Pakistan approves new net metering policy for solar consumers

ISLAMABAD: It has been decided to change the net metering policy for all solar consumers in the country.

According to the media reports, the net metering policy has been named NEPRA Solar Consumer Rules 2025, which has been approved by the Ministry of Energy after consultation with stakeholders.

The net billing system is being introduced with net metering, the period of solar contract with consumers has been reduced from 7 years to 5 years.

NEPRA sources said that in the case of net metering, solar consumers will get per unit exchange instead of additional surcharge, the per unit price of the new solar net billing will be around Rs 11.

Sources said that in net metering, solar consumers used to benefit from a price of Rs 25.98 per unit, in future it will be necessary to obtain a license from NEPRA for loads less than 25 kW. Earlier, domestic, industrial, commercial consumers up to 25 kW were exempted from the license.

Nepra sources said that the Ministry of Energy, DISCOS and Nepra completed this procedure after several months of consultation. The Ministry of Energy told the federal government that it was not possible to proceed without a new policy.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy said that the determination of solar tariffs is the responsibility of Nepra regulators, and consumers will not be affected by it much.

The spokesperson also said that the net billing system will be implemented from net metering.