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ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (APP):Energy experts and key stakeholders on Wednesday amid witnessing Pakistan’s record-breaking rooftop solar movement facing a critical turning point warned that the proposed Prosumer Regulations 2025 risk dismantling a decade of citizen-led energy progress.
The concerns were raised during a national consultative dialogue titled “Redefining the Prosumer–Grid Relationship: Analysis of Draft Prosumer Regulations 2025”, jointly convened by the Pakistan Renewable Energy Coalition (PREC) and the Alliance for Climate Justice and Clean Energy (ACJCE), said a press release.
Participants cautioned that a shift from net metering to net billing could destabilize the power sector by pushing consumers toward total grid defection.
Dr. Nafisa Shah, Member National Assembly stated, “Consumers are bearing the brunt of policy failures while simply trying to secure their basic right to electricity. The next phase of this revolution will be a battery rush, and we must safeguard those who rely on solar.”
Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur underlined that this regulation contradicts ARE 2019, NDC 3.0, and the rights of solar consumers. “It risks disincentivizing renewable energy adoption in a climate-affected nation,” she added.
The experts briefed the forum that over the past decade, Pakistani citizens have independently imported over 51.5 GW of solar capacity. This organic growth, fueled by soaring electricity prices and grid unreliability, turned ordinary consumers into prosumers rather active contributors who reduce peak demand and advance the clean energy transition without requiring public financing.
Imtiaz Baloch Director General Licensing, NEPRA Imtiaz Baloch from NEPRA clarified, “This is still a proposal under consultation, not a policy change.” He pointed towards legacy system constraints cautioning that they should be addressed too with a forward-looking approach.
Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, said excessive administrative control had historically contributed to power sector failures as as limiting technological proliferation through administrative measures was impossible.
Dr. Khalid Waleed, Energy Economy Expert, SDPI noted that the 2015 policy was celebrated globally, yet the 2025 draft resorts to short-term solutions rather than a long-term integration strategy. He proposed that instead of abrupt shutdowns, young coal plants like Sahiwal should be repurposed into ancillary assets to provide grid stabilization services or converted into Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) using sodium-ion technology.
Rabia Babar Manager Data and Analytics, Renewables First said grid electricity sales have declined for three consecutive years despite a rising number of consumers, signaling that citizens are already moving away from grid dependence.
Former Managing Director of PPIB Shah Jahan Mirza said that while the government may not intend to restrict solar growth, any transition away from the 2015 framework should have been gradual and phased to avoid market disruption.