SCCI asks govt to withdraw changes to net metering policy

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Fazal Moqeem Khan on Saturday criticized the government for changing the solar net metering policy and said this would adversely hit the renewable energy sector.

In a statement, he said that reducing the payback rates for net metering electricity to Rs10 per unit would negatively impact this sector.

He said the major cut of 63 percent would not only discourage new investment in the solar energy sector but it could prevent the government from achieving its targets in renewable energy. Moqeem said it was completely incomprehensible to force solar energy consumers to buy electricity over 550 percent from the national grid.

He said it was incomprehensible that the government, under the guise of changes in the policy, would charge an additional 90 paisa per unit from non-solar consumers.

He said that the government was attempting to divert attention from Rs18/unit to non-functional capacity payments and approximately annual Rs600 billion losses on account of power theft and non-payment of power bills. The SCCI president urged the government to review its decision and give priority to such durable energy solutions that would serve the interests of consumers from all categories, instead of benefiting only a few segments.

Moqeem said the uplift renewal energy sector was essential for the country’s energy prosperity, economic growth and environmental stability.

He urged the government to consult with the business community along with relevant stakeholders and frame a balanced and comprehensive energy policy to promote renewable energy sector and protect the interest of power consumers.