New Delhi, Sept. 1 -- Delhi is set to turn thousands of rooftops into mini power plants, with the government approving the second amendment to its Solar Energy Policy, offering up to 3-kW rooftop solar systems at zero upfront cost to eligible households consuming up to 400 units a month. While addressing the media Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Power Minister Ashish Sood shared, the revised policy, was approved at the government's 40th Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, targets solar installations on 2.30 lakh rooftops and the addition of 500 MW of rooftop capacity.

Up to Rs 1.75 lakh support for 3-kW systems

Gupta said "households with average monthly consumption of up to 400 units in FY 2025-26 will be eligible, subject to technical feasibility."

The Centre will provide up to Rs 78,000, while Delhi will provide an equal capital subsidy and an additional top-up to bridge the gap between subsidy and tendered cost.

For a 3-kW system costing around Rs 1.75 lakh, households consuming up to 400 units will effectively get the system free through the central and state subsidies and the additional Rs 19,000 top-up.

"The policy will enable people in Delhi to not only use electricity but also generate it," Gupta said.

Free power subsidy plus solar savings

Consumers using up to 200 units will continue receiving the existing 100 per cent electricity subsidy and will also benefit from solar-generated savings and payments for surplus power exported to the grid.

For a 2-kW system costing around Rs 1.30 lakh, consumers will receive Rs 60,000 central subsidy, Rs 52,000 Delhi subsidy and Rs 18,000 top-up. A 3-kW system can generate around 300 units a month. For a 200-unit household, around 100 surplus units could be exported, giving an estimated additional benefit of Rs 950 per month. For households consuming 201-400 units, the estimated average monthly benefit is Rs 1,659.

For households consuming above 400 units, the 3-kW system will receive Rs 78,000 each from the Centre and Delhi, without the top-up, leaving a Rs 19,000 consumer contribution. Their estimated monthly benefit is Rs 2,143, with surplus power paid at Rs 6.50 per unit.

Maintenance and net metering eased

Vendors will provide free operation and maintenance for five years, after which consumers can opt for services through discoms for the system's approximately 25-year lifespan. Net-metering processing has been reduced from 75 days to 25 days, while application and registration fees for systems up to 10 kW have been waived.

IPGCL will select vendors through competitive bidding and oversee installation, coordination and grievance redressal.

Housing societies also covered

A proposed 100-kW common-area system for group housing societies, costing Rs 45 lakh, will receive Rs 18 lakh central and Rs 11 lakh Delhi subsidy, leaving Rs 16 lakh consumer contribution. Its estimated monthly benefit is Rs 81,247.

"We have not only kept free electricity alive, but have secured and institutionalised it for the next 25 years," Power Minister Ashish Sood said.

Delhi currently has 10,073 installed solar systems, many on government buildings.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.