Gangtok, Apr 22: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Subordinate Legislation, Rajya Sabha, convened a high-level meeting in Gangtok on Monday as part of its study visit to examine key provisions of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2021, under the Electricity Act, 2023. The meeting focused on solar panel regulations, with a special emphasis on promoting solar power in urban and rural sectors, particularly in the Northeast region.

Chaired by Milind Murli Deora, Chairperson of the Committee and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), the meeting brought together senior representatives from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, NHPC, NTPC, Power Grid Corporation, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), and Damodar Valley Corporation.

Key discussions revolved around the recent amendments designed to empower electricity consumers, improve service transparency, and encourage the use of renewable energy, especially solar power.

Following the meeting, the Committee engaged with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), and major public sector banks including State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of India, UCO Bank, and Indian Bank. Banks presented their initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at facilitating rooftop solar installations through accessible credit and financial inclusion.

The meetings concluded with interactive sessions, where members discussed region-specific challenges and proposed solutions to improve the outreach and efficiency of solar energy schemes, along with strategies for raising consumer awareness about their rights and the long-term benefits of solar power adoption.