Govt Employees Get Free Electricity Worth Rs. 6,000 Every Month: Energy Minister
- Sara Habib
- January 30, 2025
- 12:33 pm
- 33
- Current Affairs
Energy Minister Awais Leghari recently disclosed that power sector employees receive Rs. 6,000 worth of free electricity every month. However, stopping this benefit is currently not possible due to ongoing legal cases. These legal challenges make it difficult for the government to reform the existing free electricity policy.
Proposed Alternative: Salary Increments
To tackle this issue, the minister proposed replacing free electricity with higher salaries. The government is also working on a plan to offer surplus electricity at reduced rates. If implemented, this strategy could ease the financial strain caused by the current policy and create a more balanced system.
Financial Burden of Solar Net Metering
Leghari also highlighted another major challenge: the financial impact of solar net metering. This system has added an extra Rs. 103 billion burden on regular consumers. As more households switch to solar energy, the government faces rising costs due to expensive power purchases from net metering users.
Balancing Cost Recovery for Solar Users
The government is working to ensure that solar users recover their installation costs within four years. However, this must be done without putting additional pressure on non-solar consumers. A balanced approach is necessary to maintain affordability while encouraging renewable energy adoption.
Steps Toward a Fairer System
To improve the system, the government is focusing on:
Replacing free electricity with salary adjustments to remove unfair subsidies.
Offering surplus electricity at lower rates to reduce the financial burden.
Reforming solar net metering policies to distribute costs more evenly.
Conclusion
The transition from the free electricity policy to a fairer system is necessary for long-term sustainability. By adjusting salaries and restructuring energy pricing, the government aims to reduce financial stress on regular consumers while supporting renewable energy growth. A well-balanced policy will benefit both energy sector employees and the general public in the long run.
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