Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Surya Ghar Yojana is bringing huge relief to citizens across India through solar energy subsidy and installation. India Today TV brings you a report from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, on how beneficiaries are using rooftop solar panels to generate personal electricity and, in some cases, even generate surplus energy. to sell them off the grid, creating a new source of income.
India Today TV reporters spoke to consumers in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Raipur, Jaipur and Indore.
UTTAR PRADESH
In Uttar Pradesh, where the government has set a target of installing 25 lakh solar panels over the next three years, more than 43,000 installations have been completed.
In Lucknow, beneficiaries like Prakash Mishra and Uday Pratap Singh shared their experiences. Mishra, who works at Bank of India, installed a 4 KW solar system, costing Rs 2.38 lakh with a subsidy return of Rs 1.08. The panel meets his daily energy needs and has significantly reduced his electricity bill.
“My usage mine is still the same, but before I used to pay Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 in peak summer and now I have to pay up to Rs 2,000,” said Mishra.
Uday Pratap Singh reduced his monthly electricity bill by Rs 3,500 during peak summer after installing the same system. He spent Rs 2.4 lakh to install solar panels and received Rs 1.08 lakh as subsidy.
“For a family of four, a 4 KW solar panel is enough,” says Uday Pratap Singh. “In April, I applied for this, and at the end of May I received funding from the state government and the central government. I didn’t have to call anyone to get funding. The Ministry of Energy is also fully supportive.”
Surendra, who works as a teacher, installed a 3 KW solar panel for Rs 1.8 lakh and got a subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh.
“It produces 11-12 horsepower in this weather and if it is sunny, it can produce 16-18 horsepower. There is a lot to gain from this. I save Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 a month,” said Surendra.
The city’s solar business is booming. Ravi Pratap Singh, a solar entrepreneur, reports an increase in demand, installing about 25 panels a day and employing more than 30 people. He credits PM Modi’s solar promotion campaigns for this increase.
“This is a big step towards Aatmanirbhar bharat,” said Pratap Singh.
He spoke in detail about the installation process and said, “Customers need to be connected to electricity and a shaded area where solar panels can be installed. Buyers need basic documents like Aadhar card, electricity bills etc, then we register the buyer on central government website. On the website, we get quick approval for 1-10 KW installations. After approval, we install the solar panel and any dicom available in the area do a survey and make a report. Then a solar net meter is installed there. After that, within 30-45 days, the customer gets the subsidy from the state government and the central government.”
“The installation of solar panels takes one week, the entire process till the solar meter is installed takes 20-30 days,” said Ravi Pratap Singh, giving a rough timeline of the process.
Lokendra Vikram Singh entered the solar panel business in 2022 after seeing interest in renewable energy. “Customers want certainty from us about services, and that their money is not wasted,” said Vikram Singh.
According to Lokendra Vikram Singh, customers are offered a five-year service support plan, which includes maintenance and cleaning of the panels. “For registration under the PM Solar Home scheme, consumer’s electricity bill, email, mobile number, canceled cheque, passbook, and Aadhaar are collected,” he said.
He praised the government for promoting this program and the source of renewable energy and subsidies to attract new customers.
When asked about the consumption pattern, Vikram Singh said, “In summer, consumption is high, but so is production due to hot weather. In winter, the production decreases due to the weather, but its consumption decreases.”
In Ghaziabad, Chief Human Development Officer, Abhinav Gopal, said more than 5,000 citizens have registered for the program. With a target of 2 lakh consumers, the management is promoting the program through banners, Gram Panchayats, and public meetings. As a result, 10 industrial connections are secured. The program is also being rolled out through rural panchayats to increase the reach of people.
“I am confident that we will be able to reach this target of 2 lakh customers next year,” said Abhinav Gopal.
Talking about the advantages of installing solar panels, Gopal said, “The basic concept is, there is no storage in this system. Whatever electricity is produced, it is fed into the grid. The energy bill subtracts the electricity generated. If you generate more electricity, the remaining amount can be deducted from the next month’s bill and maybe eventually you can reduce your debt to zero.”
Customers who have already installed these solar panels have shared their positive experiences.
Kedaar Singh, for example, has installed a 5 kW solar panel system and is finding it very cost effective. He applied online but said applications can also be sent through UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency).
Inspired by these benefits, his neighbor Ashutosh Bharadwaj is now planning to install solar panels, seeing this as the right way to use his roof and make the most of the sun’s energy.
“It’s a visionary project and the best use would be to install it on our roof,” said Bharadwaj, standing under the solar panels.
