Guwahati, Nov 8: The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), recognized as the largest subsidized domestic rooftop solar program globally, is gaining momentum in Assam. Since April, the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has imported over 31 million units of surplus solar energy generated from residential setups.

APDCL has implemented a net-metering system for homeowners with rooftop solar installations of up to 10 KW. This allows consumers to export excess solar energy back to the grid, which is then offset against their energy consumption from the grid.

According to an official, "Homeowners typically utilize only a fraction of the energy produced during daylight hours. The surplus is sent back to APDCL, which adjusts it against the consumer's grid usage. To date, we have imported over 31 million units from these systems."

Currently, Assam's peak power demand stands at approximately 1,733 MW, with local generation (from APGCL) contributing only about 315 MW.

To fulfill the remaining demand, the state relies on purchased electricity.

So far, more than 52,000 households in Assam have installed solar panels, collectively generating nearly 200 MW of power. However, over 350,000 applications are still pending, being processed by 1,013 authorized vendors.

Assam ranks eighth among states for the number of solar installations completed, while Gujarat leads with over 450,000 installations. Chandigarh and Daman & Diu have successfully met their rooftop solar targets for government buildings.

Barpeta district in Assam has the highest number of installations, totaling 4,625.

This initiative allows households to benefit from free electricity through subsidized rooftop solar panels, significantly lowering their energy expenses. Furthermore, consumers can generate additional income by selling any excess power produced by their solar systems back to the discoms.

At the current benchmark rates, subsidies of approximately Rs 45,000 (combined Central and State) are available for a 1KW system, Rs 90,000 for a 2KW system, and Rs 1.23 lakh for a 3KW system for residential rooftop installations in the state.