The federal government has taken a final decision to amend the net metering policy, with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) scheduling a public hearing on February 6 to review objections submitted by consumers and stakeholders.
According to officials, NEPRA had issued a draft of the proposed amendments on December 16 and invited objections within 30 days. The authority said a final decision on the revised policy will be taken after the public hearing, reported a news daily.
Under the proposed net billing framework, the price of exported electricity units is expected to be fixed at Rs. 11 per unit. In addition, the existing unit-to-unit adjustment facility for solar consumers will be discontinued.
Officials said that if the amendments are approved, consumers will receive separate bills for electricity consumed at the national tariff and for exported units. This would mark a significant shift from the current net metering billing system used by solar consumers.
The proposed changes have been introduced as part of the government’s broader effort to reduce costs in the energy sector and make the tariff system more effective and sustainable.
However, the draft amendments have raised concerns among solar users and industry stakeholders, who argue that the changes could affect the financial viability of rooftop solar installations.
NEPRA said all objections submitted by stakeholders will be examined during the public hearing before any final notification is issued.
