THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BALASORE, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
The Government’s PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is emerging as a major
relief for domestic consumers grappling with rising electricity expenses,
particularly ahead of the peak summer demand. With rooftop solar panels being
installed under the scheme, thousands of households are witnessing a sharp
decline in their monthly power bills, with many even recording zero consumption
charges.
The Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) model under the PM Surya Ghar Muft
Bijli Yojana has gained strong momentum in northern Odisha, with TP Northern
Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL) fast-tracking rooftop solar installations
across its operational areas. The initiative is designed to deliver clean,
dependable and affordable electricity to domestic consumers, especially those
with 1-kilowatt connections, while ensuring the use of high-quality and safe
solar infrastructure.
In Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts alone,
4,651 consumers have already installed rooftop solar systems, of whom 461
households are now receiving zero-unit monthly electricity bills. The remaining
beneficiaries have reported substantial reductions in their power costs,
significantly easing household expenditure.
Expanding across the five TPNODL districts, a total of 6,849 consumers
have adopted rooftop solar solutions under the scheme. Among them, 2,812
households are now enjoying zero monthly electricity bills, while the majority
of others have experienced a notable decline in their energy expenses, reinforcing
the financial viability of solar adoption for domestic users.
Gajanan Kale, Chief – Odisha Distribution Business and CEO, TPNODL, said
the utility remains committed to providing reliable and quality power supply
while enabling consumers to transition towards sustainable energy solutions. He
noted that the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, supported by the ULA model, is
empowering households with access to clean, reliable and cost-effective
electricity, and reaffirmed that TPNODL is proactively driving the programme
across its service areas.
Consumers who have already benefited from the scheme have expressed satisfaction over the tangible savings. Prasanna Kumar Sahu from Betanati in Mayurbhanj, who installed a 1-kilowatt rooftop solar unit, said his electricity consumption has remained at zero for the past two months, bringing significant financial relief to his family. Similarly, Sabita Paley of Ghatgaon in Keonjhar, after installing a 3-kilowatt solar system, reported a reduction in her monthly electricity bill from around ₹1,200–1,500 to nearly ₹150–200.
TPNODL has urged interested consumers to take advantage of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana by contacting their nearest TPNODL office or reaching out through the toll-free customer care numbers 1800-3456-718 or 1912, as the utility continues to scale up rooftop solar adoption and promote energy sustainability across northern Odisha.
