consulting firm Mercom, PSPCL has directed vendors to bill the consumers only the remaining amount after deducting the subsidy (central) thereby bringing down the cost for households to its cheapest level on the country.

To make the subsidy scheme work, Punjab has announced subsidies for grid-connected rooftop solar systems ranging between 1 and 10 kW only in the residential sectors. The subsidy is not available for installations in the non-residential sectors like social, government, educational, public sector undertakings, statutory or autonomous bodies, private, commercial, and industrial sectors.

“At Rs 22,000 for a 1 kW installation, rooftop solar would be the cheapest source of power for household and improved its affordability significantly. The programme in Punjab should be replicated by all states to ensure cheap solar power access to general households,” said a renewable sector expert not willing to be named.

For 500sqft to house (2bhk) 1kW system is enough.

For up to 3,000sqft house/rowhouse/bungalow/villa will need a 3kW system.

Airconditioned 2bhk house will need a 5kW system.

Airconditioned 3,000sqft house/rowhouse/bungalow/villa will need a 25kW system.