Islamabad: The Power Division has formally requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to eliminate the application fee and remove the license requirement for solar energy systems of 25 kilowatts and below. This move aims to encourage the adoption of solar energy by easing the regulatory process for small-scale solar consumers.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Power Division’s request was conveyed in a letter to NEPRA, following a directive from Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari. The division had previously alerted NEPRA to the negative impacts of the current regulations and urged alignment with the earlier rules.

Under the regulations established in 2015, distributed generation facilities of 25 kilowatts or less were exempt from requiring a license from NEPRA, with applications processed directly by distribution companies without a fee. This setup served as a significant incentive for residential users. However, recent Prosumer Regulations have shifted approval authority to NEPRA and imposed application fees on these small systems.

In response to the Minister’s directive, the Power Division has reiterated its request for NEPRA to reinstate the previous practice, cautioning that the current regulatory framework could hinder the nation’s efforts to increase alternative energy usage.