Maharashtra Plans Subsidy Scheme to Make Electricity Free for 1.5 Crore Consumers
Mumbai, 10th March 2025: The Maharashtra government has announced a new subsidy initiative aimed at reducing electricity bills to zero for nearly 1.5 crore domestic consumers who use up to 100 units per month. This move, outlined in the state budget, seeks to encourage rooftop solar adoption and provide long-term relief to low-consumption households.
According to the budget report, the government plans to assist consumers in installing rooftop solar systems, ensuring that 70% of electricity users will eventually have no power bills. The scheme builds upon the Prime Minister’s Solar Home Electricity Scheme, under which over 1.3 lakh households have already installed rooftop solar panels, benefiting from subsidies totaling ₹1,000 crore. As a result, these consumers now enjoy electricity at zero cost.
Beyond household consumers, the state is also taking steps to retain industrial users and prevent them from shifting operations to other states due to high power costs.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar highlighted the government’s efforts, stating, “The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission to fix electricity rates for the next five years. With improved energy sector planning and increased procurement of low-cost green energy, we estimate a reduction of ₹1.13 lakh crore in electricity purchase costs over this period.”
The government expects this strategy to bring down industrial electricity rates, making Maharashtra more competitive compared to other states and attracting further investment.
By balancing affordability for households with cost efficiency for industries, Maharashtra aims to position itself as a leader in renewable energy adoption while strengthening its economic landscape.
