Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced the launch of the Bihar Free Electricity Scheme 2025, under which every domestic consumer in the state will receive up to 125 units of free electricity per month starting from August 1, 2025. This decision was shared by Nitish Kumar himself on social media, and is being seen as a major welfare move ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Bihar Free Electricity Scheme
This new free electricity scheme in Bihar continues the government’s focus on providing affordable and accessible electricity for all, and comes at a time when rising household costs have become a key concern. With this announcement, nearly 1 crore 67 lakh families in Bihar will no longer have to pay for their first 125 units of electricity each month, making daily life easier and reducing the financial burden on millions of households.
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What is Bihar Free Electricity Scheme?
Bihar Free Electricity Scheme is a government initiative to provide up to 125 units of free electricity to every domestic household in the state, starting from 1 August 2025. Announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, this scheme covers all residential connections, irrespective of income category, and is expected to benefit over 1.67 crore families. The government has made it clear that from the July bill cycle, no domestic consumer will be charged for their first 125 units of power.
The cost of electricity is a major monthly expense for most Indian families. By making the first 125 units free for all, the Bihar government is directly reducing this burden, especially benefiting low and middle-income families, daily wage workers, and the rural poor. It also improves quality of life, enabling the use of basic electrical appliances for lighting, cooling, and communication without fear of high bills.
Bihar Free Electricity Scheme Highlights
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Bihar Free Electricity Scheme (2025) |
| Benefit | Free electricity for up to 125 units per month per household |
| Effective Date | From 1st August 2025 (on July bill onwards) |
| Target Beneficiaries | All domestic consumers in Bihar |
| Total Families Benefited | 1.67 crore (16.7 million) households |
| Additional Initiative | Solar energy installations under Kutir Jyoti Yojana |
| Estimated Solar Capacity | 10,000 MW in 3 years |
Major Announcements by the Chief Minister
- Free Power for All: All domestic users in Bihar will receive up to 125 units of free electricity every month. This benefit starts from the July bill, payable in August 2025.
- Widespread Benefit: Around 1 crore 67 lakh families are expected to benefit, covering virtually every household in Bihar.
- Expansion of Solar Power: In the next three years, Bihar aims to add up to 10,000 MW of solar energy capacity. This will make the state less dependent on external sources and support the free power scheme’s long-term sustainability.
- Kutir Jyoti Yojana: For extremely poor families, the state government will cover the entire cost of installing solar energy systems on rooftops or public places nearby. For others, the government will provide appropriate support to make solar adoption easy and affordable.
Solar Push: Bihar’s Big Step Towards Renewable Energy
Alongside the free electricity promise, Nitish Kumar announced a large-scale solar push. Under the Kutir Jyoti Yojana:
- The poorest families will get solar plants installed free of cost, paid fully by the government.
- Other households will receive government support to install solar panels on rooftops or at nearby public locations.
- Bihar aims to reach a solar power capacity of 10,000 megawatts in the next three years, making it a leader in clean and renewable energy in India.
This approach is not just about making electricity affordable, but also about making Bihar self-reliant and environmentally responsible.
How to Apply for Scheme Benefits?
- No separate application is required for the free 125 units, all registered domestic electricity consumers will automatically get this benefit in their monthly bill from August 2025 onwards.
- For the solar scheme under Kutir Jyoti Yojana, extremely poor families will be identified by the state, and eligible families will be contacted for installation. Other families interested in rooftop solar may apply through government channels (detailed process to be announced soon).
- Consumers can contact their local power utility or government office for updates, or check the official Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) website for further notifications.
Expected Impact
- Immediate reduction in electricity costs for almost every household in Bihar
- Boost in household savings and standard of living
- Encouragement for households to use legal and metered connections, improving power infrastructure and revenue for the state
- Major growth in Bihar’s renewable energy sector, leading to cleaner air and more jobs
- Greater energy security and less dependence on costly power purchases