The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday approved amendments in existing net-metering rules to reduce the growing financial burden on grid consumers and dropped the buyback tariff to Rs.
Last week, in a meeting with the International Monetary Fund, the government had informed the funds on plans to slash solar net-metering tariffs from Rs26/unit to Rs10, which increased the concern about changes in off-grid solutions on consumers.
According to a press release issued by Finance Division today, the ECC amended the buyback rate from the National Average Power Purchase Price (NAPP), the app reported.
It said that the committee had approved the proposal – under the cabinet approval – to allow the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to modify this buyback rate from time to time, ensuring that the framework was flexible and alliances were aligned with market conditions.
According to the app, the widespread discussion on the increasing influence of solar net-metering on the national power grid.
Power Division highlighted the need for regulatory adjustment, citing the fall of records in solar panel prices, raising a sharp increase in the number of solar net-meter consumers.
However, the press release clarified that the revised structure would not be applicable with NEPRA (optional and renewable energy) distributed generation and net metering regulations, 2015 with valid licenses, consent, or agreement to current net-meter consumers.
Any such agreement will remain effective until the end of the license or agreement, whatever happened earlier, ensuring the rights and obligations of consumers, including the agreed rates, will continue according to the current terms.
The ECC also approved an update for the settlement mechanism, the app stated.
Under the new structure, units imported and exported will be treated separately for billing purposes.
Exported units will be purchased at a revised buyback rate of RS10/Unit, while imported units will be billed at the inclusion of taxes and overloads at the summit/off-picker rates applicable during the monthly billing cycle.
The ECC also authorized the power division to release the proposed guidelines, subject to the cabinet’s permission, to include NEPRA in the implemented regulatory structure, to ensure clarity and stability in the implementation of these amendments.
ECC meeting – Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb – Energy Minister (Power Division) Sardar Awes Ahmed Khan Leghari, Marine Affairs Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and Petroleum Minister Ali Parvez Malik participated with federal secretaries and senior officials of relevant ministries and relevant ministries and divisions.