Dr OP Agarwal, another consumer, has installed a 7 kW solar panel on his roof and reports that his electricity bill has come down significantly, calling the scheme a very beneficial government scheme. According to Agarwal, the application process is fast, usually completed within 15 days of application and research.
Meanwhile, Ramesh, who has installed a 12 kW system, noted that his system is not yet fully operational due to the delay of the vendors. He revealed that under the scheme, a subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh is available for systems up to 6 kW, and for his double panel setup, he is about to receive a subsidy of Rs 2.16 lakh.
MADHYA PRADESH
Following PM Modi’s push for solar energy, Indore is also witnessing an increase in solar power installations.
Indore Collector Ashish Singh said that they are following the government’s instructions by starting solar installation in rural houses and ensuring that all city government buildings are fitted with solar power systems.
Residents who install solar systems get a beneficial move, as they shift their focus from current costs to long-term savings.
Dhananjay Pandey, an Indore-based businessman, shared that, inspired by the Prime Minister’s call, he installed solar panels in his house and business, resulting in significant savings. According to Pandey, a 3 kW solar system for a house costs around Rs 1.8 lakh, with a government subsidy of Rs 78,000, bringing the cost down to Rs 1 lakh. This investment pays for itself in 4-5 years, with the solar panel company offering a 25-year warranty. This means that after the initial investment is recouped, consumers can enjoy free electricity for up to 20 years.
RAJASTHAN
Many residents of Jaipur have found significant relief from high electricity bills by installing solar panels on their roofs. Where people once faced thousands in monthly electricity bills, many are now reporting bills down to zero. In addition, some households have even started earning money every month by selling the extra energy produced by their panels. Encouraged by these results, many people have applied to join the program, eager to free themselves from the financial burden of rising electricity bills.
In Ram Nagar, Jaipur, resident Rajeev Sain shared his experience. He applied through the agency in October 2023, and by April 2024, his solar panel installation was complete. Although the process took about six months, he encountered few problems. His 10 kW solar panel system now produces about 50 units of electricity every day. He uses 25 units for personal needs and sells the remaining 25 units to the government at an approximate price of Rs 3 per unit. Previously, he used to pay approximately R8,000 in electricity bills every month, but he no longer pays anything. The cost of his 10 kW installation was Rs 5.25 lakh, with a subsidy of Rs 1.17 lakh.
“I would recommend everyone to install a solar panel and save themselves from the use of electricity,” said Sain.
Ram Babu Sharma of Kataria Colony also benefited from this scheme. Initially, he installed an 8 kW solar panel system in 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 3.5 lakh. The process was simplified, handled by the agency, and required little involvement on his part. With this program in place, his monthly debt has come down from Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 to around Rs 10,000. Recently, he added an additional 2 kW panel for Rs 1 lakh, bringing his monthly bill down to around Rs 3,000. Hope to see this go to zero soon. Sharma praised the program’s smooth application process, saying the company takes care of most of the formalities, reducing the need for back-tracking.
Mahendra Kumar Garg of Nandpuri installed a 5 kW system in 2019 through a dealer, which costs around Rs 2 lakh with a subsidy of Rs 67,000.
“This system produces 20 units per day, which has greatly reduced his electricity bills. Besides saving money, solar panels help reduce pollution. And I can get more money by selling the extra power back to the government at Rs 2.40 per unit,” said Garg.
As more citizens experience the benefits of solar energy, others in the community are encouraged to follow suit. Ankit, a neighbor, noted the benefits his peers were getting—lower bills, one-time subsidies, and the ability to sell power back to the grid. As his monthly electricity bill is more than Rs 5,000, he recently applied for solar panel installation. He is optimistic about the plan and expects to end the electricity bill soon.
CHHATTISGARH
In Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, where more than 1,600 devices have been installed, users are seeing a significant reduction in their electricity bills.
Speaking to India Today TV, Suresh Agarwal praised the easy application process and quick crediting of the funding.
“I contacted the company and found that the installation is a simple process. In June the process started and it was done in July the first week. And in the second week of July, my whole plan was renewed. On August 2, the solar system started and at the end of the month, the funding was deposited in my account,” said Suresh Agarwal.
He saw his monthly bill come down from Rs 8,000 to just Rs 200.
Another consumer, Dr Nageshwar Rao, said that he installed a 5KW solar panel and the electricity bill is now bad and he is very optimistic about the future.
“The dealer made the process smooth and easy. I didn’t have to leave the house to look for documents. From approval to installation and receipt of subsidy bills, everything was fast,” said Dr. Nageshwar Rao.
Locals say that the efficient documentation and funding process has boosted the program’s popularity.
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