ApnaSolar Weekly Roundup: Net-Metering Clearances, Storage Boom, and Solar Disruption
Power Division Instructs DISCOs to Clear Legacy Net-Metering Backlog
In a major relief for thousands of solar adopters across Pakistan, the Power Division and NEPRA have formally directed all power distribution companies (DISCOs) and the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to process pending net-metering applications. Under the new directives, applicants who paid their demand notices prior to the February 9, 2026 policy cutoff date will be grandfathered into the legacy 2015 net-metering regime. This action ensures that eligible early applicants secure the more favorable one-to-one netting terms before the full enforcement of the lower-buyback net-billing structure.
Parliamentary Forum Warns Against Costly Energy Contracts Amid Solar Boom
At an Islamabad dialogue titled *The Sun and the Pipeline*, parliamentarians and energy experts called on the federal government to refrain from signing long-term, rigid LNG supply contracts. Citing research highlighting Pakistan's total solar footprint—now exceeding 50 GW across distributed, agricultural, and utility-scale systems—speakers stressed that rapid rooftop solar adoption has permanently altered national electricity load profiles. Experts urged policymakers to prioritize grid flexibility and storage infrastructure rather than locking consumers into expensive take-or-pay fossil fuel commitments.
Consumer Focus Shifts Heavy to Lithium Battery Storage
As the market adapts to net-billing rules and rising electricity rates, Pakistani homeowners and businesses are increasingly choosing hybrid solar setups equipped with energy storage. Recent industry analyses reveal a marked surge in lithium-ion battery imports across the country. With surplus energy buyback rates lowered under net billing, self-consumption powered by daytime solar generation and stored evening battery power has become the standard investment model for maximizing utility bill savings.
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