Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday took notice of recent changes by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) affecting solar consumers and directed the Power Division to file a review appeal.
The power regulator on Monday changed contract terms for all existing and future net-metered solar consumers — known as prosumers — saying the move was needed to manage rising solar energy penetration and to protect an expensive, inefficient state-owned power network.
The notification effectively ended the existing net-metering regime and replaced it with net-billing for all.
A statement from the PM Office said the premier had taken ‘immediate notice’ of the matter.
The development followed outcry from senators across the political spectrum, including the ruling ally PPP and the opposition PTI, against NEPRA’s decision.
The prime minister gave these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting on the new NEPRA regulations. The meeting was attended by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Power Minister Awais Leghari, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani and the PM’s adviser Muhammad Ali.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, Leghari defended NEPRA’s move, saying it was intended to reduce the burden on consumers. ‘Changing regulations according to the law and the Constitution is a regulator’s job,’ he said, adding he would not step back. ‘This is not policy; there should be clarity on that,’ he added.
Stakeholders and policy experts warned that the proposed Prosumer Regulations 2025 risked dismantling a decade of citizen-led energy progress.
Stakeholders and policy experts had warned that the proposed Prosumer Regulations 2025 risked dismantling a decade of citizen-led energy progress.
Under the new regulations, the existing registered prosumers will be shifted immediately to net-billing instead of net-metering, and their export units will be credited for one month only instead of the current three months.
All other existing terms will remain unchanged until the expiry of their seven-year contracts.