PATNA, OCT 7: Major policy push to encourage residential and agricultural solar adoption across the state, the Bihar Energy Department has formally requested the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) to allow the financial purchase of unadjusted surplus solar energy remaining in consumer accounts at the end of each financial year.
Under the existing net-metering framework, electricity generated by rooftop solar panels offsets monthly household consumption, with any excess power rolled over into subsequent billing cycles.
However, unused generation credits currently lapse at the close of the financial year, depriving consumers of monetary returns for their excess output.
To eliminate this drawback, the state government’s proposed regulatory amendment mandates that discoms directly buy the year-end surplus power from rooftop owners.
Officials highlighted that this move will complement central initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana by providing tangible financial incentives and lowering payback periods for residential adopters.
A similar purchase mechanism is already benefiting agricultural producers under the PM-KUSUM scheme, where farmers earn revenue by feeding solar power generated on arable and uncultivated land back into the regional grid.
