The government has confirmed that the rapid rise in net-metering solar installations has so far not negatively affected the national grid, countering earlier concerns.
Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) CEO Rehan Akhtar told the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) during a public hearing on the 2026 power purchase price that while more consumers are generating their own electricity through solar systems, their reliance on the national grid has remained largely unchanged. Grid withdrawals continue to be stable, with consumers drawing roughly the same amounts as before, though Akhtar noted this could change as solar adoption grows.
Official data presented at the hearing showed that net-metering electricity injected into the grid surged 173 percent in 2024, reaching 726 million units compared to 266 million units the previous year. This increase came despite only a 1 percent rise in demand recorded by state-owned distribution companies. In contrast, Karachi’s private utility, K-Electric, raised its grid offtake by 9.4 percent after resuming full 2,050 MW draws.
These remarks were made as Nepra reviewed CPPA’s request to rebase the national power purchase price under the government’s January 2026 policy directive.
