Update: According to the latest update regarding the NEPRA report, there was a miscalculation earlier which misreported the energy production capacity of pending applications by a factor of 1000.
The number of net metering applications in Pakistan has exceeded the country’s total electricity generation capacity, with 4,742 requests currently pending with distribution companies (DISCOs). Due to soaring electricity costs, consumers are increasingly turning to solar net metering.
Documents reveal that pending applications for solar net metering have a combined capacity of 58,822 megawatts (MW), which significantly exceeds the country’s current total power generation capacity of 46,000 MW, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
The highest number of pending applications is with the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), which has 1,363 requests for a total capacity of 12,276 MW. Other notable backlogs include:
- Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) with 117 requests for 6,282 MW,
- Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) with 699 requests for 6,143 MW,
- Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) with 871 requests for 12,399 MW,
- K-Electric with 773 requests for 10,164 MW.
The primary reason cited for delays is the high buy-back rates under the net metering system. NEPRA has called for a balanced revision of the tariff structure to address this issue.
The authority has also suggested prioritizing support for individual solar consumers over large-scale solar projects to achieve better outcomes.
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Seems utterly wrong stats. There must be decimal that is missing while calculating megawatts.
This author is high on something powerfull. 1 mega watt is 1000 kilowatts an average house has 5 to 10 kw instalation. Currently the largest non ipp solar power is 15 megawatts.
Solar panels can produce 10-12% of electricity of their total capacity.
So total electricity production from 58800MW solar panels will be 588MW
Khuda Hafiz to WAPDA. The most corrupt department.
This is fake news . Check the applications vs generation .
Even if every application generate 1 MW electricity (which is impossible since that requires 1 MW of battery backup) even then you d get only 700MV.
The math is wrong.
Good bye to K-Electric too! Most corrupt mafia !
Means we don’t need new power plants??? Just need new lines?
Yes you’re right you should see this episode of Pakistan & Counting they also said the same we have less infrastructure https://youtu.be/_IhB6LkQXLU
This is fake news . Check the applications vs generation .
Even if every application generate 1 MW electricity (which is impossible since that requires 1 MW of battery backup) even then you d get only 700MV.
The math is wrong 🤔
The data doesn’t seem to be correct. 773 applications for 10,000 MW in Karachi. That means the average system being installed is of about 13 MW ?
Gd day
You have the data wrong
What’s your source and who is giving you wrong data
I think this article lacks authenticity, the writer is either not a technical person or he made such claims to get traffic. Either way this is not a great example of journalism.
Seems zeros have been added instead of decimals.
Very well picked.
It’s unfortunate to note that this article is based entirely on flawed and inaccurate data. Iexpect a basic understanding of the subject before publishing such information. As a reminder and for your very kind knowledge, the maximum capacity for a net metering request must remain below the capacity of the transformer to which it is connected. In our distribution system, the majority of transformers are shared units, typically rated around 100KW.
It is v common knowledge that a net metering request on such shared transformers rarely exceeds 7KW.
For perspective, considering 4,742 requests, each with an average load demand of 7KW, the total comes to 33,194KW, or 33MW. This constitutes a mere 0.7% of the total generation capacity—a negligible figure by any standard.
I cannot help but question how such superficial conclusions made their way into publication on a reputed platform like ProPakistani, which has long been valued for its credibility, built through years of trust and connection with readers. It is v disheartening to see that reputation jeopardized by such writers who appear to lack the diligence required for thorough background work.
Finally, and regrettably, I sincerly hope that this apparent oversight is not the result of any undue influence or malintent, possibly sponsored by an IPP.
Exactly. Author mixed KW with MW.
Omg you are correct
It looks like a copypaste article.
consider night hours pl intall wind system where air flow regularly
So does it mean that we are producing more electricity than our demand.
I don’t think so.
It’s unfortunate to note that this article is based entirely on flawed and inaccurate data. Iexpect a basic understanding of the subject before publishing such information. As a reminder and for your very kind knowledge, the maximum capacity for a net metering request must remain below the capacity of the transformer to which it is connected. In our distribution system, the majority of transformers are shared units, typically rated around 100KW.
It is v common knowledge that a net metering request on such shared transformers rarely exceeds 7KW.
