Pakistan’s national electricity grid is facing a new challenge as more homes and businesses switch to solar power. Official data shows grid electricity demand fell by 8.66% compared to the previous year. During the April–June period, sales by various distribution companies (DISCOs) dropped by as much as 10% in some cases.
The main reason is the rapid rise in rooftop and distributed solar systems. Domestic and commercial consumers are generating more of their own power and buying less from the grid. This shift is especially clear in the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) area.
Here are the key figures for IESCO year-on-year changes:
| Category / Month | April | May | June |
| Overall sales decline | 10.77% | 3.55% | 6.29% |
| Domestic consumers | 19.69% | 7.92% | 5.72% |
| Commercial consumers | 6.85% | 3.80% | 1.85% |
| Electricity demand drop | 16% | 8% | 2% |
While solar helps users cut their electricity bills and reduces pressure on the system during sunny daytime hours, it creates problems for the wider grid. Power plants still receive fixed capacity payments even when less electricity is sold. These fixed costs are then shared among the remaining grid customers, raising their bills.
Experts note that lower grid sales do not mean people are using less electricity overall. Instead, a growing share of power is now produced privately through solar. This trend is reshaping Pakistan’s energy system and forcing policymakers to rethink how the power sector is funded and managed.