Islamabad: The Ministry of Energy’s Power Division has rejected as misleading reports claiming the federal government has made it mandatory for solar users to obtain a license from National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.
According to a clarification issued Wednesday, the Power Division spokesperson termed such reports “completely false,” saying licensing conditions linked to net metering already exist and fall entirely under the jurisdiction of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. Implementation of these rules, the spokesperson added, is the responsibility of distribution companies (DISCOs).
The spokesperson regretted that no official version was sought from the Power Division or the federal government before publishing the reports, which created unnecessary confusion and concern among the public. The government maintained that no new compulsory licensing policy has been introduced.
While denying the licensing reports, the government noted that some changes made to the net metering policy in February have already affected consumers. Under the revised framework, electricity unit adjustments have been replaced with monetary value calculations.
The contract duration for solar consumers has also reportedly been reduced from seven years to five years. Under the new system, distribution companies may supply electricity to consumers at around Rs50 per unit, while solar power generated by consumers could be purchased at about Rs11 per unit.
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