ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy’s Power Division has officially requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to eliminate application fees and licensing requirements for small-scale solar systems up to 25kW.
In a memorandum dated April 26, 2026, the Power Division cited recent regulatory shifts under the *NEPRA (Prosumers) Regulations 2026* as the catalyst for the review. While the new regulations aimed to streamline the distributed generation landscape, they inadvertently centralized approval authority for all facility sizes under NEPRA, imposing fees on systems that were previously exempt.
🚨پاور ڈویژن نے نیپرا سے 25kW تک کے سولر سسٹم پر فیس ختم کرنے اور لائسنس کی شرط ہٹانے کی باضابطہ درخواست کر دی۔ مقصد بیوروکریٹک رکاوٹیں ختم کر کے عوام کے لیے سولر کا حصول آسان بنانا ہے: ترجمان@MoWP15
#SolarPakistan #EnergyRelief #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/b8PN0nwiwW
— Zahid Khawaja 🌍 (@khawajaNNInews) April 26, 2026
Under the previous regulatory framework, applications for systems of 25kW and below were processed directly by Distribution Companies (DISCOs) with no fees charged to consumers. The Power Division argues that the new centralized mandate creates “unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles” and financial deterrents for residential and small commercial users.
The request follows objections raised during public hearings by industry stakeholders, including the Pakistan Solar Association and Primage (Pvt) Ltd. These groups argued that removing the approval authority from DISCOs would slow the momentum of the national drive toward renewable energy.
The Power Division has urged NEPRA to reinstate the earlier practices, allowing DISCOs to handle approvals for sub-25kW facilities and removing the associated fees. This move aims to ensure the “fruitful proliferation of renewable energy” in the domestic sector by returning to a more agile, decentralized approval model.
