Business Desk 
Nov 21, 2024
The government is mulling over the reduction in solar panel tariff to Rs7.5-11 per unit from Rs21, the current rate at which the electricity is being given to the national grid through a net metering system.
Currently, the rate of two units generated by solar panels equals one of grid electricity.
The impending drop in the buyback tariff from solar consumers is said to be triggered by a significant decline in solar panel prices.
Read more: LESCO extends deadline for bidirectional solar meter installation
The power consumers who have installed solar panels on rooftops will be sold electricity from the national grid at Rs60 per unit during the night-time or peak hours.
“Under the new scenario, six units to be generated through roof solar panels would be equal to one unit of grid electricity. This would decrease the trend of installing solar panels on roofs by consumers as it is aggravating the capacity payments issue,” The News quoted a senior official from the energy ministry.
Another driving force behind the dip in the solar panel tariff is the recent grant of a $7 billion loan to Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the economic crisis.
In a recent meeting with the government functionaries, the IMF raised concern over the increasing use of solar energy and the consistently dropping utilisation of grid electricity.
The Fund urged the government of Pakistan to undertake measures to increase the demand for grid electricity.
