Power distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan have reportedly issued inflated electricity bills to solar consumers by excluding millions of units exported to the grid through net metering connections. Consumers were charged for their full electricity consumption without accounting for the energy they supplied back, leading to unusually high bills, particularly during the winter months.
The revised net metering policy has been used by DISCOs to conceal line losses, as excess generation beyond approved capacity is no longer credited. Many solar consumers have raised concerns that these changes discourage rooftop solar adoption.
In addition, DISCOs have delayed new net metering connections and contract approvals over the past two months. Despite paying demand notices and signing contracts, thousands of customers have yet to receive net meters. The exclusion of exported units from recent bills has resulted in significantly higher charges for solar users.
