Pakistan sees remarkable growth in solar energy, net metering output surges – SUCH TV

Pakistan’s shift towards renewable energy is picking up pace, with rooftop solar steadily making its mark on the national power supply.

The growth is not just yearly. Compared to August, net metering output jumped 28 percent in September, signalling that more households and businesses are installing solar systems to cut costs and rely less on the grid. Its share in total electricity generation has also grown, climbing from 0.6 percent last September to 1.1 percent this year.

“Net metering’s rise reflects the increasing adoption of solar and a move away from full dependence on the grid,” said AHL. The sector’s peak came in April 2025, when rooftop solar contributed 307.8 GWh, nearly 3 percent of total electricity.

While solar adoption grows, the government is reviewing the rules that govern net metering. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently asked the Power Division to speed up its review of proposed changes to buyback rates, in consultation with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. The plan is to cut the rate from Rs22 per unit to about Rs11.30 per unit, citing the financial burden the current rate places on other consumers.

The prime minister also asked officials to check whether existing contracts under the Net Metering Rules 2015 allow such changes. The outcome could influence future solar installations, as any shift in rates affects the appeal of rooftop systems.

The rise of net metering shows that Pakistanis are increasingly looking for ways to take control of their energy, and rooftop solar is slowly but steadily carving a space in the country’s power landscape.