Most Indians believe electricity from the grid is cheap.
It isn’t. It only looks cheap because the real cost is hidden in monthly bills, fuel charges, outages, and future tariff hikes.
When you compare grid electricity with solar power over 10–25 years, solar is not an alternative — it is the financially smarter choice.
Let’s break down the truth.
What You Actually Pay for Grid Electricity
The unit rate printed on your bill is only part of the story.
A typical Indian consumer pays:
• ₹6–₹10 per unit for domestic users
• ₹8–₹14 per unit for commercial buildings
• ₹10–₹18 per unit for industries
And this does not stay constant. Electricity tariffs increase almost every year due to:
• Fuel cost adjustments
• Power purchase cost
• Transmission losses
• Government levies
• Infrastructure deficits
Over the last 10 years, electricity prices in India have risen by 6–8% annually.
That means if you pay ₹8 per unit today, you could be paying ₹14–₹16 per unit in 10 years.
You are not locking a price.
You are signing up for endless increases.
What Power Cuts Really Cost You
Now add the hidden cost.
When the grid fails, people switch to:
• Diesel generators
• Inverters
• Batteries
Diesel power costs ₹22–₹30 per unit.
Inverter power costs ₹15–₹20 per unit.
Every power cut is silently draining money.
Solar doesn’t just reduce bills.
It removes uncertainty.
What Solar Power Actually Costs
A rooftop solar system is a one-time investment that produces electricity for 25+ years.
Once installed:
• No fuel cost
• No tariff hikes
• No dependency on grid
• Minimal maintenance
Over its lifetime, the cost of solar electricity works out to ₹2–₹3 per unit.
Compare that with:
• ₹8–₹18 per unit from the grid
• ₹20+ per unit from diesel
Solar is not cheaper.
It is drastically cheaper.
Real Example
A business consuming 10,000 units per month at ₹10 per unit spends:
₹1,00,000 per month
₹12,00,000 per year
Over 10 years = ₹1.2 crore (excluding tariff increases)
A solar plant that covers 80% of this load can pay for itself in 3–4 years and then generate free electricity for another 20+ years.
Solar Locks Your Energy Cost
When you install solar, you fix your electricity price for the next 25 years.
No fuel price
No government hikes
No surprises
That stability alone is worth millions for businesses.
Conclusion
Grid electricity in India is not cheap.
It is unpredictable, rising, and financially dangerous.
Solar power is not an expense.
It is a long-term financial asset that protects you from inflation, outages, and energy uncertainty.
If you plan to use electricity for the next 10–25 years, solar is not optional.
