Islamabad: The Power Division, on the direction of Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, has formally approached the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to abolish application fees and remove licensing requirements for solar consumers with systems of 25 kilowatts and below.

The move aims to restore earlier incentives for small-scale solar users and support the country’s transition toward renewable energy.

According to officials, under the 2015 distributed generation regulations, systems up to 25 kW were exempt from licensing requirements and were processed directly by distribution companies without any application fee. However, the recently introduced Prosumer Regulations shifted approval authority to NEPRA and imposed fees even on small-scale installations.

The Power Division highlighted concerns raised by the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), as well as objections from industry stakeholders including the Pakistan Solar Association and renewable energy firms, who argued that the new framework creates unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

Following the minister’s directive, the Division has urged NEPRA to reinstate the earlier policy, warning that the current regulations could slow the adoption of alternative energy solutions in the country.