Petition Challenges New Solar Net Metering Policy in Lahore Court

A petition challenging the federal government’s recent solar net metering policy has been filed before the Lahore High Court, seeking its immediate suspension. The case garnered attention as it came directly from Justice Abid Hussain Chattha, who issued a directive requiring the respondents to respond by submitting their replies.

The petitioner involved is represented by counsel and has named the federal government, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) as parties to this legal action. At the hearing, the petitioner’s advocate requested an injunction on the enforcement of the policy but was denied by Justice Chattha, who felt the court needed more responses from the respondents before considering any interim relief.

Previously, NEPRA had announced new regulations replacing net metering with a net billing system, where surplus solar power is bought at Rs11 per unit, down from the previous rate of around Rs27. Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Khan Leghari revealed this shift was on account of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives.

Leghari made these comments during a session presided over by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah at the National Assembly of Pakistan, underscoring the impact of governmental changes in energy policies.