A total of 5,165 applications have been submitted to various distribution companies
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has decided to process all pending net metering applications submitted by February 8 under the previous regulatory framework, according to a statement issued by the Power Division on Thursday.
It directed that applications received before the cut-off date should be processed under the old rules, ordering all electricity distribution companies, including K-Electric, to implement the decision immediately.
A total of 5,165 applications had been submitted to distribution companies, including K-Electric, by February 8. If approved, they would add 250,822 megawatts of capacity to the national grid.
The department said the move removes uncertainty surrounding the pending applications and directed the authorities to ensure transparency in the processing of applications. Consumers were advised to file complaints through the designated helpline on 188.
Earlier, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) issued draft amendments to the Solar Policy 2026, withdrawing some controversial changes to its net metering policy.
Nepra recently revised the contract terms for all existing and future net-metered solar consumers – or prosumers – in an effort to manage rising solar penetration and protect an expensive and inefficient state-owned power grid.
It abolished the exchange of electricity units in solar net metering. At present, the buy-back rate for net solar generation is Rs25.9 per unit, which can be reduced to Rs11 per unit. The contract period has been reduced from seven to five years. The burden of capacity payments is being shifted to solar consumers now.
Under the new rules, utilities will be required to buy excess electricity from prosumers, households, businesses and industries producing up to one megawatt at the national average energy purchase price, while selling electricity back to them at the prevailing consumer tariff, effectively ending one-to-one net metering.
