Power Division has directed distribution companies to clear a backlog of 1,355 pending net-metered solar applications within 10 days.
The directive was issued after the Power Information Technology Company reported widespread delays in processing solar net-metering applications across ex-Wapda distribution companies.
A total of 1,355 net-metering cases registered with distribution companies before Feb 8 remain pending for installation, according to official PITC data.
The Power Division has set June 1 as the deadline for Discos to complete installation and energisation of all 1,355 remaining net-metering connections nationwide.
Transformer Tagging Failures Worsen Solar Connection Delays
power minister took serious notice of the delays, which had persisted for over six months amid changing prosumer regulations across the country.
PITC also observed that a large number of transformers had not been correctly tagged with consumers, causing abnormal sanctioned load readings and case rejections.
The percentage of outage complaints resolved beyond Nepra’s prescribed timelines was also found to be higher than acceptable levels at multiple distribution companies.
Disciplinary action will be initiated against the worst-performing superintending engineers, executive engineers, and sub-divisional officers responsible for processing delays.
Officers responsible for unnecessary delays in net-metering installation or consumer complaint resolution will also have their bonuses stopped under the new directives.
Policy Shift Halts Solar
The backlog began accumulating in late 2024 as Nepra initiated proceedings to contain rooftop solar expansion amid concerns about falling demand on the national grid.
The Power Division had initially suggested that rising solar adoption threatened grid stability, before later revising its position on the primary source of the problem.
Officials subsequently stated that the real threat came from behind-the-meter consumption as the number of protected consumers more than doubled over approximately three years.
Discos began slowing application processing as Nepra hearings progressed, further worsening delays for thousands of consumers awaiting net-metering connection approvals.
Nepra formally shifted the regulatory framework from net-metering to a net-billing regime through revised prosumer regulations, effective Feb 8 of this year.
Following the regulatory change, the Power Division requested Nepra to protect existing net-metering consumers until their current contract terms had fully expired.
The Power Division also announced that applications already received before the regulatory transition would not face any form of discriminatory treatment going forward.
