KARACHI: The Parliamentary Forum on Energy and Economy convened a high-level briefing to examine the implications of the recently approved Prosumer Regulation 2026 by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), raising concerns over consumer rights, regulatory predictability and the future of distributed renewable energy in Pakistan.
According to a statement, the session brought together parliamentarians, regulators, industry representatives and policy experts to assess the economic, legal and structural consequences of the revised net metering framework. Secretary of the Parliamentary Forum on Energy and Economy Danyal Chaudhary moderated the proceedings.
Opening the session, Co-Convenor of the Forum Sher Ali Arbab said the rapid expansion of rooftop solar had been driven by rising electricity tariffs and persistent grid unreliability. “Citizens invested in rooftop solar largely in response to systemic weaknesses in the power sector,” he said, adding that regulatory stability is essential to sustain public confidence in clean energy investments.
Director-General (Licensing) at Nepra Imtiaz Hussain Baloch outlined the rationale behind the Prosumer Regulation 2026. He said the revised framework seeks to address concerns related to revenue recovery, cost allocation and grid sustainability amid growing penetration of distributed solar generation.
On consumer rights and broader public policy implications, Manzoor Ahmed Ali Zai of the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) warned that altering the financial terms of net metering could undermine the legitimate expectations of households that made long-term investments under the previous regulatory regime. He said reforms should not disproportionately burden middle-income consumers who adopted renewable energy in good faith.
Waqas Moosa, chairperson of the Pakistan Solar Association, said the revised framework could significantly extend the payback period for rooftop solar systems and slow future adoption. He added that weakening incentives for distributed generation may push consumers towards battery storage and partial disengagement from the national grid, creating new financial and operational challenges for the power sector.
Several participants expressed concern over the speed with which the regulation was finalised. Parliamentarians noted that reforms with far-reaching financial and legal consequences for thousands of consumers require broader consultation, greater transparency in impact assessments and adequate time for public scrutiny. Some questioned whether the urgency shown in approving the regulation matched the extent of stakeholder engagement undertaken.
During the discussion, lawmakers underscored Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to oversee major regulatory shifts with significant economic and social implications. They said stronger parliamentary oversight is needed to ensure transparency, fairness and alignment with national climate and energy goals, and called for more structured engagement between regulators and parliamentary forums before the approval of significant policy changes.
In her closing remarks, Co-Convenor of the Forum Dr Nafisa Shah said the Prosumer Regulation 2026 is not merely a tariff adjustment but a policy decision with long-term implications for investor confidence, consumer protection and Pakistan’s clean energy transition. She called for greater transparency in impact assessments and continued parliamentary engagement to ensure that energy reforms remain equitable, accountable and forward-looking.
