The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has proposed new fixed charges for solar consumers who use the net-metering system. The company argues that solar users rely on the national grid during periods of low solar generation but do not pay enough toward grid maintenance.
According to PESCO’s proposal, charges would be based on either the consumer’s load or the proportion of electricity units supplied. The company claims that net-metering consumers draw power from the grid when their solar output is low, yet avoid paying for grid upkeep.
This, PESCO says, shifts the financial burden onto non-solar consumers and reduces revenue for distribution companies as rooftop solar adoption rises.
PESCO also highlighted technical challenges, such as voltage fluctuations and the need for extra investment to keep the grid stable. The company insists that imposing fixed charges on net-metering users will help maintain financial balance and ensure fair cost recovery.
Meanwhile, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is reviewing a major change to the solar net-metering policy.
Sources in the Power Division say NEPRA plans to cut the buyback rate for solar units from Rs. 23 per unit to Rs. 10. In the next phase, officials may even consider ending the buyback system entirely, meaning consumers would receive no payment for excess solar power sent to the grid.
Officials say the current policy has led to a sharp rise in electricity costs for grid consumers, as more households and businesses install rooftop solar systems.
Solar power producers have reportedly been paid Rs. 125 billion so far, adding to the financial strain on the national grid.
The proposed changes are expected to spark debate among solar users, energy experts, and consumer rights groups as Pakistan seeks to balance renewable energy growth with grid stability and fair cost sharing.
Completely wrong . Pesco is lying. Solar users pay for their solar system and produce excess energy to the grid at 19 despite the grid costing 45.
Not to mention that grid upkeep is done through already fixed charges imposed in the bill such as sales tax and income tax.
Is not their responsibility to monitor grid upkeep.
If I am not buying fruits from the market but from my own garden , am I shifting the burden of the market onto those who buy from the market ? No I don’t.
The sharp rise is due to grid own charges. Solar users produce their own and only use from grid when they are not producing
This is robbery imposing more charges. Either reduce other fix charges then. 😠
I support your views
And what about the Corruption…..the PESCO employees bribe taken while issuing the Net Meter…..If you are paying extra, no issue at all….if you are following the rules, so many hurdles including overloaded transformer….
This move is a disgrace. Instead of fixing theft, corruption, and incompetence, PESCO and NEPRA are punishing the very citizens who invested their own money to reduce pressure on the grid. Solar users are being targeted because the system cannot fix itself.
They keep buying surplus electricity from producers on inflated, high-interest power purchase deals that Pakistan doesn’t even consume — and then quietly dump those losses into consumer bills. That isn’t cost recovery, it’s theft from the people. Every unit of wasted, overpriced energy becomes a burden on honest payers while officials protect their own contracts and inefficiencies.
Now they want to impose “fixed charges” on solar consumers who already pay for grid maintenance, taxes, and equipment. That’s not policy — that’s punishment for independence.
If they want fairness, start by canceling uneconomic power purchase agreements, cutting line losses, ending corruption, and reforming NEPRA’s tariff structure. Don’t destroy renewable progress and consumer trust just to keep a broken system alive.
An unjustified proposal. Govt itself is failing to reign the IPPs and now putting the burden on solar users who are not in a position to fight back in the courts. It speaks of bad planning and poor foresight.