Housing societies in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are significantly cutting electricity costs by adopting rooftop solar systems.
Pune housing societies cut power bills with rooftop solar, aided by govt subsidies and OPEX models, driving clean energy growth in Maharashtra.
Park Royale in Wakad, with 433 flats, scaled its solar capacity to 172.5 kW, slashing power bills from ₹62 lakh to ₹13.5 lakh annually, including for its sewage treatment plant. Society chairman Manoj Shinkar noted that maintenance charges dropped from ₹3 to ₹2.5 per sq.ft. La Melosa Society saw monthly bills drop to ₹3,500 after installing a 76-kW system, expecting a two-year cost recovery. Smaller societies like Bhagyashree Apartments in Kothrud also fully transitioned to solar, powering all 10 flats. Rising solar adoption is driven by the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, offering ₹18,000/kW subsidies for housing societies. Experts recommend the OPEX model for those lacking funds, where third-party vendors install and maintain systems. Solar firms urge simplification of the government portal for better access, as demand continues to surge across Maharashtra.
