Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), Asar Social Impact Advisors, and Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) organised a stakeholders' coordination meeting on July 25, 2025. The meeting served as a platform to discuss the progress of implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and coordinate efforts among various stakeholders involved in the solar rooftop initiative. The meeting welcomed diverse stakeholders, including engineers from PM Surya Ghar Scheme, nodal officers of TNPDCL, TNPDCL representatives from Non-Conventional Energy Sources (NCES), Information Technology Wing/TNPDCL, Rural Electricity Corporation (REC), Banks and consumers themselves.
(L-R) Mr. Tamil Chelvan, CEDC/Central, Mr. K Vishnu Mohan Rao, Program Lead/CAG, Dr. R Sethumadhavan, Consultant/CAG, Ms. Sasiregha, EE General/CEDC Central
Mr.Tamil Chelvan, Superintending Engineer (SE), Chennai Electricity Distribution Circle/Central (CEDC/Central), TNPDCL, initiated the meeting by outlining the targets set for Tamil Nadu under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. Each electricity divisional office across the state has been assigned a target of installing 1,000 household solar systems. Given that Tamil Nadu has approximately 2,500 divisional offices, this translates to an overall state target of 25 lakh rooftop solar installations. He said that the Chennai Central Circle has made significant progress in this direction, with 5,069 rooftop solar systems already installed. A particularly noteworthy achievement highlighted was that Chennai Central circle has successfully reduced its pending application list to zero, demonstrating the efficiency of the current processing mechanisms. Mr. Tamil Chelvan said that the PM Surya Ghar Scheme has made the application process much simpler. This change helps electricity consumers easily access benefits, and reduces delays in the process.
Mr. Vishnu Mohan Rao, Programme Lead of CAG, began his presentation by introducing CAG and its areas of work. CAG has been conducting several awareness workshops for consumers about rooftop solar systems in Chennai over the past six months, including stakeholders' meetings, a capacity-building workshop for media representatives on reporting about rooftop solar systems (RTS) and a connection meeting with DISCOMs, solar developers, and banks to discuss the challenges and status of RTS adoption in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai.
Dr. R Sethumadhavan, Professor & Director (Retd.), Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, presented the current state of rooftop solar PV installations in India, following implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Scheme. The presentation highlighted a comparative analysis of trends in rooftop solar PV in both India and Tamil Nadu, offering insights into the landscape at both National and State levels. He indicated that by May 2025, Tamil Nadu had received only 0.36 lakh applications for the PM Surya Ghar Scheme, while Kerala was outperforming in this aspect. He also mentioned that despite having a lower number of applications, Tamil Nadu had a higher rate of conversions to actual installations within the state.
Dr. R Sethumathavan presenting on analysis of trends in rooftop solar PV in both India and Tamil Nadu
Ms.Karthikayini, Executive Engineer, Information Technology wing, provided a comprehensive overview of the streamlined procedures undertaken in the PM Surya Ghar Yojana portal. She mentioned that when the scheme was introduced, even the TNPDCL engineers were not aware of the steps involved during the application process. Also, the portal was not working for many of the consumers who were trying to use it. After several representations from TNPDCL and solar vendors to MNRE about the portal inefficiency, MNRE worked on the PM Surya Ghar portal with an updated version,(Phase 2). This has substantially smoothened over and simplified the registration process. For example, consumers now need to register using only their email ID and phone number. Also, she mentioned that an important consumer-friendly feature is that meter costs are now collected through the next electricity assessment bill rather than paying this upfront. She stated that the timeline for releasing the subsidy was 15 days, provided no discrepancies are identified in the application.
During the session, a consumer raised a question about a cost discrepancy in obtaining the bi-directional meter. He mentioned that the actual cost should be Rs. 4,700, but some consumers in the application process were seeing an estimated cost of Rs. 8,900. A representative from the IT Wing assured that any excess amounts collected would be adjusted in subsequent electricity bills.
The workshop had one panel discussion, titled “Consumer Experience by Solar Developers”. The panelists are Mr. Venkatesh.L, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Developers Association (TNSEDA) and Mr.Senthil Kumar, Business Head, Darling Electronics.
(L-R) Ms. Karthikayini, EE/IT, Mr. L Venkatesh, Treasurer, Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Developers Association, Mr. R B Senthil Kumar, Business Head, Darling Solar.
Mr. Venkatesh.L, Treseaurer, TNSEDA, explained in detail about the challenges and opportunities in rooftop solar installation. He mentioned that Tamil Nadu has enormous potential in installing rooftop solar in domestic as well as commercial. One major challenge is the delay in installing net meters, which hinders consumers from benefiting from their rooftop solar power panels. This issue is still prevailing in some parts of the state. As mentioned during the meeting, the transformation speeding up the application process is a welcome move.
Mr.Senthil Kumar, Business Head, Darling Electronics, stated that solar products will soon become Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), indicating a shift towards increased adoption and mainstream acceptance. However, he notes that the solar market in India has not yet reached its full potential, citing the need for more players to sell and install solar products. While domestic consumers have benefited from net metering, with reduced electricity bills, Mr. Kumar emphasised the need to extend this benefit to commercial consumers to achieve net-zero targets. By expanding net metering to commercial consumers, the industry can promote greater adoption of solar energy, reduce carbon footprint, and contribute to India's renewable energy goals. Mr. Senthil Kumar emphasized the importance of Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) strengthening its officials' understanding of rooftop solar concepts. This effort would enable them to better support and guide consumers in adopting solar energy. By educating officials about the benefits and implementation of rooftop solar, TNPDCL can facilitate a smoother transition for consumers and promote wider adoption of solar energy.
Audience at the meeting, listening to the speaker
Mr. Venkatesan, Executive Engineer of the T. Nagar Division, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the organizers for their efforts in hosting a successful event. By giving the vote of thanks, he acknowledged the hard work and dedication that went into making the event a success. He recognized the importance of organizing a discussion on the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, highlighting its role in promoting awareness and discussion on relevant topics.
Conclusion
The meeting highlighted several significant achievements in the implementation of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The significant simplification of processes in Phase 2.0, combined with digital transformation initiatives, has created a more efficient and consumer-friendly framework. The coordination between different stakeholders, while improved, still requires strengthening to ensure seamless processing. The meeting concluded with renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward making solar energy accessible to every household in Tamil Nadu while ensuring the highest standards of implementation and consumer satisfaction.