For perspective, considering 4,742 requests, each with an average load demand of 7KW, the total comes to 33,194KW, or 33MW. This constitutes a mere 0.7% of the total generation capacity—a negligible figure by any standard.
I cannot help but question how such superficial conclusions made their way into publication on a reputed platform like ProPakistani, which has long been valued for its credibility, built through years of trust and connection with readers. It is v disheartening to see that reputation jeopardized by such writers who appear to lack the diligence required for thorough background work.
Finally, and regrettably, I sincerly hope that this apparent oversight is not the result of any undue influence or malintent, possibly sponsored by an IPP.
Govt should consider exporting electricity to Afghanistan during the day time and take advantage of solar production.
They love to remain in dark even in bright days. Why would they need electricity in the daytime.
Seems exaggeration. Fake data.
It seems as if data is erroneous. It looks as if each of the 4742 applications, each is for an average of 12 MW. There is some error in numbers. A 12 MW solar system is huge.
You are right.
I noticed that each islambadi is applying for a 9 MW connection which is impossible.
9MW means 9000K.
I have 14K system on my roof top. I now compare yourself.
Poor Journalism
Most of these application are from factory’s of industrys
Or they are trying to change the selling rate of soler power to not pay green meter costumer
Seems to be incorrect calculation by the author. This calculation is only possible if most of these applications are from industrial connection
Is that not cause for celebration, we would not need IPPs any more.
Stupid ……. giving out fake news and giving a new reason to create panic and helping the DISCOS to torture people, who are already waiting for months to get their green meters. Get you head out of your …….. hole and stop writing bullshit.
Govt should encourage the applicants and find out solution to bring down tarIff to boost industries and improve economy.
This is fake news . Check the applications vs generation .
Even if every application generate 1 MW electricity (which is impossible since that requires 1 MW of battery backup) even then you d get only 700MV.
The math is wrong in
1 megawatt is upper limit for net metering..
Math does not add up.. Number of megawatts can not be higher than number of applications.. some basic error in reporting g
I say privatise all government departments and you will see how the private companies improve services and also make profit. I am having 14kv solar system installed right now for 27 lak. Not everyone can afford this kind of money and then only Allah knows how long it will last.
That’s how problems start . Every nation that privatized govt debts suffered endlessly .
The NEPRA should not consider the demands of DISCOs when finalising unit rate/ tariffs. The higher demand of netmetering by consumers is due to high electric cost,the Nepra should lower the rate,compatible to production cost.Presently it is approximately 8 times of generating cost.Thus generating demand is reducing.
makes no sense , electricity price is very high and here they say that “total applicants of net metering” only exceed the country’s total electricity capacity then do we even need dams and other power plants in the day ? Makes absolutely no sense to me.
Some serious blunder in calculations.
Probably people unaware that 100 users of 10kVA will produce 1 MW and 10000 users on avg means 100 MW all domestic users.
There seems some error in data given in the article. For example GAPCO has 117 applications with 6282 MW . It means on average there is 50 MW per application. Whereas an ordinary house has usually installed 10 KW ( 0.01 MW)
WOHOOO…
Faisalabad. 871 application.. 12000MW.. Holly Molly.
12000MW=12000000KVa
Now lets do the math writer..
12000000KVa/871=13777Kva per application..???
Chars se b sasta nasha Chal raha hai writer ka…. Most of the households need 10Kva…
It is a matter of great shame that government authorities should be getting worried over solar applications and create delays and hurdles in the approval of such applications. People are turning to solar and investing millions not for luxury but for their basic needs which WAPDA & Co have failed to fulfill. I am surprised that the consumers and media men are not highlighting the millions of free units worth billions of rupees being awarded to these corrupt DISCO employees and others. The public is paying for this corrupt mafia. It is still time to highlight this serious issue on a large scale so that the common man does not continue to suffer at the hands of these ‘muft khoras’.
According to this article . They claim faisalabad FESCO had 871 applications. How can that generate 12000 MV of electricity ?
Just to generate 1MW you need a full solar farm plus a 1MV of battery back up. That’s 100 houses each generating 10KW each plus battery back up .
