The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has taken serious notice of reports that electricity distribution companies have stopped registering new net metering applications, a move that could impact consumers seeking to install solar power systems.
According to a notice sent to all distribution companies (DISCOs), NEPRA stated that it has observed a suspension in the registration process for new net metering applications.
The authority described this development as highly concerning and a violation of prevailing regulations.
NEPRA has labeled the issue as “most urgent” and has directed all DISCOs to submit complete details and explanations within three working days.
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Pakistan has more than one source of power production and for some units the raw materials are available say hydel,100% locally produced,solar,100% locally produced,wind mills, 100% locally produced,patrol/diesel ,more than 40% locally produced,gas, 100 % locally produced and some have been costing at penny per unit but unfortunately all the power units are sold @ one and the same with other charges/taxes.So what kind of business this is and the poor want to know that if the hydel power is costing say,10 penny per nits and the wind mills 11 Penney per unit and the gas,21 penny per unit then how the proportional rates are calculated and fixed to pay as the equal,how does the equity matched.Secondly, if the raw materials are locally available to run and manage the power production then why and how these rates are in same equity,KULO SAME SAME and why the poor people of Pakistan do not deserved to be facilitated rather increasing the power prices such as recently to meet or to pay the circular debt more than 278 billions are proposed/decided to get from the poor who are already facing the consumer markets at dying stage.It needs to be seen and reviewed.
Dude! Ur seriously asking theives NOT TO STEAL?!???
*Thieves
hmm, yeah NEPRA was probably the one who told them not to give out new net metering licences.
In the end, this will just push people off grid. Then they will begin higher taxation of hybrid solar inverters and lithium batteries
I am writing as a domestic electricity consumer and solar prosumer to formally record my serious concerns and objections regarding the proposed shift from Net Metering to Net Billing under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2025.
While I fully appreciate NEPRA’s responsibility to ensure grid stability and long-term sector sustainability, the replacement of net metering with net billing is, in my view, economically unjustified, regressive for consumers, and counter-productive to Pakistan’s renewable energy objectives.
1. Severe Erosion of Consumer Economics
Under net billing, exported units are credited at the National Average Energy Purchase Price, while imported units are billed at the full applicable consumer tariff, inclusive of capacity charges, taxes, and surcharges. This asymmetry fundamentally destroys the financial viability of rooftop solar investments.
Consumers made long-term investment decisions in good faith based on net metering economics, and a sudden policy reversal significantly undermines regulatory credibility.
2. Discouragement of Renewable Energy Adoption
Pakistan faces chronic fuel import dependence, circular debt, and peak-hour shortages. Distributed solar under net metering directly reduces peak demand, transmission losses, and foreign exchange outflows.
Net billing materially lengthens payback periods, discouraging new installations and effectively reversing the momentum achieved over the last decade.
3. Penalizing Self-Consumption Instead of Encouraging It
Net metering rewards efficient self-consumption and grid support. Net billing, on the other hand, penalizes consumers for exporting surplus daytime energy—energy which the grid urgently needs during solar hours—while charging them disproportionately for evening consumption.
4. Inconsistency with Policy Stability and Investor Confidence
Frequent and material changes to settled regulatory frameworks create uncertainty not only for individual consumers but also for installers, financiers, and local manufacturing ecosystems built around rooftop solar. Regulatory stability is essential for long-term planning and capital formation.
In view of the above, I respectfully urge NEPRA to reconsider and withdraw the proposed replacement of net metering with net billing and to ensure policy continuity, fairness, and protection of legitimate consumer expectations. Failing this, affected consumers may be left with no option but to seek appropriate legal remedies.
5. Viable Alternatives Exist Without Abolishing Net Metering
If NEPRA’s concerns relate to grid stress, cross-subsidization, or tariff distortions, these can be addressed through targeted and proportionate measures, including:
Time-of-Use (ToU) based refinements within the net metering framework
Export caps aligned with sanctioned load levels
Gradual and clearly defined grandfathering mechanisms
Differential treatment for large commercial and industrial installations
These tools allow regulatory fine-tuning without destroying consumer confidence or investment economics.
6. Need for Separate Treatment of Commercial and Residential Net Metering
NEPRA must analyze and evaluate commercial and residential net metering separately.
Commercial installations have significantly higher capacity, consumption, and grid impact as compared to residential consumers.
A blanket policy change unfairly burdens the common residential consumer for issues primarily arising from the commercial segment. Policy corrections, if any, should therefore be sector-specific, ensuring that residential consumers are protected from undue and disproportionate financial impact.
A complete replacement of net metering with net billing is a blunt regulatory instrument that disproportionately harms small and middle-income households.
Request
In light of the foregoing, I respectfully request NEPRA to:
Retain net metering as the primary framework, at least for the residential sector, to protect the common consumer and help contain inflationary pressures
Ensure permanent grandfathering protection for all existing and pipeline installations
Engage stakeholders to introduce refined, balanced adjustments rather than an outright replacement
Support rooftop solar as a long-term national strategy to reduce dependence on costly IPPs and capacity payments
Pakistan urgently requires policies that promote energy efficiency, self-generation, and reduced grid burden. Net metering has demonstrably contributed to these objectives and should be strengthened—not dismantled.
Thank you for considering this submission.
Hopefully every one will agree that there should be no hurdle in new netmetering connection. If any concern, solution should be sought to keep the momentum of solarization.
Somehow, we have the knack of messing up good things too!
Most of countries world over solor production is appreciated and solor production is paid even at higher than the rates they the consumers are charged. But in Pakistan it is otherwise. Please think over it and take steps to appreciate the solor production.