Chhattisgarh leads Indiawith first virtual net metering

 

 

 

CHHATTISGARH has achieved a national milestone by becoming the first state in India to implement Virtual Net Metering (VNM) under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The pioneering installation at Parthific Pacific Residential Society in Raipur enables multiple apartments to share benefits from a single rooftop solar system, paving the way for scalable green energy adoption in housing complexes. Installing rooftop solar panels has long been challenging for flat owners in residential societies due to space and coordination issues. VNM addresses this with bidirectional meters at the central solar plant and individual meters for participating consumers. Energy credits are distributed proportionally among families, simplifying installation and ensuring fair benefits without the need for individual setups. At Parthific Pacific, a 60 kW rooftop solar plant installed under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) model now serves around 20 families.

 

Residents collectively invested approximately 24 lakh, with each contributing 1.2 lakh. They received a central government subsidy of 78,000 per family and an additional 30,000 from the state government. The system is projected to save each household 31,500 annually while providing access to 300 units of bill credits, offsetting their electricity consumption based on capital contributions. Beneficiaries hailed the initiative as transformative. “Living in an apartment made individual solar setups nearly impossible, but VNM offers cost savings, economies of scale, and proportional credits,” one resident noted. Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) officials expressed optimism, stating they will prioritize expanding VNM to other apartments and societies statewide following this success.

 

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the project as a key step in advancing renewable energy. “It sets a benchmark for other states and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of clean, green energy, connecting more people to solar benefits,” he said. Chhattisgarh State Power Company Chairman (Distribution and Generation), Dr. Rohit Yadav IAS, called VNM “a viable game-changer for urban consumers adding it slashes bills and represents the best path to adopting clean energy.”