Environmental friendly power generated from solar photovoltaic panels has reduced our electricity costs to a large extent. By generating our own 'clean and green electricity' it seems that as we have become free from the electricity bills and charges feel those who have installed Solar Photovoltaic Panel System on the roofs of their houses and are generating environment-friendly power. Reiterating views of these consumers, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala Mr. Kumar Amit said that Patiala is leading district in the state that converts solar energy into pollution-free electricity. 230 rooftop solar systems (RTS) have been installed in the district so far which are generating 2100 Kv electricity and owners of these plants are getting the benefits of Punjab Government’s Net Metering Policy. “Households can save up to 90% of their electricity bills if they install solar photovoltaic cells on the roofs of their houses”, says the DC.He said that the largest plant in the district is located at Samana Road in an industrial unit with a capacity of 500 KW. He called upon the residents of Patiala to come forward for generating their own clean and green electricity through solar panels and get maximum benefit from the government's Net Metering scheme.“Every citizen has an opportunity to participate in this clean energy transition by adopting rooftop solar panels to meet their rising power needs. Scaling-up rooftop solar is a major part of India’s renewable energy ambitions,” said DC Kumar Amit. “Rooftop solar is not only crucial to meeting our renewable energy targets but will also facilitate a civil society movement to support the energy transition,” he added.
Meanwhile, a retired bank officer who has installed 7 kilowatts power plant in Dhaliwal colony of Patiala and himself has commissioned a 7-kw of a three-phase plant, said that 30% subsidy on this plant encourages to put up such plants. Even if this subsidy was not available, he would still have installed the plant, because having a plant of 7 Kv is akin to planting 1067 saplings and also helps to eliminate the need for huge payments for power.Sukhdev Singh, who has installed 7-kilowatt solar panels in the Sewak colony a year ago, said that his power bills have reduced drastically. He claimed that the electricity bill which was about Rs 80,000 a year ago has now come down to around Rs 6,000. He says life is much more stress-free and hassle-free, says Sukhdev Singh. He says, "No electricity bill for the lifetime is it not more than a dream comes true". “One-kilowatt plant costs about Rs 58000 to Rs 62000 but the government is providing the subsidy of 30 per cent on solar plants as per rates fixed by PEDA, to the customers of PSPCL who wish to switch to solar power”, says District Manager, Punjab Energy Development Agency Patiala Harjot Singh Sandhu.He said that the consumers of Punjab State Power Corporation can get a plant of 1 kilowatt to 10 MW capacity. For more information, any aspirant can contact PEDA Patiala's office at Sirhind road. The enthusiasm of the people of Patiala for the installation of such plants is constantly increasing, which is commendable, he added.