Govt is Considering New System for Solar Users as Financial Impact Rises to Rs. 103 Billion

Net metering has placed a financial strain of Rs. 103 billion on Pakistan’s grid consumers, leading the government to consider switching to a gross metering system. To ease the financial impact on grid consumers, the government is considering implementing gross metering, which would reduce the rate for electricity from solar users from Rs. 21 per unit to Rs. 8-9 per unit. Solar net metering, which allows users to offset their electricity bills by supplying surplus power to the grid, has grown rapidly. According to Express News, installed capacity has increased from 321 MW in 2021 to 3,277 MW in 2024 and is projected to reach 12,377 MW by 2034. However, it currently benefits only 0.6% of the country’s 37 million electricity users. The Power Division revealed that net metering users contributed Rs. 103 billion in 2024, a cost that has been passed on to traditional grid consumers. Without changes to the policy, officials warn that this burden could rise to Rs. 503 billion over the next decade. Cities like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Peshawar now represent 80% of net metering users, with over 226,440 connections nationwide.