Centre announces 20-40% subsidy for consumers installing rooftop solar panels
Under the ministry of new and renewable energy’s grid-connected rooftop solar scheme, the Central government is providing 40 per cent subsidy for the first 3kW and 20 per cent subsidy beyond 3kW and up to 10 kW.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 15 Jan 2021 7:59 PM IST
Hyderabad: Under the ministry of new and renewable energy's grid-connected rooftop solar scheme, the Central government is providing 40 per cent subsidy for the first 3kW and 20 per cent subsidy beyond 3kW and up to 10 kW. The scheme is being implemented in the states by local electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs).
Meanwhile, it was brought to the notice of the ministry that some rooftop solar companies and vendors are setting up rooftop solar plants by claiming that they are authorised vendors. The ministry has clarified that it has no authorised vendors and that the scheme is being implemented in the state only by DISCOMs. The DISCOMs have empanelled vendors through a bidding process and have decided rates for setting up rooftop solar plants, it further said.
Almost all DISCOMs have issued an online process for this purpose. Residential consumers willing to set up a rooftop solar plant under the MNRE scheme can apply online and get rooftop solar plants installed by listed vendors. For this, they have to pay the cost of the rooftop solar plants by reducing the subsidy amount given by the ministry as per the prescribed rate to the vendor. The process is listed on the online portal of the DISCOMs.
The subsidy amount will be provided to the vendors by the ministry through the DISCOMs. Domestic consumers should install rooftop solar plants only from the empanelled vendors to be eligible for the subsidy.
The solar panels and other equipment to be installed by the empanelled vendors shall be as per the standard and specifications of the ministry and includes five-year maintenance of the rooftop solar plant by the vendor.
It was also brought to the notice of the ministry that some vendors are charging domestic consumers more than the rates prescribed by DISCOMs. Consumers are advised to pay only according to the rates decided by DISCOMs, the ministry said, adding the DISCOMs have been instructed to identify and punish such vendors.
