Getting subsidy for solar panels a distant dream

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 11

The city-based residents who had installed solar power panels on their rooftops said they were facing double whammy.

On the one hand, the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has not given any subsidy to date, and on the other hand, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has started asking for fixed charges despite not consuming even a single unit of power other than from own solar panels, alleged irate residents.

A retired government engineer, Pawan Kumar Chadha, said he had installed 4 kilowatts (KW) solar plant on his rooftop. “For the last two years, I have been running around officials of the PEDA to give me subsidy, but to no avail. I have even contacted their head office. Adding to the woes, the PSPCL has started levying fixed charges, which they were not charging earlier,” he said.

We are just a reimbursing agency. The subsidy comes from the Government of India. As we have not got any payment from the Centre, we have not been able to reimburse it to the applicants. —Supinder Singh, Joint Director, PEDA

Chadha showed his bill in which he had been charged Rs 3,550. “It is as if I am being doubly taxed. I spent Rs 2.75 lakh on installing solar panels. I have been making every effort that my production matches my consumption except for the peak load months. Now, I regret using renewable source of energy and spending so much from my own pocket.”

He said, “I approached PSPCL officials who showed me a copy of new orders of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission. As per the order, anyone like me who had a permanent domestic supply of 101 kWh to 300 kWh will have to pay Rs 6.59 per kWh as fixed charges. This is a grave injustice to us.”

Rajinder Kumar, who has installed a solar panel on his rooftop at Tagore Nagar, said, “I spent Rs 3.15 lakh on installing a 5 kW solar panel around a year ago. Ever since, I have not been able to even apply for the subsidy as the PEDA’s website is non operational. There is no provision to apply it offline.”

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