You need 12 million houses each with 10KW solar system plus battery for FESCO claim. Faisalabad population is 3 million.
Please recheck your information. Max allowable limit for net metering is 1MW. So IESCO having 1363 requests would add a capacity of 1363MW of Solar not 12,276MW. Same goes for rest of the numbers.
Numbers are wrong. It seems kw not MW.
Per connection can not exceed 1MW for net metering where as above article application to capacity ratio is more than 1MW. So it seems some error in the article.
So basically people are generating solar energy better than pakistan govt and Wapda could do with all our tax money and hard work
Shameful. They hate the fact that sun produces electricity better than these load shedding losers.
In summer season people suffer from extreme heat . In winter the govt can’t provide gas to consumers
Now govt is crying about the fact that God gifted sun as a source of electricity .
Typical fake news by arsalan . Beta naqal ke like bhi aqal chahyeh 😆
119 applications for 6200 MV ?
700 application go upto 6100 MV ? how did you do that math?
If everyone of those applications generate 1MW that’s still 700 MW . wrong math. Konsa solar itna generate karta hai ?
Another copy paste claim .
Another fake news
No solar generation plant or home system can generate even 1MV of power unless it’s a solar farm.
This is fake . Khattak you lied
Arsalan . Do you have any idea how wrong you are ?
According to your article . You claim faisalabad FESCO had 871 applications. How can that generate 12000 MV of electricity ?
Just to generate 1MW you need a full solar farm plus a 1MV of battery back up. That’s 100 houses each generating 10KW each plus battery back up .
You need 12 million houses each with 10KW solar system plus battery for FESCO. Faisalabad population is 3 million.
The facts are not true. The writer of this article tried to exaggerate facts and figures.
For instance, he said in IESCO 13k + requests are generating 12k MWatt. That means each requesting client is generating nearly 1 MWatt or having installed capacity equivalent to it. That is simply not possible. He doesn’t understand these technical terms or might be follower of legendary IK.
You mean sharif bhai
Wrong calculation…. its kW but in article its write as mw,,, so its 40000 kW instead of 40000 mw..
IPP Sponsored fake journalism. Shameful.
Kindly recheck your numbers. I think you wrote mw instead of kw.
You need to verify the numbers you are quoting before writing such headlines and quoting wrong units to create an hype. Those are KWs not MWs and the solar system capacity can never be equal to country’s whole generation capacity. Do your research please 🙏
Look,if in day time Pakistan produce so much electricity,Where government has zero investment.This is good for the country.
Pakistan can develop the industry and give electricity on lower price.We are blessed with solar lights 11 months in a year.If, with this solar system government can introduce the wind energy,which is another source of green energy.
Don’t discourage the net metering.This will help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
This article is fake . They just copied it from someone without checking anything
To generate just 1MW you need a solar farm plus battery backup of 1MW
Even then you need 12000 solar farms just for faisalabad.
I don’t know from where they take this kind of calculation. I winter total requirement of electricity is 12 to 13 Thousand MW
What he is saying out of maths
Kachi sharab sy perhaiz krain wrna aap bhi aisay article likhny lag jain gy
Net metering is being issued 5kw minimum to everyone while a common customer was using 1-3 kw each without 3 phase meter. Government is over estimating it’s resources.
Many in comment section cannot understand actual news. If you read first paragraph carefully, you understand the news very well. Author want to say that Wapda miscalculated the figure by the factor of 1000 means only applications for approximately 59 MW are pending instead 58822 MW
This is utterly wrong calculation. I can laugh only
This is in addition to many who have installed system and don’t want net metering. Did electric utilities think they can raise rates well past Mars and there will no reaction from consumers.
These numbers do not make sense.
For example, for KE the 773 applications creating an additional capacity of 10,164 MW means = 10,164MW / 773 customers means each application is adding 13.14MW to the system. Doesnt make sense at all.
The worst part is that youtubers are quoting this article and making videos on this. It’s really troubling as a country when (a) people are producing such inaccurate content (b) Some other people are spreading it without verification or validation from a subject matter expert (c) the awam is reading these and getting more misguided (d) Internationally our reputation is taking a hit for being morons who generate 13 MW per install and drive our cars using water…
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