Islamabad: Federal Power Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has revealed that the government amended the net-metering regime to encourage rooftop solar consumers to install battery storage systems and maximise the use of their own clean energy during expensive evening peak hours.
Appearing on senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir’s famous news talk show, the minister described battery installation as the “wisest decision” for consumers with rooftop solar systems, arguing that storing surplus solar power during the day would enable households and businesses to avoid purchasing costly electricity from the national grid during peak hours.
Leghari said the move towards battery storage was not limited to individual consumers, adding that power distribution companies had also started developing their own battery energy storage systems.
“The national grid company is also going to make a big investment in its own battery storage system,” he said, signalling a broader shift towards energy storage as an increasingly important component of Pakistan’s power sector.
The minister also addressed widespread criticism on social media following changes to the country’s net-metering framework. Some commentators had claimed that the government’s policy had failed and that consumers were now being pushed towards installing batteries alongside rooftop solar systems.
Rejecting this criticism, Leghari said he had already explained in his previous statements that changes to the net-metering regime were intended, among other objectives, to encourage consumers to adopt battery storage.
He maintained that the government’s decision to move from net metering towards net billing had not reduced the number of applications from consumers seeking to sell surplus solar electricity to the national grid.
“We are very pleased on this scenario,” the minister said.
Leghari further claimed that the shift in the regulatory framework had not diminished consumers’ interest in adopting solar power despite fluctuations in prices and government duties on imported solar panels.
He stressed that the government had not attempted to discourage the expansion or adoption of solar energy in Pakistan.
The minister also clarified that the government was not responsible for determining the prices of solar panels, saying their prices were determined by market forces.
His remarks come as Pakistan’s rooftop solar market continues to reshape the country’s electricity landscape, with consumers increasingly looking beyond conventional grid dependence. The government’s growing emphasis on battery storage indicates that the next phase of Pakistan’s solar revolution could increasingly revolve around storing daytime solar power and using it when grid electricity is most expensive.
The policy shift effectively places energy storage at the centre of the evolving rooftop solar model, potentially transforming batteries from an optional addition to solar installations into a key tool for consumers seeking greater energy independence and protection from high peak-hour electricity costs.
Why govt changed net-metering rules? Power Minister reveals the battery storage strategy
