Islamabad:
The government has decided to tighten the rules for solar measuring users in another attempt after the first faced a strong setback and was blocked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the new plan, the government will abolish the Zero-Bill system for solar measurement by introducing different measures. In addition, consumers get a sanctioned load of 1.0x down from the current load of 1.5x. This means that they will be forced to switch to hybrid solar systems using lithium batteries.
According to the current network measurement system, consumers share electricity with power distribution companies (discos) to a repurchase speed of RS27 per year. Unit. However, as part of the new plan, the government is trying to end this electricity sharing system, and discos pay only RS10 per year. Device to the roof terrace that has a net measurement system.
Experts believe this will lead to an extra $ 1 billion expense on the import of lithium batteries every year.
The plan was discussed during a meeting held between different stakeholders and officials in the Ministry of Power. Minister of Power Division was chairman of KRAM.
Power Division has proposed several measures that kill the spirit of network measurement. According to the proposed plan, the concept of network measurement has been abolished and a new concept of net invoicing with a revised repurchase speed is introduced.
This means that there will be no exchange of electricity units; Rather, discos pay a reduced repurchase speed of RS10 to consumers instead of the existing RS27 per year. Unit.
At present, discos offer a credit invoicing facility quarterly, which is abolished. Instead, a cash facility will be available for the excess electricity exported to the national grid of solar meters owners and the time period has been reduced to a monthly basis.
However, no change in the categories of consumers has been proposed as commercial, domestic and all other consumers are eligible to take advantage of the new policy. The contract period for a license has been reduced from seven years to five years. Meanwhile, the Federal Minister of Energi Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said in a statement that the government did not abolish net meter policy, but considered changing its current mechanism to a more efficient, transparent and sustainable model.
He recalled that in 2017-18 he himself played a key role in introducing net measurement, and at that time the system was in his infant. “Now the extent of network measurement has been expanded and it has a serious impact on the grid, which needs to be treated in a timely manner.”
He emphasized that the government did not intend to harm any consumer or business, but all decisions were made while remembering the national interest and long -term sustainability in the energy system.
“If we mention the purchase of units, this is also considered and it is about bringing it to the energy purchase price so that the system is automatically adjusted with fluctuations in rates. All these proposals are under consideration,” the minister said.
He pointed out that if the repayment period for net gauge customers was about three years or less, it would be suitable for any investment. “If a customer consumes 40% of electricity himself, the return of money in three years is an acceptable business model. These reforms are not a deterrent, but a step towards a better, balanced and sustainable system,” he added.
During the meeting, the Minister of Energy presented a comprehensive overview of the ongoing energy reforms. In this regard, the government has removed 9,000 megawatts with expensive and unnecessary projects that were a burden on the system.
He said a tax was imposed on the trapped power consumers to bring them back to the network, resulting in an increase in electricity demand. Since June 2024, the cross -sub -page given to the industry has reached RS174 billion, which has reduced industrial tariffs by 31% and caused a significant increase in industrial consumption.
