Solar rooftop installation lights up Yajvendra Katre’s home, reduces power bills and promotes energy self-reliance
Published on: December 29, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme is bringing light and savings to households across Rajnandgaon district. By promoting electricity generation through solar energy, the scheme is not only reducing power bills but also emerging as an environment-friendly and sustainable solution. The initiative is widely being viewed as a major step towards electricity self-reliance, leading to its growing acceptance among the general public.
Under the scheme, Shri Yajvendra Katre, posted as a Rural Agriculture Extension Officer in the office of the Senior Agriculture Development Officer, Rajnandgaon, has installed a 3-kilowatt rooftop solar plant at his residence in Jeevan Colony, Rajnandgaon. Sharing his experience, Katre said he received a subsidy of ₹78,000 from the Government of India and ₹30,000 from the state government under the scheme.
With the installation of the solar plant, uninterrupted power supply has been ensured at his residence. He said this will significantly reduce his monthly electricity bills while also contributing to environmental protection through the use of clean energy.
Towards Zero Electricity Bills and Extra Income
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Notably, the PM Surya Ghar–Free Electricity Scheme encourages households to generate electricity on their own rooftops, helping them move towards freedom from power bills and greater energy conservation. Under the scheme, the installed solar plant is connected to the power grid through net metering. Any electricity generated in excess of household consumption is supplied back to the grid.
As a result, beneficiaries can not only bring their electricity bills down to zero but also earn additional income by supplying surplus power to the grid.
Subsidy Structure and Capacity Options
The government provides subsidies ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹78,000 per solar plant, depending on the capacity installed. The cost and subsidy vary according to the rooftop solar plant’s capacity. Consumers are free to choose the brand of solar equipment.
For plants with a capacity of more than 3 kilowatts, a maximum subsidy of ₹78,000 is provided under the scheme.
Simple Online Application Process
To avail benefits under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, applicants must register on the official website pmsuryaghar.gov.in or through the PM Surya Ghar mobile app to obtain a login ID. After registration, consumers can select a vendor listed on the web portal and complete the application with assistance from electricity department staff.
Once the agreement is signed, the vendor installs the solar plant on the rooftop, followed by the installation of a net meter by the DISCOM. After verification of the installed plant, the subsidy amount is released online by the government.
If required, beneficiaries can also opt for a bank loan at an interest rate of 7 per cent for the remaining amount, which is processed online through the Jan Samarth portal.
With increasing awareness and successful examples like this, the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme is emerging as a transformative initiative for clean energy adoption and household-level power self-sufficiency in the district.
