The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has approved the waiver of application fees and meter testing charges for domestic consumers installing rooftop solar systems. The decision is expected to encourage more households across the state to adopt solar energy under the central government’s PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by reducing the upfront costs and simplifying the installation process.
The order, issued on July 9, 2026, follows a joint petition submitted on June 22, 2026, by North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL). The case was heard by the BERC bench comprising Chairman Amir Subhani and Legal Member P.S. Yadav under Case No. 29/2026. After reviewing the petition, the commission approved the proposal, allowing the two distribution companies to remove certain technical and administrative charges for eligible domestic consumers.
Before this decision, consumers applying for rooftop solar systems were required to pay fees related to application processing, load changes, meter testing, and equipment replacement, as specified in the FY 2026-27 Tariff Order. These charges added to the initial cost of installing rooftop solar systems and often discouraged households from participating in the net-metering programme.
To address these concerns, NBPDCL and SBPDCL requested BERC to relax Regulation 8.1 of the BERC Net and Gross Metering Regulations, 2018. The regulation allowed distribution companies to recover miscellaneous processing charges from consumers. By approving the petition, the commission has now removed these charges for domestic consumers covered under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
During its review, BERC also considered communications issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on January 8, 2026. The ministry highlighted that the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana had already benefited more than 10 lakh households within its first year. However, it noted that achieving the national target of one crore rooftop solar installations would require states to simplify approval procedures and reduce financial barriers for consumers.
The MNRE encouraged states to waive technical and processing fees for rooftop solar applicants and pointed out that states such as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat had already introduced similar exemptions. BERC observed that Bihar’s decision is in line with these efforts to promote faster adoption of rooftop solar systems.
The commission also noted that the fee waiver would not negatively affect the financial position of the state’s distribution companies. The central government has allocated ₹4,950 crore as incentives for Discoms to compensate for operational revenue losses arising from such exemptions. Around ₹2,100 crore from this incentive fund has already been released to distribution companies across the country.
BERC clarified that the waiver applies only to domestic rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Commercial consumers and projects implemented under other categories, including the ULA-RESCO mode, are not covered by this order.
By removing these administrative charges, Bihar aims to make rooftop solar installations more affordable and accessible for households. The decision is expected to support greater consumer participation in clean energy generation while contributing to the state’s renewable energy goals and India’s broader transition towards sustainable electricity.
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