Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Delhi Approves Free Rooftop Solar Panels for 2.3 Lakh Homes
Delhi plans to give many homes solar panels without asking them to pay the installation cost first.
Homes that use up to 400 electricity units a month may qualify, if their rooftops can support the system.
Homes using up to 200 units will keep their existing free-electricity subsidy.
A solar system can make electricity for the home during the day.
Extra electricity can be sent to the power grid, and households may be paid for it.
Companies installing the panels will maintain them for free during the first five years.
The government wants solar systems on 2.30 lakh homes by March 2027.
It also wants to make Delhi households electricity producers, not only electricity users.
The Delhi Cabinet approved a revised solar policy offering eligible households rooftop systems of up to 3 kW without upfront installation costs.
Households using up to 400 monthly units in financial year 2025-26 can qualify, subject to technical feasibility.
Consumers using up to 200 units will continue receiving the existing 100 per cent electricity subsidy after installation.
The policy targets rooftop solar systems for 2.30 lakh homes and 500 MW of additional capacity by March 2027.
Net metering will be reduced from about 75 days to 25 days, while vendors will provide free maintenance for five years.
- Who
- The Delhi Cabinet, eligible domestic consumers, and the Delhi government are involved; Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Power Minister Ashish Sood announced the policy.
- What
- A revised solar policy will provide eligible households rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW with zero upfront installation cost.
- When
- The policy was approved on Tuesday and targets implementation by March 2027.
- Where
- Delhi.
- Why
- The policy aims to remove the upfront cost barrier, expand rooftop solar adoption, and encourage households to generate electricity.
- Eligible consumption
- Domestic consumers averaging up to 400 units monthly in financial year 2025-26, subject to technical feasibility.
- Maximum system size
- Up to 3 kW for eligible households.
- Electricity subsidy
- The existing 100 per cent subsidy continues for households using up to 200 units.
- Central subsidy
- The Centre provides ₹78,000 for a 3 kW system.
- Delhi subsidy
- The Delhi government provides another ₹78,000 and covers the remaining gap between subsidies and the tendered system cost through an additional top-up.
- Installation target
- Rooftop solar systems on 2.30 lakh homes and 500 MW of additional capacity by March 2027.
- Maintenance
- Installing vendors will provide free operation and maintenance for the first five years.
- Net metering timeline
- Residential solar net metering is expected to take 25 days instead of about 75 days.
