Latest news with #Rs.78
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Demand for rooftop solar plants rises significantly
Visakhapatnam: Following an encouraging demand for rooftop solar power units for domestic consumption, the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) achieved a target of installing 15,000 solar units under its jurisdiction. Thanks to its continuous awareness drives, the demand for the rooftop solar plants has increased in a drastic manner over the months. Sharing details, APEPDCL Chairman and Managing Director Prudhvi Tej Immadi informed that a new record has been set by installing 10,000 rooftop solar plants for residential households between 2024 to 2025 April under the company's jurisdiction. 'Interestingly, 5,000 units were installed in just two months of time,' the APEPDCL CMD mentioned. The APEPDCL is receiving an overwhelming response from domestic consumers for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana that provides subsidy based grid-connected rooftop solar plants. By the end of June this year, Prudhvi Tej Immadi informed that 15,120 rooftop solar plants with a capacity of 50,002 kilowatts have been installed for household consumers and they benefited to the tune of Rs 115 crore in the form of a subsidy. Due to the presence of a number of apartmentcomplexes, it is not possible to set up individual solar plants for them. However, if the consumer has another individual house within the same division, the facility could be provided by setting up a rooftop solar plant, exporting the renewable energy generated from there to the EPDCL grid through a virtual net metering method and it could also be used in the apartment house. According to the recent data, consumers are showing interest in availing virtual net metering systems introduced recently. With increased power bills, the system gains popularity as it offers an opportunity to consume enough energy for the house for 20 years. Solar plants with a capacity of 5,054 kilowatts were installed for 1,650 consumers in Srikakulam district, solar plants with a capacity of 4,845-kW installed in 1,549 houses in Vizianagaram, 7,511 kW for 2,056 residences set up in Visakhapatnam, 3,827-kW for 1,239 individuals in Anakapalli, 5,815 kW for 1,676 people in Kakinada, 5,818 kW for 1,716 houses in East Godavari, 5,898 kW for 1,794 houses in West Godavari, and 7,298 kW for 2,199 people in Eluru availed the facility and are connected to the grid. Highlighting the advantages of the rooftop solar plants, the APEPDCL officials appealed to the consumers to avail the opportunity so that they could reduce their electricity bills. Consumers who want to set up a solar rooftop plant with a capacity of one kilowatt should have at least 100 square feet of space over the roof. Explaining further, APEPDCL CMD stated that a subsidy of Rs 30,000 is provided to those who install a solar plant with a capacity of one kilowatt, Rs.60,000 for 2 kilowatts, and a maximum of Rs.78,000 for 3 kilowatts. BCs will get an additional benefit of Rs.20,000 as subsidy. A house with a capacity of 3 kilowatts will generate at least 360 units per month. This can be catered to household needs and the generated power allows the resident to earn an additional income by selling it to the power distribution company, the CMD encouraged. To avail the scheme, consumers can apply through the PM Surya Ghar scheme portal and set up solar rooftop plants from any of the 347 vendors empanelled with it. The APECDCL CMD clarified that there is no need to pay any fee for the application or for the net meter and consumers can contact the toll free number 1912 for more details.
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Solar power lights up Naravaripalle
Tirupati: Naravaripalle, the native village of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Chandragiri mandal of the district, has no doubt transformed quietly into a showcase of his vision of ushering in clean energy across the state so much so that nearly every home there doubles up as a solar power unit. Around 1,600 of the 2,300 households in the village cluster have already installed rooftop solar panels, excluding homes with structural limitations. Thus, this village is now not just the centrepiece of the scheme in the Tirupati district, where a total of 2,094 homes have adopted solar, but also a compelling example of what all is possible when public awareness, political will, and administrative support converge. On the flip side, however, it reflects the administration's studied focus on the Chief Minister's native district even as the broader rollout across the State mirrors a less appealing, if not an appalling, story. Under the Union government's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMY), launched in February 2023, subsidies up to Rs.78,000 are offered for rooftop solar installations. The response of the public, except in designated pilot areas, has been lukewarm. In Chittoor district, for instance, close to 50,000 people have registered, 95 per cent of them from SC/ST communities; yet, only 268 installations have been done. Notably, 95 of these are from Nadimuru village in Kuppam mandal. In another pilot area inaugurated by the Chief Minister in January 2025, the initial traction has not gained momentum. Overall, people in Tirupati have shown strong interest, with over 63,500 applications, including nearly 60,000 from SC/ST communities, which have been assured that both state and central governments will fully cover their installation costs. Tenders for this phase are expected to be floated shortly. In contrast, the uptake among other social categories remains low. Key deterrents include the need for upfront payment, grey areas in the subsidy disbursement process, and lack of visible short-term benefits. Many of the consumers remain either partially or fully unaware of the procedures or are hesitant to invest in a scheme that they don't fully understand as yet. Officially speaking, applicants must navigate a multi-step process: register on the national portal, submit documentation (electricity bill, address, bank details), pay a registration fee, choose from approved vendors, and wait for DISCOM officials to install a smart meter. The subsidy is disbursed only after the completed project is photographed and uploaded. This process, which looks simple on paper, is proving cumbersome in practice, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. Officials from the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (SPDCL) and New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (NREDCAP) are now being urged to proactively address public concerns, raise awareness, and simplify the procedures. All told, in the absence of targeted outreach and trust-building efforts across all communities, the larger vision of statewide solar adoption leaves much to be desired.
