Patna: A little over a decade ago, Bihar was synonymous with power shortages. Frequent outages, inadequate generation capacity and a widening demand-supply gap constrained both economic activity and quality of life. Today, the state presents a strikingly different picture. Having moved from an energy deficit of nearly 700 MW to a surplus of around 3,195 MW in 2025-26, Bihar is now embarking on a new phase of its energy journey — one powered by the sun.The transformation is not merely about generating more electricity. It is about reshaping the relationship between citizens and energy. Through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, households are no longer just consumers of power; they are becoming producers as well.The scale of the shift is already visible. Around 20,000 domestic households have installed rooftop solar systems, collectively adding nearly 70 MW of capacity. Patna has emerged as the centre of this movement, accounting for the largest concentration of domestic rooftop installations in the state. The momentum comes at a time when Bihar’s power sector is achieving milestones once considered unimaginable. On May 24, 2026, the state successfully met a record peak demand of 8,822 MW.The solar push rests on a simple but powerful idea – reducing electricity bills while expanding clean energy generation. The scheme offers substantial financial support to households willing to invest in rooftop systems. A 1 kW installation costing about Rs 60,000 receives a subsidy of Rs 30,000, while a 2 kW system attracts support of Rs 60,000. For larger 3 kW systems, households receive a subsidy of Rs 78,000. So far, nearly Rs 132 crore has been disbursed under the programme.“The expenditure of setting up solar plants, in the long run, is much cheaper than using thermal energy, which is already on the verge of depletion,” said Dilip Kumar, chief engineer of Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd and project director of Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (Breda). “Solar energy is a renewable resource, and if it is not tapped into, then it is being wasted,” he added.Access to finance has also played a crucial role. Nearly half the applicants have sought loans through the designated portal, making rooftop solar accessible to households that may otherwise have struggled with the initial investment. The response has been strong across both distribution companies. South Bihar recorded more than 32,000 applications and over 13,000 installations, while north Bihar received nearly 40,000 applications and completed more than 6,000 installations.Patna leads the state with around 7,000 installations. Other districts are steadily catching up with Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Samastipur and Bhagalpur emerging as important centres of adoption. The trend reflects a growing awareness of the economic benefits of solar power, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.“The demography in town and urban areas is more aware. Moreover, they have high consumption requirements and are also educated and mostly well-to-do, which is why they can go ahead and invest in turning their residence into solar,” said Bhupendra Umrao, electrical executive engineer, SBPDCL.The economics are compelling. Rooftop solar panels typically last 25 years and require limited maintenance. Most systems recover their installation costs within four to five years. The remaining lifespan effectively translates into low-cost electricity generation. Net metering further strengthens the proposition by allowing households to export surplus electricity to the grid and offset future consumption. In effect, consumers become “prosumers”, simultaneously producing and consuming energy.The significance of this shift becomes clearer when viewed against Bihar’s recent history. Following the bifurcation of the state in 2000, much of the generation infrastructure remained with Jharkhand, leaving Bihar heavily dependent on external sources. In 2009-10, peak demand stood at nearly 2,200 MW, but only around 1,500 MW could be supplied. Even in 2014-15, the state faced a deficit of nearly 670 MW.What followed was a sustained period of investment in transmission networks, procurement capacity and institutional reform. By 2025-26, Bihar’s available generation and procurement capacity had expanded to nearly 12,000 MW, enabling it to comfortably meet growing demand. Having secured energy availability, the state is now focusing on sustainability.Equally significant is the second pillar of Bihar’s solar strategy — the inclusion of low-income households. The state has targeted 10 lakh Kutir Jyoti consumers from a larger pool of 58 lakh beneficiaries. Under the scheme, eligible families receive a 1.1 kW solar system free of cost. The Centre contributes Rs 33,000 per household, while the state bears the remaining cost.To drive adoption, the programme relies on JEEViKA self-help groups rather than conventional marketing campaigns. Women members visit villages, explain the benefits of solar energy and facilitate enrolment. The approach operates in saturation mode, covering all eligible households in a panchayat before moving elsewhere. Nalanda and Munger have emerged as early success stories.