Odisha among top 10 states in rooftop solar rollout, reviews DISCOM performance

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing states in rooftop solar adoption, with over 1.56 lakh installations completed under various schemes, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said while reviewing the performance of the State’s four power distribution companies (DISCOMs) on Saturday. She also directed the utilities to accelerate renewable energy initiatives and strengthen power distribution infrastructure.

The review was conducted during the Board Meetings of TPCODL, TPNODL, TPSODL and TPWODL in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics & IT and Energy Department Vishal Kumar Dev, GRIDCO CMD, and senior officials of the four utilities.

According to officials, Odisha has achieved 1,56,606 rooftop solar installations, including 92,280 under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and 64,326 under the ULA Scheme, placing the State among the top ten performers in the country. Garg also asked the DISCOMs to speed up implementation of the PM-KUSUM 2.0 scheme to expand the use of renewable energy. The utilities were also appreciated for receiving awards from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the ‘Month of Solar Campaign’ for their performance under the rooftop solar programme.

The Board observed that Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses have consistently declined across all four DISCOMs since their takeover, indicating improvements in operational efficiency and financial health.

The meeting also reviewed the quality and reliability of power supply. The distribution companies were commended for maintaining uninterrupted electricity supply during Rath Yatra 2026, effectively handling peak demand and achieving zero power transformer failures during the festival.

Reviewing investments made over the past five years, the Board noted that capital expenditure by the utilities has significantly strengthened Odisha’s power distribution network by expanding infrastructure, improving safety standards and enhancing service reliability across the State.

The State Government also announced that all government electricity connections will be shifted from post-paid to pre-paid smart meters from August 2026. Government consumers opting for pre-paid smart metering will receive a four per cent rebate on their monthly electricity bills as part of efforts to promote efficient energy management and accelerate smart meter adoption.