Leghari says that of the total solar capacity of 20,000 to 22,000 megawatts, only 6,000 megawatts are tied to solar metering.
Minister of Energy Awais Leghari speaking at the National Assembly PHOTO:YouTube/NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD:
Energy Minister Awais Leghari on Thursday told the National Assembly that only a small fraction of solar energy consumers would be affected by the government’s decision to replace net metering with net billing, and stressed that the policy change would not burden the common man.
Responding to a point of attention raised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) legislator Sharmila Faruqui, she said that of Pakistan’s total installed solar capacity of 20,000 to 22,000 megawatts, only around 6,000 megawatts are tied to net metering. As a result, he said, only between 600,000 and 700,000 consumers – between eight and ten percent of total solar energy users – would be affected. “There will be no impact on low-income consumers,” he assured the House.
The minister recalled that he introduced the net metering system in 2017 and that since then it has undergone between four and five regulatory changes. He acknowledged widespread debate and criticism of the recent revisions, including opposition from members of his own party.
However, he rejected claims that the new regulations were anti-solar, explaining that reducing the profit margin for net metered consumers from 50 percent to 37 percent was not an anti-popular measure.
He added that 55 percent of electricity generated during 2024-25 came from clean energy sources and said Pakistan was confident of meeting its international commitment to increase this proportion to 60 percent by 2030, possibly even sooner.
Earlier this week, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) revised the terms and conditions for all existing and future net metered solar consumers to manage growing solar penetration and protect the state power grid.
In another intervention, Leghari stated that around 466,000 consumers were responsible for problems related to the system, while acknowledging their role in promoting clean energy. He accused critics of undermining public confidence in government policies and international agreements.
Highlighting broader power sector reforms, the energy minister said circular debt had been reduced by Rs 780 billion, while losses due to electricity theft had been reduced by Rs 190 billion.
Read: New solar policy will remain in place, but PM seeks to protect existing users
Meanwhile, MQM legislator Moin Pirzada expressed concern over the prolonged load shedding on K-Electric feeders. Power Division Parliamentary Secretary Aamir Talal said that detailed answers on K-Electric would be provided in the next session, prompting protests from MQM members. The vice president ordered Talal to provide the information in the next session.
Talal also informed the House that the nationwide installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters would be completed by the end of this year. He said load shedding was imposed on feeders with high losses and installation of overhead cable bundles and AMI meters would help curb power theft. He added that a campaign against theft is currently being carried out.
