en.Wedoany.com Reported - Under the "Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana" (Prime Minister's Rooftop Solar Free Electricity Scheme), over 10,000 households in Himachal Pradesh, India, have completed the installation of rooftop solar power plants and connected them to the grid. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has received a total of 15,639 applications under this scheme for rooftop solar installations, with a combined applied capacity of 60,688.756 kilowatts (kW). Applications continue to pour in from nearly all districts of the state, reflecting widespread participation.
Currently, 10,108 rooftop solar power plants have been installed and commissioned, with a total capacity of 34,686.449 kilowatts (approximately 34.686449 megawatts). Although the reported capacity is often simplified to 34 megawatts, detailed official data indicates a higher actual figure. Installation and commissioning work is progressing as planned across administrative regions.
Among the districts, Kangra has the highest adoption rate, receiving 2,999 applications and completing 2,031 installations. Hamirpur district follows closely, with 2,615 applications received and 1,987 installations completed. Mandi district received 1,899 applications and completed 1,255 installations; Bilaspur district received 1,676 applications and installed 1,166 systems. Una district had 1,653 applicants and completed 1,185 installations; Solan district received 1,336 applications and completed 720 installations; Sirmaur district received 1,248 applications and completed 734 installations; Chamba district completed 580 installations from 1,085 applications. Shimla district received 730 applications and has installed 276 rooftop solar plants; Kullu district reported 341 applications and completed 156 installations. In tribal areas, Kinnaur received 42 applications and installed 17 plants; Lahaul-Spiti received 15 applications, with only one rooftop solar system commissioned.
Officials attribute the growth in user participation to increased public awareness, supportive subsidy policies, and the financial and environmental benefits of solar power generation. The scheme is helping diversify Himachal Pradesh's renewable energy portfolio, which has traditionally relied heavily on hydropower. At the same time, the scheme is expected to strengthen decentralized power generation at the household level. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board handles related technical and procedural formalities and drives project execution across districts. With the number of applications continuing to rise, the scheme is becoming a key driver of the state's clean energy transition.
