The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has clarified that users of off-grid solar systems in Pakistan do not need any license, as they are not connected to the national electricity grid.
According to NEPRA sources, off-grid solar consumers do not fall under net metering or net billing systems. For this reason, the existing licensing rules do not apply to them, and no new proposal is currently being considered to change this status.
Officials further explained that in the past, no license was required for off-grid solar users, and this position remains unchanged. They confirmed that such users will continue to operate without regulatory licensing requirements.
However, changes have been introduced in the net billing system for grid-connected solar users. Under the new framework, registration and authorization requirements will apply based on different categories of solar installations.
Previously, consumers with a solar load above 25 kilowatts were required to obtain a NEPRA license, while smaller users were handled by distribution companies without any fee. Under the updated system, NEPRA will now also issue licenses for installations of 25 kilowatts or less.
Reports also suggest that a fee of Rs. 1,000 per kilowatt has been proposed for the new licensing process for smaller systems.
Despite these changes for grid-connected users, NEPRA has clearly stated that off-grid solar consumers will remain unaffected by the new rules and will continue to operate freely without any licensing requirement.
