India, May 25 -- This month, Chandigarh didn't just bask in the sun-it started harnessing it. CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society) has launched a pilot rooftop solar project under the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model in Sector 51's government housing. No upfront cost for residents, reduced electricity bills, and rental income from terraces. One housing society alone could earn Rs.30 lakh annually by leasing its rooftops.

It's a promising prototype that invites deeper questions-not just about policy, but about the broader potential and implications for the city's future.

From consumers to prosumers

At the heart of this solar transformation lies a deceptively simple tool: net meteri...