PESHAWAR: Business community has strongly reacted to federal government’s move to bring sudden and drastic changes in net-metering policy, calling it a major hurdle to promotion of renewable energy sector.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Moqeem Khan described reduction in power purchase for solar panel owners at Rs10 per unit from Rs27 per unit as unfair.

He said that the major cut of 63 per cent would not only discourage new investment in the solar energy sector but it could also affect government’s targets in renewable energy.

Mr Moqeem said that it was completely incomprehensible to force solar energy consumers to buy more than 550 per cent electricity from the national grid. He said that it was unfair and unacceptable.

He said that it was incomprehensible that federal government, under the guise of changes in the policy, would charge additional 90 paisa per unit from non-solar consumers. It was highly deplorable, he added.

“The reality is that the government is attempting to divert attention from Rs18 per unit to non-functional capacity payments and approximately annual Rs600 billion losses on account of power theft and nonpayment of power bills,” said Mr Moqeem.

He urged the government to review its decision and give priority to such durable energy solutions that would serve the interests of consumers from all categories, instead of benefiting only a few segments.

He said that uplift of renewal energy sector was highly essential for the country’s energy prosperity, economic growth and environmental stability.

The SCCI chief urged government to consult with business community along with other stakeholders and frame such a balanced and comprehensive energy policy that could ensure promotion of renewable energy sector and protect the interest of power consumers of all categories.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025