In a bold move ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that all domestic consumers in the state will receive free electricity up to 125 units starting August 1, 2025. Taking to his official ‘X’ account, Nitish declared, “We have been providing electricity to everyone at affordable rates from the very beginning. Now, we have decided that from August 1, 2025, that is, from the July bill itself, all domestic consumers in the state will not have to pay any money for electricity up to 125 units. This will benefit a total of 1.67 crore families in the state.”
Going a step further, Kumar unveiled an ambitious plan to expand solar power generation in the state. Over the next three years, with the consent of consumers, the government will install rooftop solar plants on homes or at nearby public spaces to boost energy availability. “We have also decided that in the next three years, with the consent of all these domestic consumers, solar power plants will be installed on their rooftops or at nearby public places to provide benefits,” he said.
For extremely poor households covered under the Kutir Jyoti scheme, the government will fully fund the cost of installing solar panels. For others, financial assistance will be provided. Kumar added, “This means domestic consumers will no longer have to bear any cost for electricity up to 125 units, and at the same time, it is estimated that within the next three years, up to 10,000 megawatts of solar energy will be available in the state.”
The announcement triggered swift reactions across political circles. JD(U) chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar praised the decision, calling it a testament to Nitish Kumar’s pro-poor policies. “Nitish’s decision to give free electricity shows his resolve to serve poor sections of the society in the best possible way. We purchase electricity at the highest rate, and still give subsidies,” he said.
Highlighting the impact on marginalised communities, he added, “Dalits and minorities struggle against challenges in their lives, as free electricity will be of immense help to them. It will script another chapter of social transformation in the state under the leadership of Nitish.”
Taking a political swipe at the opposition RJD, Neeraj Kumar remarked, “RJD which wanted to lighten lanterns in people's houses has suffered a political shock of 33,000 volts.”
