PANAJI
In what could give a significant push to Goa’s solar power generation, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has announced waiver of meter cost, testing, installation and maintenance charges, as well as registration fees for domestic consumers installing solar rooftops under the Prime Minister Surya Ghat Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY).
The installation, testing, maintenance and meter charges for a rooftop solar system in Goa vary by system size, with a 1kW system costing between Rs 55,000 to Rs 75k, a 3kW system costing around Rs 1.6 lakh to 2.2 lakh and 5kW system roughly around 2.6 lakh to 3.5 lakh and so on.
The JERC in a suo-moto order issued in August based on the proposal from the Goa Electricity Department, however, refused to remove the requirement of Net Metering Connection Agreement for the domestic consumers, stating that the agreement forms the legal documentation and could play a crucial role during any dispute.
Under the PM-SGMBY, the State has a target of installing 21,200 solar rooftop plants across the State by financial year 2026-2027, with a total 65 Megawatt (MW) of green energy generation. In order to achieve the same and to lure consumers, the department approached JERC seeking waiver of several charges and fees.
“The Goa Electricity Department through a communication dated March 17, 2025 requested for the waiver of all fees and charges associated with PM-SGMBY of Roof Top Solar (RTS) connections and remove the requirement of the Power Purchase Agreement or Net Metering Agreement for RTS connections. The department charges an application fee of Rs 500 for RTS connections as per regulations,” Goa’s proposal stated.
The State further informed that the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has calculated an incentive amount for the electricity department for the FY 2023-24, amounting to Rs 1.99 crore, which is much higher than the waiver the department is asking for.
“The incentive amount calculated just for one year is much higher than the amount to be waived off during the entire period of PM Surya Ghar scheme implementation, which is three years,” it said.
The Commission, through its order, said that it finds ED Goa in agreement with the proposal of waiver of meter cost, testing, installation and maintenance charges and registration fees for domestic consumers.
Goa is directed to create separate accounting for benefited consumers under the scheme and submit quarterly report to the Commission. “This order comes into force with immediate effect and would be applicable to all eligible domestic consumers seeking to install rooftop solar systems under the scheme,” JERC said.
Under PM Surya Ghar scheme consumers installing a 3KV solar system will be eligible for subsidies between Rs 1,80,000 to Rs 2,00,000, with Rs 78,000 provided by the Central Government and an additional 30 per cent contributed by the State government.
Goa's performance in PM-SGMBY is steadily progressing with over 4,700 feasibility approvals, and installations generating 7.34 MW of solar power by June end with released subsidies amounting to Rs 4.28 crore.
