Why Did Pakistan Change Net-Metering Rules? Battery Storage Emerges as Key Strategy

Pakistan’s decision to revise its net-metering framework was aimed in part at encouraging rooftop solar consumers to make greater use of battery storage, according to Federal Power Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari.

The minister said the government wants households and businesses with solar systems to store surplus electricity generated during the day and use it during expensive evening peak hours, reducing reliance on the national grid when power costs are highest.

Leghari described battery installation as one of the most practical options for rooftop solar users, arguing that stored solar energy can help consumers make better use of their own generation instead of exporting most of it during the day and buying costly electricity back from the grid later.

He said the shift towards storage is not limited to residential users. Power distribution companies are also developing battery energy storage systems, while the national grid operator is preparing for significant investment in large-scale storage infrastructure.

The remarks point to a broader change in Pakistan’s power strategy, with batteries increasingly being treated as an important part of both rooftop solar economics and grid management.

Net Billing Aims to Encourage Greater Use of Self-Generated Power

Leghari also addressed criticism that the government’s move away from the previous net-metering model was intended to discourage rooftop solar adoption.

He rejected that view, saying one of the objectives of the revised framework was to encourage consumers to consume more of the electricity they generate themselves.

Under such a system, battery storage becomes more important because daytime solar generation can be saved for use after sunset, when household demand often remains high, and electricity purchased from the grid can be more expensive.

The minister said applications from consumers seeking to sell surplus solar power to the grid have not declined following the policy changes, which he cited as evidence that interest in rooftop solar remains strong.

He also maintained that the government is not trying to slow solar adoption and said market forces, rather than the government, determine solar panel prices.

Battery Storage Could Shape Pakistan’s Next Solar Phase

Pakistan’s rooftop solar market has expanded rapidly in recent years as households and businesses seek protection from high electricity costs and greater control over their energy supply.

The government’s growing focus on storage suggests that the next phase of this transition may be centred not only on generating solar electricity but also on deciding when and how that electricity is used.

For consumers, batteries could help reduce peak-hour grid purchases and increase energy independence. For utilities and the national grid, larger storage systems could help balance demand, absorb more renewable generation and improve overall system flexibility.

The change therefore represents more than a revision to compensation rules for exported solar electricity. It signals a move towards a model in which battery storage plays a central role in Pakistan’s future solar and power-sector strategy.

Also read:

Pakistan’s Solar Shift: Why Rooftop Systems Are Becoming a Shield Against Rising Power Bills