Maharashtra is set to expand rooftop solar adoption among low-income households, with plans to install 1 kW rooftop solar systems across 2,11,206 eligible homes under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the state’s Swayampurna Maharashtra Aawasiya Rooftop Solar (SMART) scheme.
The programme is expected to create approximately 211 MW of distributed rooftop solar capacity across the state. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) will implement the initiative through the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved MSEDCL’s proposal, allowing the utility to move forward with the programme subject to applicable central and state regulations.
The initiative will primarily benefit economically weaker households, including 1,27,362 Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and 83,844 SC/ST EWS households. The SMART scheme focuses on households consuming less than 100 units of electricity per month, with the broader objective of helping eligible consumers access low-cost solar power and reducing their dependence on grid electricity.
₹959.93 Crore Investment
The total estimated cost of the programme is approximately ₹959.93 crore. Installation work will be carried out through 43 empanelled vendors selected through a tender process.
The funding will be shared between the central government, Maharashtra government and beneficiaries. Central Financial Assistance is expected to cover 60% of the project cost, while the state will provide around 30–35% and beneficiaries will contribute the remaining 5–10%.
For BPL households, the consumer contribution has been fixed at ₹2,500, while SC/ST EWS households will contribute ₹5,000. The remaining cost will be supported through central and state financial assistance.
Five-Year Maintenance Included
The rooftop solar systems will be installed at individual beneficiary premises and will follow Maharashtra’s applicable rooftop renewable-energy regulations.
The implementation plan also includes M2M SIM/Wi-Fi-enabled data loggers to monitor system performance and electricity generation. Empanelled vendors will be responsible for five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance, helping ensure that the systems remain operational after installation.
MSEDCL will also integrate beneficiary onboarding, data management and financial assistance processing with the national PM Surya Ghar portal through an API-based system.
Implementation Target: March 2027
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had granted in-principle approval on July 27, 2026, for the solarisation of the 2,11,206 households, equivalent to approximately 211 MW of rooftop solar capacity.
With regulatory approval now in place, MSEDCL can proceed with implementation. The programme is targeted for completion by March 31, 2027.
The initiative represents a significant expansion of distributed rooftop solar in Maharashtra, bringing solar generation directly to more than two lakh low-income households while supporting India’s broader rooftop solar and clean-energy transition.
