AC-কুলার চালালেও বিল শূন্য

গরমে AC/কুলার চালালেও বিদ্যুৎ বিল শূন্য — সরকারi PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana-তে rooftop solar-এ ₹78,000 পর্যন্ত subsidy; 3 kW system দৈনিক ~12–15 unit generate করে AC load offset। free AC নয় — solar install করে bill eliminate করার scheme।

Social media viral claim: “গরমে দেদার AC, কুলার চালালেও বিল আসবে শূন্য! দারুণ সুযোগ দিচ্ছে সরকার” — headline sensational, core partially true। Government free AC/cooler distribute করছে না; PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (February 2024 launch, MNRE) residential rooftop solar-এ subsidy দিয়ে monthly electricity bill eliminate করার target — summer-এ AC/cooler load highest, solar generation peak coincides — Bengali middle-class family-দের জন্য practical summer 2026 opportunity। Deadline March 2027 — 1 crore household target।

Scheme reality — free AC নাকি free electricity?

Clarification critical: PM Surya Ghar = rooftop solar panel installation subsidy + net metering। Household solar power generate করে daytime load run; surplus grid-এ export — night AC use grid draw, but monthly net bill near zero if system sized correctly। “300 units free per month” marketing framing — actual mechanism: solar generation offsets consumption। AC 1.5 ton ~1.5 kWh/hr × 8 hr = 12 unit/day summer; cooler ~0.2 kWh/hr much less — combined family 300–400 unit/month summer possible without solar। 3 kW system ~12–15 unit/day generate (Bengal sunshine average) — significant offset, not magic zero without proper sizing।

Subsidy structure — 2026 updated

System size	Central subsidy	Approx total cost	Net after subsidy
1 kW	₹30,000	₹60,000–80,000	₹30,000–50,000
2 kW	₹60,000	₹1,00,000–1,20,000	₹40,000–60,000
3 kW	₹78,000 (max)	₹1,40,000–1,80,000	₹62,000–1,02,000
5 kW+	₹78,000 capped	₹2,00,000+	Higher capacity extra cost self

Subsidy DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) — installation + DISCOM inspection + net meter commission-এর পর bank account-এ credit। Customer upfront full payment (or green loan), subsidy post-verification 30–60 days typical। ALMM-listed panels/inverters mandatory — non-listed product subsidy ineligible। Sanctioned load 10 kW or below residential connection only।

AC/কুলার + solar — Bengal summer math

Kolkata middle-class household summer bill scenario: 1 AC (8 hr/day) + fans + fridge + cooler occasional = 350–500 unit/month। WBSEDCL slab ₹7–9/unit average → bill ₹2,500–4,500/month April–June। 3 kW rooftop ~360–450 unit/month generate (location/orientation dependent) — bill ₹500–1,000 or net zero with efficient usage। Cooler alone ~50–80 unit/month — 1 kW solar sufficient cooler + basic load। AC primary load: minimum 2–3 kW system recommend; one 1.5 ton AC daytime + fans covered, night grid draw reduced not eliminated unless battery storage (not subsidized under this scheme)।

Application process — step by step

Visit pmsuryaghar.gov.in — electricity consumer number + mobile register
Select MNRE empanelled vendor from portal list (West Bengal DISCOM: WBSEDCL/CESC)
Vendor site survey — roof space, shadow, structural feasibility
DISCOM feasibility approval — net meter application
Installation — ALMM panels + grid-connected inverter
DISCOM inspection + net meter install
Subsidy claim portal-এ submit — DBT to bank

West Bengal state additional subsidy limited vs Delhi/UP (₹30,000 extra some states) — central ₹78,000 primary benefit Bengal। Processing time 2–4 months total typical — summer 2026 apply now monsoon install → next summer full benefit।

কাদের জন্য best opportunity

Own house rooftop (not rented without owner permission)
Monthly bill ₹2,000–5,000 summer — ROI 3–5 year
AC + cooler both use — high consumption maximize savings
Middle-class — subsidy 40–60% cost cover
Long-term resident — 25-year panel life
Not for: rented without roof rights, shaded roof, sanctioned load above 10 kW commercial

Viral claim vs fact — quick check

Claim	Fact
Free AC/cooler from government	❌ False — no free appliance distribution
Zero electricity bill possible	✅ True with correctly sized solar + net metering
₹78,000 subsidy	✅ True — 3 kW max central subsidy
Instant bill zero after apply	❌ False — 2–4 month install process
Works with AC running	✅ Partial — daytime full offset; night needs grid or battery

Green loan ও payback

SBI, PNB, HDFC green solar loan — subsidy-পর net ₹62,000–1,00,000 finance 5 year EMI ~₹1,300–2,100/month। Pre-solar bill ₹3,500/month → post-solar ₹200–800/month → net save ₹1,500–2,500/month — loan EMI offset possible 3–4 year payback। CESC Kolkata + WBSEDCL both net metering support — confirm local DISCOM before vendor select।

Common mistakes — apply করার আগে

Viral post share করে “free AC” assume করা — vendor fraud trap: non-ALMM cheap panel subsidy reject। Rooftop lease agreement read — some vendor 5-year maintenance lock-in। Shadow from water tank/tree — generation 30% drop possible site survey essential। Over-size 10 kW residential without load — subsidy capped 3 kW only, extra cost self-funded। Bengal monsoon install timing: structure waterproofing check; inverter location ventilated covered space। Consumer forum complaint pattern: subsidy delay 90+ days — portal application number track, DISCOM follow-up document preserve।

আমাদের মতামত

Viral headline misleading if read as “free AC” — but PM Surya Ghar summer 2026 genuinely strong middle-class opportunity। Bengal heatwave-এ AC bill anxiety real; rooftop solar long-term fix, not instant freebie। Apply deadline March 2027 — delay cost subsidy risk if target met early। বাড়িতে solar panel গাইড ও AC বিদ্যুৎ বিল হিসাব পড়ে system size plan করুন।

Sources

Free AC মিলবে?

না — scheme rooftop solar subsidy; AC নিজে কিনতে হবে, solar bill offset করবে।

₹78,000 কীভাবে পাব?

pmsuryaghar.gov.in apply → empanelled vendor install → DISCOM approval → DBT bank-এ।

ভাড়া flat eligible?

Roof rights + owner permission + consumer name match required; typically owner apply।

AC রাতে চালালে bill zero?

রাতে grid draw হবে; net monthly bill drastically reduce, full zero rare without battery।

Bengal extra subsidy?

Central ₹78,000 primary; Delhi/UP-র মতো state top-up Bengal-এ limited verify portal।