The Power Division has directed distribution companies (DISCOs) to clear the mounting backlog of net-metering applications within 15 days. The move comes after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) pulled up the ministry for deliberate delays and regulatory non-compliance.
For thousands of consumers waiting for grid connectivity, the directive signals a shift in policy. DISCOs have been ordered to process all pending applications that meet technical criteria without further administrative hurdles. Sources familiar with the internal discussions suggest that the ministry felt the pressure after NEPRA threatened to initiate legal action against heads of distribution companies for failing to implement the regulator’s rules.
The backlog had become a point of contention between the government and solar-adopting consumers. Many applicants reported waiting months for simple site inspections or document verification—delays that critics argued were an attempt to protect the revenue of conventional power plants as solar adoption surged.
“The regulator made it clear: the delay is unacceptable,” a senior official at the Power Division said. “We have given the DISCOs a hard deadline. Any further stalling will be treated as professional misconduct.”
While the directive is a win for residential solar users, challenges remain. The grid infrastructure in several urban centers is struggling to absorb the influx of intermittent solar power. DISCOs have long pointed to the technical difficulty of managing reverse power flows, though NEPRA maintains that these are engineering hurdles, not excuses to stall consumer rights.
Under the new instructions, DISCOs must now provide a valid, technical reason in writing if an application is rejected. Vague or bureaucratic excuses will no longer suffice.
With the 15-day window now open, the focus shifts to whether the distribution companies—historically slow-moving and resistant to change—can actually clear the queue. If the backlog persists past the deadline, the regulator has hinted at more aggressive measures, including direct penalties on the distribution companies themselves.
