MNRE Issues Guidelines for Rooftop Solar Implementation Under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released operational guidelines for implementing two key components under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. These components include the Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) and Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) models.

The initiative introduces two innovative approaches to promote rooftop solar adoption:

1. RESCO Model: Third-party entities invest in rooftop solar installations, enabling consumers to pay for electricity usage without any upfront costs.
2. Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model: DISCOMs or state-designated entities install rooftop solar systems on behalf of residential households, simplifying access to solar energy.

To support this initiative, a corpus of ?100 crore has been allocated for the Payment Security Mechanism, aimed at mitigating risks associated with investments in RESCO-based grid-connected solar projects. Additional funding may be incorporated with ministry approval to strengthen this framework.

These guidelines complement the existing consumer-led implementation via the national portal (https://www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in/), which follows the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model. The new models are designed to broaden access and facilitate faster adoption of rooftop solar systems across the residential sector.