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Watchdog Presses Pakistan to Fix Grid as Government Stands by Net-Metering Cuts

Ministers say long-term payments to private power plants limit room to reward rooftop exports.

Overview

  • At a meeting chaired by the prime minister Tuesday, officials said renewables now supply 55% of electricity and set a goal of 90% within ten years as he ordered work to speed up a national battery storage project.
  • The Competition Commission of Pakistan released a study Monday that labels outdated feeders and substations the main bottleneck and urges smart meters, SCADA and DMS, and faster market reform under CTBCM to handle two-way power flows.
  • The watchdog says solar still provides about 1–2% of generation even after a 155% jump in power prices pushed households toward panels, and it urges tougher quality checks, local manufacturing incentives, and support for batteries.
  • NEPRA’s rule change effective February 9 cut the buyback for new rooftop users to about Rs11 per unit, ended unit swaps, and shortened contracts, a shift critics warn could drive more homes off the grid.
  • In parliament, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the policy by citing binding dollar capacity payments to independent power producers, while a junior minister said the solar tax rate was cut to 10% for new buyers.