Maharashtra will install rooftop solar systems for 2,11,206 low-income households under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the state’s Swayampurna Maharashtra Aawasiya Rooftop Solar (SMART) scheme. The programme will now move forward following regulatory approval for its implementation, supporting the state’s efforts to expand residential solar adoption among low-income families.
The initiative is expected to cover around 211 MW of rooftop solar capacity, with individual 1 kW systems to be installed at the identified households. The project is being implemented through Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) under the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has now approved the MSEDCL’s plan to proceed with the programme for the 2,11,206 eligible households, subject to applicable MNRE guidelines, state government approvals and MERC regulations.
The programme targets households from economically weaker sections, including 1,27,362 BPL households and 83,844 SC/ST EWS households. The SMART scheme is aimed at BPL and EWS households consuming less than 100 units of electricity per month, with the objective of providing up to 100 units of free electricity every month while reducing the state government’s tariff subsidy burden.
The total project cost is estimated at ₹959.93 crore. The installations will be carried out through 43 vendors empanelled through a transparent tender process, with a discovered rate of ₹45,450 per kW.
The funding structure is designed to keep the upfront contribution of beneficiaries low. Central Financial Assistance will cover 60% of the cost, while the Maharashtra government will provide 30–35% through State Financial Assistance. The remaining 5–10% will be contributed by consumers.
For BPL households, the consumer contribution has been fixed at ₹2,500, with ₹17,500 provided as state assistance and ₹30,000 as central assistance. For SC/ST EWS households, the respective amounts are ₹5,000, ₹15,000 and ₹30,000. Across the programme, consumer contribution is estimated at ₹74 crore, State Financial Assistance at ₹252.61 crore and Central Financial Assistance at ₹633.62 crore.
The rooftop systems will be installed individually at beneficiary premises in accordance with MERC’s Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating Systems Regulations, 2019.
MSEDCL’s implementation framework also includes mandatory M2M SIM/Wi-Fi-enabled data loggers and minimum generation performance criteria. Empanelled vendors will be responsible for five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance of the systems.
Beneficiary onboarding, data tagging and release of Central Financial Assistance will be integrated through a bidirectional API between MSEDCL and the national portal. The programme is targeted for completion by March 31, 2027.
MSEDCL had submitted the proposal to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), aligning the Maharashtra SMART scheme with the central government’s ULA model under PM Surya Ghar.
MNRE granted in-principle approval on July 27, 2026, for solarisation of the 2,11,206 households, corresponding to approximately 211 MW of rooftop solar capacity. The final sanction was made conditional on formal approval by the state electricity regulatory commission.
With the regulatory approval now in place, MSEDCL can proceed with implementation, subject to compliance with the applicable conditions. MERC has also directed the utility to adhere to MNRE’s stipulated timeline, noting that financial assistance could become unavailable if the programme is not implemented within the prescribed period.
The programme will therefore bring individual rooftop solar systems to more than two lakh low-income households in Maharashtra, combining central and state financial support to expand distributed solar adoption among BPL and EWS consumers.
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