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Bihar Removes Rooftop Solar Application and Meter Testing Fees to Accelerate PM Surya Ghar Adoption

In a significant move to encourage residential rooftop solar installations, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has approved the waiver of application fees and meter testing charges for domestic consumers installing rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The decision is expected to simplify the net-metering process, lower upfront costs for households, and accelerate the adoption of clean energy across the state.

The order follows a joint petition submitted by North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL), which sought regulatory approval to remove procedural charges associated with rooftop solar connections. The utilities argued that while these fees were relatively small, they often acted as a barrier for households considering solar installations, slowing the pace of participation in the Centre's flagship residential solar programme.

According to the distribution companies, Bihar has been actively promoting rooftop solar through awareness campaigns and consumer outreach initiatives despite having relatively moderate solar irradiation compared to some western and southern states. Eliminating application and meter testing charges is expected to streamline approvals for net-metering, load enhancement, and grid connectivity, making the installation process more consumer-friendly.

The utilities also informed the Commission that the fee waiver would not adversely affect their financial position. Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has earmarked INR 4,950 crore as performance-linked incentives for distribution companies to support rooftop solar deployment. These incentives are intended to compensate DISCOMs for facilitating faster consumer adoption and improving service delivery. The Commission noted that more than INR 2,100 crore in incentives has already been disbursed to various power utilities across the country under the scheme.

During its review, BERC also considered an advisory issued by MNRE in January 2026, which encouraged states to eliminate procedural charges such as application fees and meter testing costs to reduce entry barriers for residential consumers. The ministry highlighted that similar reforms had already been implemented in states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, where simplified approval processes have helped improve rooftop solar adoption.

The Commission clarified that the waiver applies exclusively to domestic consumers participating in the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and does not extend to projects implemented under the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA)-RESCO model or other categories governed by separate regulatory proceedings. To enable the reform, BERC granted a case-specific relaxation under the state's 2018 Net and Gross Metering Regulations, allowing distribution licensees to forgo the recovery of these charges for eligible residential consumers.

Launched by the Government of India in 2024, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar systems on one crore households nationwide by providing central financial assistance, concessional financing, and simplified approval mechanisms. The programme is expected to reduce electricity bills for consumers, increase the share of distributed renewable energy, and strengthen energy security while supporting India's broader objective of expanding non-fossil fuel power generation.

With the latest regulatory decision, Bihar joins a growing number of states that are simplifying rooftop solar procedures to make residential solar more accessible. By reducing administrative costs and improving the ease of installation, the state is expected to encourage greater consumer participation, strengthen distributed renewable energy capacity, and contribute to India's long-term clean energy and climate commitments.