Maharashtra: SMART Solar Scheme Tender Brings Rs 15,000 Relief Per kW for Poor Power Consumers
Mumbai, 28th February 2026: In the tender called by MSEDCL for the SMART scheme launched by the state government to provide free electricity to below poverty line (BPL) and economically weak domestic electricity consumers with electricity consumption up to 100 units per month, the price of a one kilowatt capacity rooftop solar power project has been quoted at around Rs 45,000. As the new rate is Rs 15,000 less than the current rate of Rs 60,000 charged by solar energy suppliers in the market, there will be a huge saving for 5 lakh small consumers who are beneficiaries of the scheme. Also, since it is clear that one kilowatt rooftop solar power can be installed for Rs 45,000 instead of Rs 60,000, all the needy consumers who install such projects will benefit in the future.
The SMART scheme is being implemented for poor consumers under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. For this, Mahavitaran has been given the responsibility of implementation. The tender for the scheme was approved in a meeting of the company’s board of directors held in Mumbai on Saturday under the chairmanship of Mahavitaran’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Lokesh Chandra. State’s Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Abha Shukla was present for the meeting.
The state government’s Swayampurna Maharashtra Residential Roof Top Solar (SMART) scheme has assumed a cost of Rs 50,000 per kilowatt. Currently, solar suppliers are charging customers about Rs 60,000 per kilowatt. But in the tender approved by Mahavitaran today, an amount of Rs 45,450 per kilowatt has been quoted. Therefore, there will be a big reduction in the amount to be paid by the customer in this scheme.
The Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijalee Yojana has been launched by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024. Under this, domestic electricity consumers get a direct subsidy of Rs 30,000 for one kilowatt, Rs 60,000 for two kilowatt and Rs 78,000 for three kilowatt for installing rooftop solar power generation projects. The remaining cost has to be borne by the consumer. About 120 unit of electricity is generated per month from a one-kilowatt project. Since more electricity is generated than the consumer’s requirement, the electricity bill is zero and the consumer also gets income by selling the excess electricity to Mahavitaran. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ government has introduced SMART scheme for five lakh BPL and economically weaker section consumers by providing additional subsidy in this scheme. Solar power projects of one kilowatt each will be installed under this scheme.
In the tender called by Mahavitaran for the smart scheme, the low rate of Rs 45,450 for a one kilowatt solar power project has been quoted, so now other needy electricity consumers will also benefit. In the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijlee Yojana, the consumer has to pay the remaining amount apart from the government subsidy. Due to a significant reduction in this amount, it will be easier for small needy electricity consumers to take advantage of the scheme.
Mahavitaran has made the list of empanelled vendors installing solar power projects available on its website and on the SMART Scheme portal.
