Leghari countered that the Rs 150 billion reflects a broader burden, not a direct loss, tied to fixed costs solar users avoid. He highlighted progress in cutting T&D losses—from Rs 226 billion in July–December 2023 to Rs 158 billion in the same period of 2024—a Rs 68 billion reduction. Yet, he admitted challenges persist, particularly in HESCO and SEPCO, where losses rose by Rs 28 billion due to governance issues.
The Evolution of Net Metering: A Technical Journey
To understand this debate, we must rewind to net metering’s origins in Pakistan. When introduced in 2018, it offered a unit-to-unit adjustment: one off-peak solar unit offset one grid unit, with excess credits encashable at Rs 9.8 per unit via cheque after six months—a boon when the rupee was stronger. By 2020, this shifted to an off-peak-to-off-peak adjustment, with peak units adjusted at a 1:3 ratio and surplus valued at Rs 19.6 per unit, first monthly, then quarterly. More recently, the off-peak rate climbed to Rs 27, but when paired with peak units and GST, the effective exchange rate stretched to 1:4.5.
