The Power Division will present a revised plan to the federal cabinet within two weeks to extend the solar net metering payback period from 1.5 years to 2–3 years to reduce unjustified returns on rooftop solar and address growing surplus power on the grid.
Power Minister Awais Leghari said on Thursday that the new policy will not reduce electricity tariffs but will help prevent further increases. He stressed that net metering consumers will not be penalized, but the current returns are unsustainable and could eventually lead to higher bills even for solar users.
He confirmed that a summary has been submitted to the cabinet to finalize wheeling charge rules.
The minister also disclosed that the government is in talks with the IMF to supply 5,000–6,000MW of surplus electricity at marginal cost to high-consumption industries such as data centres and crypto mining operations.
Separately, Leghari said the federal government has formally notified provinces that power distribution companies (Discos) will no longer collect electricity duty on their behalf. Only one province has responded so far; once others reply, the matter will be taken to the cabinet for a final decision.
The minister added that losses from poor billing and technical inefficiencies at Discos fell from Rs. 591 billion in FY24 to Rs. 399 billion in FY25.