Govt Admits Solar Net-Metering Is Not Hurting National Grid

The government acknowledged that rising net-metering solarization has so far not negatively affected the national grid, contrary to widespread claims. “Solar generation is increasing, but this does not have a significant impact on the grid,” Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) CEO Rehan Akhtar told the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) during a public hearing on the country’s rebasing of its 2026 power purchase price. Akhtar said that while consumers with solar systems were producing more of their own electricity, their offtake from the national grid “has not changed,” noting that grid withdrawals remain broadly stable. “ They are drawing the same quantities they were drawing earlier,” he said, though he added that the trend could shift in the future as adoption accelerates. Net-metering electricity injected into the grid jumped 173% to 726 million units in 2024, up from 266 million units a year earlier, according to official data presented at the hearing. That surge came despite just 1% demand growth recorded by state-owned distribution companies. By contrast, Karachi’s private utility, K-Electric, increased its grid offtake by 9.4% after resuming full 2,050 MW draws. The remarks came as the regulator reviewed CPPA’s request to rebase the national power purchase price (PPP) under the government’s January 2026 policy directive.