On 13 February 2024, the Union Government unveiled an ambitious initiative—PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana—a Central scheme promising to revolutionize household energy consumption in India. With a whopping outlay of ₹75,021 crore, the scheme aims to provide 300 units of free electricity every month to one crore households, provided they install rooftop solar panels.
The idea is simple yet transformative: reduce dependence on traditional electricity sources, save costs, and encourage sustainable energy practices. But as the scheme approach the one-year mark, the ground reality reveals a mixed picture.
As of January 27, 2025, official data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy shows that 8,46,864 households have benefited from the scheme by installing rooftop solar plants. The numbers are set to rise significantly, with projections of 10 lakh installations by March 2025, 20 lakh by October 2025, 40 lakh by March 2026, and the ambitious target of one crore installations by March 2027.
However, here’s the catch: not all households are getting the promised “zero electricity bill.”
Zero bill households
In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry clarified, “ Receiving zero electricity bill, in a particular month, on installation of rooftop solar plant depends on various factors such as solar capacity of the rooftop solar plant, solar power generated, self-consumption of electricity by the consumer who has installed the rooftop solar plant and regulations issued by the respective state electricity regulator. Therefore, the number of such households is not fixed and is dynamic in nature for every month. However, estimates suggest around 45 per cent of households are receiving zero electricity bill”.
This means that while 45 per cent of the households are reportedly enjoying zero bills, the remaining 55 per cent still have to pay some amount for electricity.
This revelation highlights the complexities of implementing a pan-India solar scheme. Variations in power generation, household consumption, and regulatory frameworks mean that the promise of free electricity isn’t universal for all beneficiaries. For many, their solar panels reduce electricity costs but don’t entirely eliminate them.
As the scheme gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the government tackles these challenges. Will the vision of free electricity become a reality for all, or will it remain an elusive dream for half of the beneficiaries? With installation numbers expected to skyrocket in the coming months, the success of the scheme depends not just on reaching the one-crore target but also on ensuring the promised benefits reach every household.
Gujarat tops the list
The Ministry data shows that Gujarat has emerged as the frontrunner in the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana, accounting for a staggering 41 per cent of the total beneficiary households across India. Maharashtra follows as a distant second, contributing 23 per cent of the total beneficiaries.
These two states stand out as the only ones where more than one lakh households have installed rooftop solar panels under the scheme. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala have also made significant strides, with over 50,000 households in each state benefiting from the initiative.
