MSEDCL Takes Initiative for State Government’s SMART Scheme
MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) has taken the initiative to implement the Swayampurna Maharashtra Awasiya Roof Top (SMART) scheme, which aims to provide 25 years of free electricity to households below the poverty line (BPL) and economically weaker sections (EWS) by installing a 1-kilowatt capacity solar power generation project on their rooftops. Due to the subsidies from the Central and State Governments, beneficiary customers under this scheme will have to pay a very small share, said Hon’ble Lokesh Chandra, Chairman and Managing Director of MSEDCL.
The State Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has launched the SMART scheme. A provision of ₹655 crore has been made to provide free electricity and allow five lakh domestic consumers—comprising 1.54 lakh below the poverty line and 3.45 lakh economically weaker consumers who use less than 100 units of electricity per month—to also earn income by selling surplus electricity. This scheme will be implemented on a “first come, first served” basis. Instructions regarding the implementation of this scheme were given at a recent state-level meeting of MSEDCL’s Directors and Chief Engineers.
The Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has launched the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana (Prime Minister’s Sun Home Free Electricity Scheme). Under this, customers get a ₹30,000 subsidy from the Central Government for installing a 1-kilowatt rooftop solar power project. In the SMART scheme, in addition to this subsidy, customers will also receive a grant from the State Government, enabling them to install the project by paying a very minimal share.
According to the SMART scheme, BPL customers will receive a ₹30,000 subsidy from the Central Government and an additional ₹17,500 from the State Government for installing a 1-kilowatt solar power generation project. By paying the remaining cost of the solar power project, the customer can benefit from 25 years of free electricity.
Economically weaker customers who use less than 100 units of electricity will also receive a State Government subsidy in addition to the Central Government’s ₹30,000 grant. General category customers in this group will receive ₹10,000 from the State Government. Customers belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) will receive a ₹15,000 subsidy from the State Government.
A 1-kilowatt solar power generation project generates approximately 120 units of electricity per month. As a result, customers who use up to 100 units of electricity can meet their own needs and sell the surplus electricity back to MSEDCL. Since this project generates electricity for 25 years, the benefit lasts for that entire period.
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