Pakistan Solar Roundup: Net-Metering Approvals Fast-Tracked, 4,000 MW Grid Deficit, and Policy Shifts
Power Division Fast-Tracks Backlogged Net-Metering Approvals
Following recent directives from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Pakistan's Power Division has instructed distribution companies (DISCOs) and the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to clear pending net-metering applications. The initiative specifically focuses on verifying applications and payment demand notices submitted prior to February 9, 2026, protecting eligible prosumers under previous net-metering rules rather than shifting them to lower-rate net-billing frameworks.
National Power Shortfall Crosses 4,000 MW Amid Fuel Disruptions
Pakistan's power grid is experiencing severe strain as the national electricity deficit surpassed 4,000 MW, triggering unannounced load-shedding across several regions. A delayed RLNG import shipment paired with generation failures at multiple thermal power plants has heavily impacted distribution networks, with LESCO alone reporting a supply gap exceeding 1,200 MW. The supply crisis underscores the growing importance of rooftop solar combined with battery storage systems to shield households and businesses from central grid unreliability.
Parliamentary Forum Urges Shift to Solar-Storage Over Long-Term LNG Deals
At an energy dialogue in Islamabad titled "The Sun and the Pipeline," parliamentarians and policy experts called on the government to avoid locking into rigid, take-or-pay LNG import contracts. Citing that distributed and rooftop solar capacity across Pakistan now generates roughly 54.75 TWh annually—offsetting massive amounts of imported fossil fuels—experts urged lawmakers to prioritize flexible grid architecture and battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments.
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