Punjab has set criteria for getting the solar panel financing scheme as the provincial government called for gradually expanding the ‘Roshan Ghar’ to more people.

According to the government, consumers involved in electricity theft, having multiple metres, faulty or tampered metres and those who do not pay their bills would not be eligible for the scheme.

Defaulting consumers will also be excluded from the scheme and those with defective metres would also be unable to avail of it.

Earlier this month, the Punjab cabinet approved the “Roshan Gharana” programme under which people using up to 200 units could get free solar panels while those using up to 500 units would receive solar panels on a 10 per cent payment. The Punjab government would pay 90 per cent of the total amount for solar panels.

The interest-free loan would be provided to power consumers on a five-year instalment plan.

Such conditions would apply to all those who are seeking free or loan-based solar panels, they said and added that the revised PC-I of the project has been submitted to the P&D Board for approval. Once approved by the P&D Board, the implementation of the project would commence soon.

Intended people can check their eligibility for the scheme by sending the bill reference number and computerised ID card number to 8800. Successful applicants would be informed through SMS after the PITB lottery draw. The district administration and DISCOs will verify the details of the successful applicants.

The solar panels and systems would have barcodes and QR codes to prevent them from being sold in the open market. In the first phase, more than 100,000 consumers would be provided solar panels through the lottery.

The performance and readings of the installed solar panel systems would be monitored through the Solar PV app. After reviewing the success of the test run, the scheme would be officially launched from August 14.

At a meeting in Lahore, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz instructed the authorities to expedite the implementation of the scheme.

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She admitted that the rising prices of wheat and electricity were severely impacting the economic situation of the people. Maryam vowed to provide relief to the people.

Maryam expressed her desire to ensure that every citizen of Punjab receives relief in their electricity bills. The scope of the scheme would be gradually expanded, she added.