Sindh government has proposed free solar panels and free electricity to vulnerable low-income families, who are bearing brunt of back-breaking inflation and inflated utility bills.
The new proposal includes a cost-free installation of solar panels, helping people to deal with soaring energy bills. The provincial government took these steps at the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who told energy minister to conduct feasibility study on grid stations.
Cheif Minister said two million households will be equipped with solar home system, which would include a 100-watt panel, three LED bulbs, a 35-watt DC fan, and a battery backup lasting six hours with mobile charging ports.
Free Solar Panel Scheme
Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Hussain revealed that cost per solar panel system would be around Rs5,500 if purchased in bulk, suggested setting up six micro-grids, each with a capacity of 75 kilowatts, to serve 100 households.
These micro-grids, established at the divisional level, would provide 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. The cost for each grid connection for the solar parks would be around Rs30 million.
Minister further mentioned that provincial government plans to establish three solar parks with a combined capacity of 350 megawatts. Shah was of view that these people would soon hear good news regarding electricity as the government, with assistance from the World Bank, begins the process of distributing 200,000 solar panels.
He also revealed that the provincial government is working to launch a program to provide 100 units of free electricity and formulated an energy policy, for which they are now seeking public suggestions.
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