Karnataka residents don't take a shine to central solar scheme

Data shows that a paltry 3% of the total applications have resulted in installation in the last eleven months.

Bengaluru: A lack of awareness about the process and high installation costs seem to have hit the PM Surya Ghar (PMSY): Muft Bijli Yojana — the Centre's residential rooftop solar scheme — that has not made much headway in the state despite its attractive subsidy.

Data shows that a paltry 3 per cent of the total applications have resulted in installation in the last eleven months. The central government scheme is offering a 60 per cent subsidy for rooftop solar systems but consumers appear to be in the dark about the fact that they have to shell out close to Rs 1 lakh for the installation cost.

According to Bescom sources, the major reasons for the disinterest towards the solar rooftop system are: a lack of awareness among the beneficiaries (the name “Muft Bijli,” which translates to “free electricity,” has misled the applicants, according to a well-placed Bescom source); high installation costs; and the Congress government’s Gruha Jyothi freebie. 

The process for the solar scheme begins with registration, then moves on to the application stage; next comes vendor selection and, finally, ends with installation.

Data available with DH shows that in Karnataka only 30.1% of total registrations converted into applications; and among the applicants, only 3% of installations have been completed.

The Bescom scene is nothing to cheer about either, with a meagre 38.8% of registrations turning into applications and 3.81per cent of those applications resulting in installations. 

Data reveals that most applicants took a step back at the vendor selection stage, with just 8.6 per cent of them opting for vendors in state and 8.2 per cent in Bescom jurisdiction.

When a beneficiary completes the application process, a feasibility test is conducted. The feasibility test is automatically approved if they are opting for generating 10 kW power. After the feasibility approval, the applicants themselves have to select the vendors of their preference, which most applicants don't seem to be doing.

The Bescom source claimed that they have empaneled more than 360 official vendors and are doing their job swiftly. However, the applicants aren’t choosing the vendors. 

“We aren’t sure if the applicants know that they have to choose the vendors themselves, which might be causing the discrepancy,” said the source.

There is another important detail that seem to be working against the scheme. Though the scheme offers a 60 per cent subsidy, beneficiaries must spend at least Rs 1 lakh from their own pockets for installation. This estimation is generated only after the application stage. Therefore, people could be deciding against going ahead at the vendor selection stage looking at the high cost. 

Bescom officials noted that there have been instances where people assumed “Muft Bijli” as free electricity and registered for the scheme. 

The Gruha Jyothi factor

When a residential property installs the solar rooftop system, the power generated through the system is transmitted to the Bescom grid and the transmission occurs through a meter.

During the bill generation, if the consumption of a particular house is less than the generated power, Bescom waives the bill and pays the consumer for the extra power generated by their rooftop system. 

“Even before the Surya Ghar scheme was rolled out, many residents had opted for the Gruha Jyothi scheme and decided to refrain from extra investment. The remaining households also preferred Gruha Jyothi over the Surya Ghar to avoid extra investment,” the Bescom source said.

“There is a lack of awareness as well among people about the Suryagarh scheme,” the source added.