The rapid shift toward solar energy in Pakistan has triggered a sharp decline in national electricity demand, down 8.66 percent year-on-year, according to official documents.
The documents revealed that the drop is emerging as a major challenge for the national grid, as falling consumption pushes up the capacity payment burden on remaining consumers.
DISCOs recorded electricity sales declines of up to 10 percent during the second quarter, with officials attributing the trend largely to a mass migration of domestic and commercial consumers to solar power.
IESCO illustrates the scale of the shift. The utility sold 10.77 percent less electricity in April compared to the same month last year, followed by declines of 3.55 percent in May and 6.29 percent in June.
Overall demand at IESCO fell 16 percent in April, 8 percent in May and 2 percent in June, bringing the quarterly decline to as much as 16 percent.
The drop was driven by both household and business consumers cutting back on grid electricity.
Domestic consumers purchased 19.69 percent less power in April, 7.92 percent less in May and 5.72 percent less in June, year-on-year. Commercial consumers showed a similar, if less pronounced, pattern, with purchases down 6.85 percent in April, 3.80 percent in May and 1.85 percent in June.
