Karamri Village Sarpanch Sets Example as Electricity Bill Drops to Zero; Selling Surplus Power Back to Grid
Published on: November 10, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The Prime Minister Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme is proving transformative for households across Chhattisgarh, enabling consumers to generate their own power and reduce dependence on the grid. One such success story has emerged from Karamri village in Chhuriya development block, where Sarpanch Mr. Dinuram Sahu has become a role model for rural communities after eliminating his household electricity bill completely.
Mr. Sahu installed a 3 kW rooftop solar power plant at his residence under the PM Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme. As a result, his monthly electricity expenditure has dropped to zero, and he is now supplying surplus power back to the state grid, earning additional income.
He shared that upon learning about the scheme through the Janpad Panchayat office, he immediately opted for installation. The total cost of the system was ₹2 lakh, of which only ₹20,000 was paid upfront. The remaining amount was financed through Chhattisgarh State Rural Bank in easy installments. The project received a subsidy of ₹78,000 from the Central Government and ₹30,000 from the State Government — a total financial support of ₹1,08,000.
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Expressing his satisfaction and gratitude, Mr. Sahu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, stating, “This scheme has made us self-reliant in electricity. Not only is my bill zero, but I am also generating income by supplying extra power to the grid.”
Under the PM Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, rooftop solar plants are integrated with the power grid through net-metering. Consumers who generate more electricity than they use are compensated for the surplus supplied back to the grid. Depending on plant capacity, subsidies ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹78,000 are provided. Consumers are free to choose their preferred plant brand and capacity.
To apply, beneficiaries must register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in or through the PM Suryaghar mobile app, select an authorized vendor, and complete the application with assistance from electricity department officials. Once installation and net-metering are completed, the approved subsidy amount is transferred online. If needed, the remaining cost can also be financed through banks at a 7% interest rate via the Jan Samarth portal.
