ApnaSolar Market Roundup: Net-Metering Clearances, Battery Mandates, and Rising Grid Tariffs
Government Clears 11,695 Pending Net-Metering Applications
Under directives from Power Division Minister Sardar Awais Leghari, relevant authorities have verified and approved 11,695 net-metering applications out of a 16,654 backlog accumulated during the transition toward net billing. The Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC) is contacting verified applicants directly through SMS and WhatsApp, while allowing consumers to track application statuses online without paying middleman fees.
NEPRA Mandates Battery Energy Storage for New Renewable Power Auctions
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a requirement making Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) mandatory for developers participating in upcoming auctions for 800 MW of wind and solar capacity. Submitted by the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), this policy ensures co-located storage capacity to stabilize grid frequencies and discharge surplus solar energy during evening peak-demand hours.
Grid Electricity Tariffs Adjust Upward Across Pakistan
Pakistani consumers face higher September electricity bills following NEPRA’s notification of a Rs 2.06 per unit Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for July consumption and a Re 0.52 per unit quarterly tariff adjustment running through November. Combined with the expiry of temporary summer rebates, these rising grid tariffs further enhance the financial payback and savings potential of home and commercial rooftop solar systems.
New Research Advocates "Swarm Grids" to Unify Solar Investments
A techno-economic assessment released by the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) highlights that over 50 GW of solar panels have been imported into Pakistan, exceeding total grid capacity. The study urges regulators to establish dynamic, peer-to-peer "swarm grids" to allow rooftop solar owners to trade surplus power locally and reduce neighborhood load-shedding.
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