‘2.21 lakh AAY families to get free electricity units’

Sajid Raina

Srinagar, Feb 5 : Nearly 16,800 households in Jammu and Kashmir have been solarised under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, marking steady progress in residential renewable energy adoption, according to the Economic Survey Report 2025–26, tabled in the Assembly on Thursday.

The survey, as accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that out of a total target of 83,550 households across the Union Territory, 16,799 homes have been solarised so far, resulting in the commissioning of a cumulative solar capacity of 62.11 megawatts (MW).

Of this total, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has contributed 34.60 MW, while the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has added 27.51 MW, the report said.

The survey adds that these solar installations span the domestic, institutional, social and government sectors, aligning with Jammu and Kashmir’s renewable energy targets. Overall, the Union Territory has installed a total of 130.87 MW of solar capacity to date.

In addition, around 4,000 households have been covered under the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Power Plant Scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The Economic Survey further stated that the MNRE has approved a project, based on recommendations from the J&K government, to provide 200 free units of electricity to 2.21 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana through the Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) model.

Implementation of the project is expected to begin shortly, the survey added.—(KNO)