The government has finally acknowledged that the rapid rise in solar net-metering is not harming Pakistan’s national power grid, clearing up months of public debate over whether rooftop solar users were reducing their grid dependency.
During a Nepra hearing on the rebasing of the 2026 power purchase price, CPPA CEO Rehan Akhtar clarified that despite the surge in solar installations, grid consumption by solar users has remained “almost the same.” He said consumers producing solar power are still withdrawing similar amounts of electricity from the national grid, though the pattern may change as adoption expands.
His remarks counter earlier claims that net-metering was weakening the grid or shrinking power company revenues. Official figures presented at the hearing showed that net-metered electricity injected into the system soared 173% in 2024, touching 726 million units compared to 266 million units a year earlier.
“Solar generation is increasing, but it has no significant impact on the grid,” Akhtar said, adding that any future challenge would depend on the pace of national adoption.
The hearing also reviewed CPPA’s request to rebase the national power purchase price under the January 2026 policy directive. Despite slow demand growth of just 1% among state-run distribution companies, Karachi’s K-Electric recorded a 9.4% increase in grid draw after resuming its full 2,050 MW allocation.
The discussion marks an important shift in the government’s stance as Pakistan balances rising electricity costs with a growing shift toward home-based renewable energy