ISLAMABAD: A Karachi-based Roof-Top residential solar net metering group has urged the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to revise their National Average Purchase Price (NAPP) upward like other solar projects.

The Nepra had revised NAPP from Rs 19.32 to Rs 22.95 per unit on July 2023 through a notification.

The group forwarded its request to the Nepra at a time when the government made up its mind to reduce existing buy-back rates of Roof-Top generators, citing massive solarisation in the country which has affected Discos sale.

In a letter to Chairman Nepra, Waseem Mukhtar, former Interior minister, Lt General Moinuddin Haider (retired), said that a period of nine months has passed since the last revision, which now needs a fresh review.

The group has shared tariff revision details of seven solar IPPs whose average tariff has been revised to Rs 38.59 per unit whereas Roof-Top solar generators are being paid Rs 22.95 per unit.

These solar IPPs are getting rate revision every quarter on the basis of O&M local and foreign return on equity, debt servicing and on top of it under the head of Sinosure, the government is also reimbursing their insurance cost. On the other hand, citizens of the country having invested their own funds with a clear understanding of net metering regulations and the expectation of a certain pay-back period on the licence granted to them are not being treated fairly.

“To provide equal treatment to the roof-top solar generators, it is expected that the Authority will fulfil the requirement of Sub Section (1) of Section 31 of the Act XL of 1997 for a quarterly determination of NAPPP at the earliest,” said the letter, addressed to the chairman Nepra.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024