya Datta, associate director, electricity and renewables division, TERI, told ET.
United News of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Op Sindoor a testament to success of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat': Yogi
Kanpur, May 30 (UNI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday saluted the valour of the Indian Army, saying that due to the bravery of its soldiers under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the whole world now exemplifies India for its power and capability. During the launch of projects worth Rs 47,000 crore by Prime Minister Modi in Kanpur, the CM praised and congratulated the PM on his first visit to Uttar Pradesh after 'Operation Sindoor'. He said the bravery that the Indian forces have displayed by destroying the enemy's air defence system also made the world realise the power of 'Made in India' started by Prime Minister Modi 10 years ago. "This is also a great example of the success of self-reliant India," he said. Yogi said projects worth Rs 47,600 crore received by the state are the foundation of a developed India. Welcoming the PM in the industrial city of Kanpur, located on the banks of the Ganga, Yogi said: "I welcome him wholeheartedly on behalf of the people of the state. This land was once the pioneer of the industrial revolution, and today, it is going to write a new saga of development." The CM described 'Operation Sindoor' as a symbol of India's military power and self-reliance and said that first surgical strike, then air strike and now 'Operation Sindoor', the Indian Army under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has shown the world that India now believes not only in responding but also in deciding the style of responding. "This is a strong example of Made in India and self-reliant India," he said. On the foundation stone laying and inauguration of projects worth Rs 47,600 crore in Kanpur by Prime Minister Modi, the CM said that this programme is a big step to take UP forward as a 'growth engine' of a developed India. He said that after the first phase of Kanpur Metro launched by PM Modi in the year 2021, now the second phase has been inaugurated, which will make the public transport system of the city modern and convenient. Referring to UP's energy sector, Yogi said with the start of thermal power plants in Panki, Ghatampur, Jawaharpur (Etah), Obra (Sonbhadra) and Khurja (Bulandshahr), the power capacity of the state has increased from 15,000 MW to 25,000 MW. He said that by the end of the year, it will increase by another 4,000 MW. While counting UP's achievements, he said that electricity has reached 1.21 lakh hamlets of the state and free connections have been given to 1.78 crore poor families. "Under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, free rooftop solar facility has been provided to 1.31 lakh houses and the target of more than 11 lakh applications will be completed soon." UNI AB PRS
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
EVs, green hydrogen, data centres to catalyse India's electricity demand in next 5 years: ICRA
A trifecta of accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption, green hydrogen (GH), and an increase in data centre capacity is expected to significantly catalyse electricity demand between FY26 and FY30, according to ICRA. The electricity demand in India over the next five years will achieve a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6-6.5 per cent, higher than the nearly 5 per cent CAGR achieved in the last 10 years, driven by the abovementioned three sectors, the ratings agency said in a research note, which ETAuto has reviewed. 'These three segments are expected to contribute to 20-25 per cent of the incremental demand over the next five-year period from FY26 to FY30. The growth in demand for grid capacity is expected to be offset to some extent, by the rising adoption of rooftop solar and off-grid projects, driven by schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana,' said Vikram V, vice president & co-group head (corporate ratings), ICRA. For the EV, in particular, ICRA said the sector is expected to witness an increase in penetration across the segments, primarily led by the adoption of three-wheelers, followed by two-wheelers, e-buses, and passenger vehicles. Regarding GH, ICRA said it considered a gradual scale-up in capacity, given the relatively higher cost of GH against grey hydrogen currently. 'While a major portion of the incremental demand is expected to be met through increase in the renewable energy (RE) capacity, the Central and state governments are encouraging new thermal power projects to ensure sufficient buffer in the installed capacity to meet the growing demand,' ICRA said. The ratings agency has projected a modest 5–5.5per cent growth in electricity demand in FY26, lower than the country's expected GDP growth of 6.5per cent, attributing it to an early monsoon that is likely to affect demand for cooling and for agricultural activities. Though this marks an improvement over the 4.2 per cent growth seen in FY25, it falls short of the 8 per cent growth between FY22 and FY24. Despite renewable energy driving most of the upcoming 44 GW power capacity addition in FY26, coal-based capacity is also expected to grow by 9–10 GW as a buffer. This dual strategy reflects government efforts to ensure grid reliability while managing clean energy transitions, said ICRA. Discom finances remain a concern amid EV-driven load increase Distribution companies (discoms), which are key to delivering reliable charging infrastructure, continue to face financial strain. Discom debt rose to ₹7.4 trillion by March 2024, and tariff hikes remain subdued. ICRA projects the all-India cash gap at 35 paise per unit for FY2026 and maintains a negative outlook on the distribution segment. 'ICRA's outlook for the power distribution segment remains Negative amid limited tariff hikes and continued lossmaking operations. The progress in the smart metering programme along with the timely implementation of fuel & power purchase cost adjustment framework would play an important role in improving the discom finances, going forward,' said Vikram V.
