ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the Power Division faced sharp criticism on Friday from a wide range of stakeholders over proposed changes to net-metering regulations, as critics accused authorities of ganging up against rapid solar energy adoption and pushing the country towards an “inefficient, unreliable and unaffordable” power system.
The objections were raised during a marathon public hearing convened by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to seek feedback on its proposed Prosumers Regulations 2025, which aim to significantly reduce incentives for net-metering solar consumers. Although Nepra itself proposed the draft regulations, their defence was largely mounted by the Power Division and its utilities, including distribution companies and K-Electric.
Participants at the hearing included think tanks, politicians, chambers of commerce, solar installers, service providers, industrialists and domestic consumers, many of whom argued that the proposed changes would undermine Pakistan’s clean energy transition.
The draft regulations envisage drastic revisions to the existing framework; however, stakeholders were barred from presenting alternative proposals. Nepra’s former member (law) Amina Ahmed, who assumed charge as member finance and technical for the next three years on Friday, directed commentators to confine their remarks strictly to the draft regulations and refrain from suggesting alternatives.
Critics warn proposed solar rules threaten clean energy drive and consumer rights
The regulator also declined a request from Pakistan Peoples Party leader Nadeem Afzal Chan for a live telecast of the public hearing on television or social media platforms to allow broader public participation, even if limited to pre-registered speakers.
Several chambers of commerce and industry demanded that hearings on an issue of such national importance should not be confined to a single session in Islamabad and called for similar consultations in all four provincial capitals. Nepra did not respond to these demands.
Several interveners complained that, despite the regulator seeking only feedback, distribution companies had already stopped accepting new solar applications and were discouraging online registrations through various means. They also alleged that some Discos had stopped accounting for electricity supplied by existing prosumers and were charging them at full rates.
