Kerala is considering a new rule that could make rooftop solar panels mandatory for homes that use more than 500 units of electricity a month. The proposal finds place in the draft Electricity Policy for 2025, and is aimed at nudging heavy users towards cleaner and more sustainable power sources.
At present, households that fall into this bracket often end up with monthly power bills exceeding ₹5,000. The idea behind the move is to encourage these consumers to rely less on the grid and more on the sun.
Kerala is already doing fairly well on the rooftop solar front. According to recent figures, the state ranks second in the country when it comes to the number of rooftop solar systems installed. Gujarat leads the list, with Rajasthan in third place.
What works in Kerala’s favour is its housing pattern. Many homes are built close to one another but still offer enough space for solar panels on the roof. This makes it easier to install rooftop systems, compared to states where high-rises or apartments are more common.
Under the central government’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, households can receive a subsidy of up to ₹78,000 for installing rooftop solar panels.
If the Kerala government decides to chip in with state-level incentives, it could soften the financial blow for families and possibly make the idea of mandatory solar a little easier to accept.
At the moment, Kerala adds about 30 to 35 megawatts of on-grid solar capacity every month. If this pace continues, experts suggest that solar could eventually overtake hydropower as the state’s primary source of electricity.
That’s not a certainty, but it’s something policy planners seem to be keeping in mind.
Officials from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are calling for smarter electricity use, especially when it comes to solar power.
Their suggestion: shift your heavy-duty tasks—like using washing machines, charging electric vehicles, cooking with electric stoves, and running other big appliances—to daylight hours.
That’s when solar panels perform best and reduce the need to draw power from the grid.
With summer temperatures rising, Kerala is bracing for higher electricity consumption and the possibility of power shortages. Rooftop solar, say experts, could play a key role in managing this pressure. Whether it’ll be enough is unclear, but policymakers seem to believe it’s a step worth taking.
The final version of the policy is still in the works. But if the draft holds, households consuming over 500 units each month may soon have to plan for a solar rooftop of their own.
