The Government decided on Wednesday to expand the scope of the consultation on the regulations for the measurement of solar networks approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and re -send the recommendations to the Federal Cabinet after receiving more comments from all interested parties after a generalized reaction.
The decision was made today at a federal cabinet meeting.
In an instinctive reaction to renewable energy growth through net solar measurement in the middle of high electricity costs of the network, the government on March 13 had reduced the repurchase rate in two thirds to RS10 per unit and discarded net billing.
The decision, applicable to the new net measurement consumers, was taken at an ECC meeting, chaired by the Minister of Finance, Muhammad Aurengzeb.
According to the policy reviewed, electric companies would buy solar excess electricity from consumers to RS10 per unit during the day, while selling electricity from the network to RS42 per unit (out of peak) and RS48 per unit (peak) after sunset, excluding taxes and duties.
In addition, consumers would no longer be allowed to install the solar capacity that exceeds their sanctioned load, except for a 10 percent mattress, compared to the 50 percent margin allowed under the previous policy.
Existing consumers would gradually be under this new frame as their seven -year contracts expired.
The announcement was received with generalized criticisms with even the Minister of Petroleum, Ali Pervez Malik, criticizing the measure, saying that it would send a bad signal to the market and consumers and could have managed better.
The business community had asked the government to be involved with relevant stakeholders, including merchants and industry representatives, to devise a balanced and comprehensive energy policy. This policy, they emphasized, should encourage the growth of renewable energy while safeguarding the interests of all energy consumers.
Among those who joined the choir of the reaction were the former Minister of Finance and Economist Miftah Ismail, who last week criticized the government for the move and for allowing electricity prices to reach an exorbitant level.
The sources said that a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Sunday had discussed the devastating impact of Ismail’s criticism on social networks against changes in the policy of measurement of solar networks.
A statement from the Prime Minister after the meeting had summoned the prime minister saying that the promotion of renewable energy was the priority of the government. He had also ordered officials that confusion about the solarization policy should be addressed through facts and figures.
“There is no change in the policy and priority of government solar energy,” he said.
