CM Rekha announces rollout of rooftop solar installation scheme

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced the rollout of an ambitious rooftop solar installation scheme under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO)/Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model.

The move, aligned with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s guidelines and facilitated by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), aims to reduce electricity bills of residents while accelerating the city’s shift towards renewable energy.

“Our vision is to make Delhi clean, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible Capital. Through the RESCO Model, we are ensuring that citizens get access to solar energy without any upfront cost. This is a big stride towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’,” CM Rekha said.

Explaining the model, the Chief Minister said residents and institutions could now have rooftop solar plants installed with zero capital expenditure. Consumers simply provide rooftop space, while installation and maintenance will be handled by developers selected by DISCOMs through a competitive bidding process approved by the DERC. The generated solar power will then be supplied to consumers at a cheaper rate than conventional electricity.

Consumers will not have to make any upfront payment and will see the solar energy charge reflected in their regular electricity bill through a unified billing system. The facility will be available for both domestic and non-domestic consumers under the existing DERC Supply Code Regulations to protect consumer interests.

Highlighting the economic benefit, the CM announced that the Cabinet had approved an additional subsidy of Rs 30,000 on installation of 3 kW rooftop solar panels, increasing the total subsidy under “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” to Rs 1.08 lakh per household. A separate ‘State Top-Up’ scheme has also been launched with Rs 50 crore budget to expand rooftop solar coverage to 2.3 lakh homes in the next three years.

“We are not just providing an energy solution, we are empowering citizens to become clean energy partners in the Capital’s development,” she said, adding that the initiative would lower household expenses, boost Delhi’s solar generation capacity, and significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Delhi