PM Surya Ghar scheme: 17.6% of Assam's solar homes pay zero power bills
Synopsis
More than one in six solar households in Assam is now paying nothing for electricity — and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is pointing to it as proof that PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana is delivering real results. With Assam ranking among the top five states nationally in scheme implementation, the northeastern state is quietly rewriting its energy story.
Key Takeaways
17.6 per cent of Assam's rooftop solar households under PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana are now paying zero electricity bills .
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement via a post on social media platform X on 25 June .
Assam ranks among the top five states in India for implementation of the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
The scheme provides subsidies for residential rooftop solar installations , reducing household power costs and supporting India's clean energy transition.
State officials expect the share of zero-bill households to grow further as more solar installations come online.
Over 17.6 per cent of households in Assam that have installed rooftop solar panels under the Centre's PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana are now paying zero electricity bills, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday, 25 June. The disclosure underlines the accelerating impact of the flagship renewable energy programme in the northeastern state, which has emerged as one of the country's top performers in scheme implementation.
What CM Sarma Said
Sarma made the announcement in a post on social media platform X, highlighting the scheme's transformative effect on household energy costs across the state. 'Seventeen-point-six per cent of Assam's solar households have paid zero electricity bills. This is the transformation which PM Surya Ghar has brought about in Assam, which stands among the top five states in the country in implementing the scheme,' he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the programme is delivering twin benefits — energy security and economic relief — by enabling families to generate their own electricity through rooftop installations and eliminate monthly power expenditure entirely.
Assam's Rise as a Solar Leader
The state government has been coordinating actively with the Centre to drive rooftop solar adoption, encouraging eligible households to install panels and access financial assistance under the scheme. Officials believe the programme will reduce dependence on conventional power sources and advance Assam's long-term clean energy objectives.
Notably, Assam's placement among the top five states nationally in PM Surya Ghar implementation is a significant achievement for a northeastern state that has historically lagged in energy infrastructure. This comes amid a broader national push to expand renewable energy capacity and ease the financial burden on residential consumers.
About PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana
Launched by the Centre, the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana provides subsidies for residential rooftop solar installations with the dual aim of reducing household electricity costs and boosting India's sustainable energy generation capacity. The scheme is positioned as a key driver of the country's renewable energy transition, targeting widespread adoption across urban and rural households alike.
A sizeable section of beneficiaries has recorded zero monthly electricity expenditure, with the remainder reporting substantial reductions in their power bills — a development the state government has cited as evidence of the programme's on-ground effectiveness.
What Comes Next
The state is expected to continue expanding its rooftop solar footprint in the months ahead, with officials projecting further growth in the share of zero-bill households as more installations come online. The Centre's sustained push on renewable energy targets will likely keep Assam under the spotlight as a model for northeastern states looking to replicate the scheme's early gains.
Point of View
And whether the scheme's subsidy pipeline is reaching lower-income families in rural and semi-urban areas or concentrating benefits among those with the roof space and upfront capacity to participate. A northeastern state topping national solar charts is genuinely newsworthy; whether the gains are broad-based or narrow is the story that still needs telling.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana?
The PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana is a Central government scheme that provides subsidies for residential rooftop solar panel installations, aimed at reducing household electricity costs and expanding India's renewable energy capacity. It targets widespread adoption across urban and rural homes.
How many Assam households are paying zero electricity bills under the scheme?
According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, 17.6 per cent of Assam households that have installed rooftop solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme are now paying zero electricity bills. The announcement was made on 25 June.
Where does Assam rank nationally in PM Surya Ghar implementation?
Assam ranks among the top five states in India in implementing the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, according to CM Sarma. This is a notable achievement for a northeastern state historically behind in energy infrastructure.
How does rooftop solar help households save on electricity?
Under the scheme, households install rooftop solar panels with government subsidies, enabling them to generate their own electricity. Those generating enough power offset their grid consumption entirely, resulting in zero monthly electricity bills.
What are Assam's plans for expanding rooftop solar adoption?
The Assam state government is coordinating with the Centre to encourage more eligible households to install solar panels and access financial assistance. Officials expect the share of zero-bill households to increase further as additional installations come online.
