According to the "utility-led aggregation" (ULA) model, 200 of the approximately 450 households in Matikahara village, Ganjam district, Orissa, India, have installed rooftop solar systems. The initiative aims to promote the use of clean energy and effectively reduce the cost of electricity.

Gangjam County Chief Executive V. Kelsi Vasan and Chatlabur Legislative Councillor Krushnah Chandra Nayak attended the ceremony to inaugurate the village. The implementing party is Tata Power Southern Orissa Power Distribution Limited (TPSODL). According to officials, each beneficiary of the project is equipped with a 1 kW solar energy system, which is expected to reduce household electricity expenditure and support environmentally friendly energy use.

Since the introduction of the ULA model last year, beneficiary households have to bear the cost of components, meters and installation of Rs 5622. Ganjam County Government said it has provided additional financial support to eligible families. TPSODL is responsible for the full process of the project, including installation and quality assurance, and provides a five-year system component warranty and a 25-year solar panel warranty.

The county administrator said that beneficiary households are expected to receive continuous and stable power supply, and electricity prices have been reduced. He called for more residents to participate in the planned rooftop solar projects. He also revealed that the county government is actively coordinating all parties to further promote the popularization of solar energy at the village level of autonomy.

Senator Nayak noted that the initiative demonstrated the Government's determination to promote affordable clean energy in rural areas and stressed that the ULA model, with its low cost advantages, would encourage wider adoption.