South Mumbaikars will now have another option of getting electricity, this time through solar energy. Tata Power on Tuesday launched a complete rooftop solution that will supply electricity to any housing society, who install solar panels. Currently, the presence of rooftop solar energy among residential consumers is negligible; despite the fact that India is third largest country generating solar power. This will be for the first time that a major power distributor like Tata Power is coming forth to help residential societies in installing rooftop solar panels. "It is open for all residential societies. It is not necessary that they should be Tata Power consumers only," said Praveer Sinha, CEO and MD, Tata Power. This move comes at a time when the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) — that gets its supply from TPC and then distribute electricity to their 10 lakh consumers in the island city — is looking out for other power distributors. For years, BEST has had a power purchase agreement with TPC. But over the past several months now, the BEST is unhappy with TPC targeting commercial consumers and big housing societies, which made them look for other distributors. The BEST has proposed to buy electricity from the lowest bidder. They have also divided their 750 MW demand for electricity on hour basis. The BEST Undertaking also claims to have rooftop solar power as an alternative. "We already have a net-metering scheme for rooftop solar panel consumers who are in good number," said Dr Surendrakumar Bagde, General Manager, BEST Undertaking. Sources in the BEST said that they have prepared details for the next power supplier and that they are in talks with distribution companies. "Our discussions with BEST is going on," added Sinha when asked about the power purchase agreement with BEST. ALTERNATIVE 'This complete rooftop solution will supply electricity to any housing society, who install solar panels. Currently, the presence of rooftop solar energy among residential consumers is negligible.

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