Islamabad:
The government has decided to strengthen the regulations for users of the solar net measurement in a second attempt, after the first faced a strong reaction and was blocked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
As part of the new plan, the government will abolish zero-bill installation for the request for a solar clear by introducing various measures. In addition, consumers will have a sanctioned charge of 1.0x, down compared to the current load of 1.5x. This means that they will be forced to switch to hybrid solar systems using lithium batteries.
As part of the current net measurement system, consumers share electricity with energy distribution companies (DISCO) at a redemption rate of RS27 per unit. However, within the framework of the new plan, the government seeks to end this electricity sharing system and discos will only pay RS10 per unit to the solar owners on the roof which have a net measurement system.
Experts estimate that this will result in an additional $ 1 billion expenditure on the importation of lithium batteries each year.
The plan was discussed during a meeting held between the various stakeholders and the officials of the Ministry of Power. The Minister of the Division of Power presided over the group.
The division of power has proposed several measures which will kill the spirit of net measurement. According to the proposed plan, the concept of net measurement has been abolished and a new concept of net invoicing with a revised buyout rate is being introduced.
This means that there will be no exchange of electricity units; Rather than discotheques will pay a reduced redemption rate of RS10 to consumers instead of RS27 per unit existing.
Currently, nightclubs offer an ease of credit billing on a quarterly basis, which is abolished. In place, a cash installation will be available for the excess electricity exported to the national network by owners of solar meters and the period has been reduced to a monthly base.
However, no change has been proposed in the categories of consumers, as commercial, national consumers and all the others will be eligible to benefit from the new policy. The contract period for a license has increased from seven years to five years. Meanwhile, the Federal Minister of Energy Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, in a statement, said that the government did not abolish the policy of net measurement, but was planning to change its current mechanism into a more effective, transparent and lasting model.
He recalled that in 2017-2018, he himself played a key role in the introduction of the measurement of the net and at that time, the system was at its beginnings. “Now, the scope of net measure has developed and has a serious impact on the grid, which must be addressed in a timely manner.”
He stressed that the government did not intend to harm any consumer or business, but all decisions were made while keeping in mind the national interest and long -term sustainability of the energy system.
“If we mention the purchase of units, this is also envisaged and it is a question of bringing it to the purchase price of energy, so that the system automatically adapts with rate fluctuations. All of these suggestions are being studied,” said the minister.
He stressed that if the recovery period for net measurements was approximately three years or less, any investment would be suitable. “If a customer consumes 40% of electricity himself, the return of money in three years is an acceptable business model. These reforms are not a deterrence, but a step towards a better, balanced and durable system,” he added.
During the meeting, the Minister of Energy presented a complete overview of the current energy reforms. In this regard, the government has eliminated 9,000 megawatts of expensive and unnecessary projects, which was the system.
He said that a tax had been imposed on captive electricity consumers to bring them back to the network, which led to an increase in electricity demand. Since June 2024, the cross subsidy given to industry has reached 174 billion rupees, which has reduced industrial prices by 31% and has caused a significant increase in industrial consumption.
