In a formal notification, NEPRA announced amendments to the solar policy but confirmed that current net metering users will keep their existing agreements and rates. The changes will take effect from February 9.

According to the notification, the regulator will continue purchasing electricity from current solar consumers under their agreed terms. All existing contracts will remain valid until their original expiry dates.

NEPRA has also issued a draft of the Solar Regulation 2026 and invited feedback from stakeholders within 30 days.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the new regulations and chaired a special meeting on the matter. He directed the Power Division to file a review appeal with NEPRA to protect existing solar contracts.

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The Prime Minister stressed that the burden of 466,000 solar consumers should not be shifted to more than 37,600,000 other electricity users. He called for a balanced and comprehensive strategy to handle the issue.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Ahad Cheema, Atta Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Awais Leghari, and other senior officials.

Earlier, NEPRA introduced the Net Metering Regulations 2026, bringing a nationwide net billing system. The new rules also apply to biogas consumers.

Under the updated system, electricity bills will be issued at the end of each billing cycle. Power supplied to the national grid will be purchased at the national average energy price, and payments to consumers providing extra electricity will be made quarterly.

The agreement period for net metering has been fixed at five years.