Solar Power Saves Rs 1 Crore Power Bills at Pune Municipal Corporation

The standing committee has approved the proposal in this regard. The civic body spends around Rs 4 crore annually on paying electricity bills of various properties owned by the civic administration.

Solar Power can save around Rs 1 crore annually on electricity bills at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) thanks to the civic body’s plan to install solar power plants on civic properties.

As per reports, as many as 14 rooftops solar plants will be set up on PMC buildings.

Murulidhar Mohol who is the standing committee chairman said, “We have given approval for the project. The project will serve more than one purpose. It will help in saving electricity bills. We can also promote renewable energy.”

He said that PMC has no plans to make any financial investment in setting up plants. Only the space for setting up plants will be given by PMC.

The standing committee has approved the proposal in this regard. The civic body spends around Rs 4 crore annually on paying electricity bills of various properties owned by the civic administration.

The capacity of these plants ranges between 100 MW and 500 MW. PMC will have to pay Rs 3.62 kWh to use electricity generated from these plants.

The proposal states that the company will monitor, operate and maintain the plants for 25 years. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) will also support to carry out the work on these plants. PMC will carry out the project on the lines of Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO).

In 2016, Pune was included in a list of “solar cities” The initiative was made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) is coordinating the implementation of the project.

According to the PMC official, “The move to install solar plants is one step under solar city initiatives. PMC has also planned a project under smart cities mission for promoting renewable energy. Power generation from 14 civic properties will boost that motive too,” said a PMC official.

Source: ET