Chandigarh, Aug. 6 -- Punjab has been slow to embrace the green energy wave, with only 17,496 of the over 73 lakh domestic consumers in the state opting for Centre's flagship PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana since the scheme's launch in February 2024.

The state lags behind several neighbouring states, according to data tabled by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) attribute the slow adoption largely to the state's policy of providing 300 units of free electricity to domestic consumers, saying the subsidy has diminished the financial incentive for households to invest in rooftop solar systems.

The ministry informed the Parliament th...