The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued the new Net Metering Regulations for the year 2026. This has brought major changes for consumers across Pakistan.
NEPRA net metering: old vs new rules
The new rules end the old unit for unit system and replace it with a net billing system for both existing and new users.
Under the previous system, if a consumer sent one unit of electricity to the grid, they received one unit back as a free adjustment. This meant imported and exported units were balanced equally.
And under the new system, the grid will buy extra electricity from consumers at around Rs11 per unit.
However, when consumers take electricity from the grid, they will pay the full retail rate. This rate can range between Rs37 and Rs55 per unit. It excludes taxes and other charges.
Earlier, the buyback rate for solar users was around Rs25.9 per unit. Under the new rules, this rate will drop to nearly Rs11 per unit for new consumers.
This means solar users will earn less for selling power and pay more when buying from the grid.
NEPRA net metering policy 2026
NEPRA has also changed the policy for existing consumers.
Before this, officials had said old contracts would stay unchanged for seven years. This has now changed.
Now, the existing registered solar users will be shifted immediately from net metering to net billing.
Their exported units will now be credited for one month instead of three months. All other terms will remain the same until their contracts expire.
New solar consumer contracts
New solar consumers will receive contracts for five years. These contracts can later be renewed for another five years.
Additionally, their exported electricity will be purchased at around Rs11 per unit.
Under net billing, electricity sent to the grid and electricity taken from the grid will be calculated separately every 30 days.
The value of both will be different. The final bill will be based on the price difference and not on equal units.
Surplus electricity will be paid at Rs26 per unit for existing users and around Rs10 per unit for future users.
Additionally, the imported units from distribution companies will be billed at retail rates.
Who do the new rules apply to?
The new rules apply to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and general service consumers.
They will also cover solar, wind and biogas systems up to one megawatt.
NEPRA now has the authority to change purchase rates, collect data, issue instructions and impose penalties.
For ordinary users, the return on investment for solar systems will take longer.
Selling extra electricity may be less profitable. Using solar power directly at home will now be more beneficial than exporting it to the grid, observers say.
How will it affect users?
Under the new Net Billing system, solar users will no longer get one unit in return for one unit they send to the grid.
Instead, any extra electricity will be sold to the government at a low rate of around Rs11 per unit.
At the same time, users will still buy electricity from the grid at much higher rates. And it can be around Rs40 to Rs50 or more per unit.
For most people, this may reduce monthly savings and increase the time needed to recover the cost of a solar system.
NEPRA net metering registration
Registering for net metering with NEPRA involves several steps and is mainly done through a local Distribution Company (DISCO) such as LESCO, IESCO or K-Electric.
Net metering solar has become an important option for homeowners and businesses in Pakistan to save on electricity costs.
Under the new net metering Pakistan rules, consumers can sell extra electricity back to the grid, but at lower rates than before.
The net metering in Pakistan system is now regulated by NEPRA, which introduced the updated net metering policy to manage solar energy more efficiently.
With NEPRA net metering, users must register through their local DISCO, get a generation license, and have a bi-directional meter installed.
Solar net metering Pakistan applies to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural users.
Registration process
- First, an AEDB-certified solar company carries out a site survey and submits an application to your DISCO.
- The DISCO team visits your location to check if the system is safe and suitable for the grid.
- If approved, you sign a three-year agreement with the DISCO, which can be renewed.
- The DISCO sends your case to NEPRA for a generation license. You can track this on NEPRA’s net metering portal.
- After the license is issued, the DISCO installs a two-way meter to record electricity sent to and taken from the grid.
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— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) February 10, 2026
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