The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has amended its Prosumer Regulations, 2026, removing the requirement for small-scale prosumers to obtain the Authority's concurrence. Under S.R.O. 1330(I)/2026, dated 6 August 2026, a prosumer with a distributed generation facility of 25 kW or below needs only the approval of the concerned distribution licensee.

Who qualifies for the exemption

The exemption applies to prosumers whose distributed generation facility: using solar, wind, or biogas: has a capacity of 25 kilowatts or below. The Prosumer Regulations, 2026 define a distributed generation facility as one of up to 1 MW; the new proviso carves out the lower tier for a streamlined approval path.

How the regulations were amended

The notification makes four changes to the existing regulations:

  • In regulation 3(11), the words "or approval" are inserted after "concurrence".
  • A second proviso is added to regulation 4(1): "Provided that a prosumer having distributed generation facility of 25 kW or below capacity shall not be required to seek concurrence from the Authority and the concerned licensee shall accord its approval."
  • In regulation 4(4), "or approval" is inserted after both occurrences of "concurrence".
  • In clause 4 of the Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement (Schedule-I), the words "if applicable" are inserted after "for the facility".

What the change means in practice

A prosumer installing a rooftop solar system or other DG facility of 25 kW or below now deals only with the local DISCO. The licensee is required to process the application and grant interconnection approval, which the regulations already provide "shall not be unreasonably withheld."

The notification was issued under section 47 of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997, and took effect upon publication in the official Gazette on 6 August 2026.

The notification does not specify transitional arrangements for applications already pending with the Authority, nor does it alter the six-month validity period for concurrence or approval under regulation 4(4). One news report cited the S.R.O. as 1320(I)/2026, but the Gazette notification published on the NEPRA website bears the number 1330(I)/2026. The notification date of 6 August falls outside this newsroom's seven-day coverage window, having been issued thirteen days before the current date.