By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
All domestic consumers who consume 500 to 1000 units of power every bill cycle will benefit if they install rooftop solar power system, says Tangedco official
Tangedco has planned to install rooftop solar power systems to generate 27,000 Kilowatts (KW) of electricity in Madurai district by 2027, according to its Superintending Engineer R. Regina Rajakumari.
Speaking at an awareness meeting on rooftop solar power systems here on Wednesday, she said the Centre had fixed a target of 27,000 KW of rooftop solar power systems for residential buildings in the district. All domestic electricity consumers who consumed 500 to 1000 units of power every bill cycle would benefit if they installed rooftop solar power system.
She said 70,000 of the six lakh electricity consumers in Madurai district were identified to be using 500 to 1,000 units of power per bill cycle.
“Such consumers going for solar power will be mutually beneficial for the consumers and Tangedco as the power charges will come down drastically for them and Tangedco will be able to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity without additional power production,” she said.
Ms. Rajakumari said rooftop solar power systems to generate 1000 KW of power had so far been installed in Madurai district. Tangedco would go for creating more awareness on the utility of rooftop solar power systems, which produced clean energy, unlike thermal power stations.
Besides, solar power was available in abundance in the country which could be tapped usefully, she added. Power generation through other renewable sources like tidal and wind energy were exorbitantly costly.
Tangedco Executive Engineer Bala Parameswari said people could go for installing rooftop solar power systems for up to 3 KW and get a subsidy of up to ₹78,000. Tangedco was processing the applications for on-grid solar power systems expeditiously.
Speaking on the occasion, branch manager of Union Bank of India Sampath Kumar said the bank offered long-term loan for 10 years for installing rooftop solar power systems at a cheaper rate of interest of 6%.
“Many of the consumers will be able to save substantial amount of money by way of their reduced electricity bill through on-grid solar power systems and can repay their loans with it,” he said.
Rooftop solar power systems was the best way for saving money for the middle class people who found it difficult to meet the increasing expenses with limited income, he added.
Founder of Women Consumer Protection Association C. Packialakshmi, and Vishnu Mohan Rao of Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group were among those who spoke.
