Maharashtra Launches SMART Solar Scheme To Provide 25 Years Of Free Electricity To Poor Households
Benefit Of ₹ 2,235 Crore To 70 Lakh Power Consumers For Daytime Electricity Usage. Read here to know.
Mumbai, November 4, 2025: In a major step towards energy self-sufficiency and social welfare, the Maharashtra government has launched the Self-Reliant Maharashtra Residential Rooftop (SMART) Scheme, under which below-poverty-line (BPL) and economically weaker households will receive 25 years of free electricity through solar power generation.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL)* has taken the lead in implementing the scheme, which involves installing 1-kilowatt rooftop solar power systems on the homes of eligible consumers.
The initiative is supported by both central and state government subsidies, significantly reducing the beneficiaries’ contribution.
According to MSEDCL Chairman and Managing Director Lokesh Chandra, the scheme aims to benefit around five lakh households, including 1.54 lakh BPL and 3.45 lakh economically weaker families who consume less than 100 units of electricity per month.
A budget allocation of ₹655 crore has been made for the initiative, which will be executed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program aligns with the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under which beneficiaries receive a ₹30,000 central subsidy for installing a 1 kW rooftop solar unit. The Maharashtra government will provide additional financial support — ₹17,500 for BPL consumers and up to ₹15,000 for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households. Economically weaker consumers using less than 100 units will also get ₹10,000 from the state government.
Each 1 kW solar unit can generate around 120 units of electricity per month, enough to meet household needs and even allow the sale of surplus power back to MSEDCL. With an expected lifespan of 25 years, the project promises long-term savings and sustainable power supply for thousands of low-income families across Maharashtra.
