Bahria Town cutting 30% of solar net metering units, residents enraged

ISLAMABAD: Bahria Town Private Limited  announced to charge its residents 30% on total solar net metering units. BTPL has announced this cut without providing any concrete reason. The action enraged residents for which they have been protesting and claiming that it is a clear violation of solar net metering directives that have been issued by government of Pakistan.

As per standard procedure, Costumer receive monthly net export/import bill indicating either net export to the grid or net import from the grid in case of net import bill, the Distributed Generator will be billed for net kWh in accordance with the applicable tariff. Contrary to this, Bahria Town has announced to cut 30% of the exported units.

Recently, Bahria Town Residents filed an application in Nepra stating that letter No. Nepra/DG (CAD)/TCD-12/493-498 dated 12th January, 2024 and referred to BTPL’s letter No. BTS/Elect Solar 86/24 dated 13th January 2024.

In the letter, it is stated that BTPL was directed to ‘Net Metering Core: The production should not be cut by 30% units till the final decision of the authority on behalf of the consumer Bahria Town’.

BTPL vide referred letter was directed not to deduct 30% units exported by net-metering consumers from Bahria Town until the final decision by the Authority.

Bahria Town, in their response vide letter dated January 13, 2023 has requested NEPRA to review & suspend the interim directions issued in the subject matter, till the final decision by the Authority.

NEPRA has already directed IESCO to install bidirectional meters in order to determine the claim of BTPL for export of units to IESCO’s system. In response, IESCO has installed all three meters.

Furthermore, NTDC has also been directed to submit the data of imported/ exported units for the last year in respect of installed at 220/132kV BTPL Grid Station Rawalpindi.

The case will be decided after receipt of data from IESCO and NTDC. In view of this, it is again directed not to deduct 30% of units exported by net metering consumers.