Acting on the directive of Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari, the Power Division has formally requested NEPRA to abolish application fees. The division also wants to remove licensing requirements for solar consumers installing systems of up to 25 kilowatts. This means the govt may remove NEPRA charges that currently discourage small-scale solar adoption. The Power Division urged the regulator to align current rules with earlier regulations. The revised framework under the new Prosumer Regulations has created unnecessary hurdles.

Under the Distributed Generation and Net Metering Regulations introduced in 2015, solar systems of 25kW or below received exemption from licensing requirements. Applications went directly to electricity distribution companies without any fee. That policy provided a strong financial incentive for residential consumers. However, the newly introduced Prosumer Regulations shifted approval authority to NEPRA and imposed application fees even on small solar installations. This triggered serious concerns within the renewable energy sector. Now the govt may remove NEPRA charges to reverse that damage.

The Power Division noted that the Private Power and Infrastructure Board had earlier highlighted the potential negative impact of the regulatory change. The PPIB recommended retaining the previous approval mechanism for smaller systems. Several organizations, including the Pakistan Solar Association and the Pakistan Alternative Energy Association, argued that removing approval powers from DISCOs would create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. This would slow solar deployment across the country. Following the minister’s directive, the Power Division has now formally urged NEPRA to reinstate the earlier fee-free and license-exempt regime.

If NEPRA agrees, the govt may remove NEPRA charges for systems up to 25kW. Small solar users could finally breathe easier.