Net billing in Pakistan, in short: since 9 February 2026, new solar connections are approved under NEPRA’s net billing rules instead of net metering. Units you take from the grid are billed at your normal tariff. Units your system sends to the grid are credited at NEPRA’s national average energy purchase price, reported at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit when the rules started.
So the biggest saving now comes from using your own solar power during the day, not from exporting it. New agreements last five years. Your system cannot be bigger than your sanctioned load, and systems up to 25 kW pay no NEPRA licence fee.
Last updated: 21 September 2026. This guide is based on the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026, and later official amendments. Sources are listed at the end.
What changed on 9 February 2026?
On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026. They came into force the same day and repealed the 2015 net metering regulations. Under the old rules, every unit you exported cancelled out a unit you imported, one for one. Under net billing, the two directions are priced separately.
| Point | Old net metering (2015 rules) | Net billing (2026 rules) |
|---|---|---|
| Units you export | Offset against imported units, unit for unit | Credited at the national average energy purchase price (NAEPP) |
| Units you import | Only the net difference was billed | Every imported unit is billed at your applicable tariff |
| Agreement term | Seven years | Five years, renewable for five more by mutual consent |
| Maximum system size | Could exceed sanctioned load | Cannot exceed your sanctioned load (1 kW to 1 MW) |
| Best way to save | Export as much as possible | Use as much of your own solar power as possible |
How your electricity bill works under net billing
Your DISCO (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, FESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO or TESCO) reads a meter that records electricity flowing in both directions. At the end of each 30-day billing cycle, the bill is worked out like this:
- Imported units (from the grid to you) are charged at your normal applicable tariff. Dawn reported this at about Rs 37 to Rs 55 per unit before taxes when the rules were announced.
- Exported units (from your solar system to the grid) are credited at the national average energy purchase price. Reports at the time put this at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit.
- The credit is subtracted from the charge. If your credit is larger than your charge, the extra is carried to your next bill or paid to you quarterly.
NEPRA can revise the export rate during your agreement, and the revised rate automatically applies to you. Always check the current rate on your DISCO bill before relying on any figure.
A simple example: why self-use matters
The figures below are for illustration only. They assume a 10 kW on-grid system producing about 1,200 units a month, an import tariff of Rs 50 per unit and an export rate of Rs 10 per unit. They ignore taxes, fixed charges and tariff slabs, and real production varies by city, season and roof. Both homes use 1,100 units a month in total.
| Home A: evening user | Home B: daytime user | |
|---|---|---|
| Solar units used directly | 700 | 900 |
| Units exported to the grid | 500 × Rs 10 = Rs 5,000 credit | 300 × Rs 10 = Rs 3,000 credit |
| Units imported from the grid | 400 × Rs 50 = Rs 20,000 | 200 × Rs 50 = Rs 10,000 |
| Bill under net billing | Rs 15,000 | Rs 7,000 |
| Bill without solar (1,100 × Rs 50) | Rs 55,000 | Rs 55,000 |
Both homes have the same system, but Home B pays less than half of Home A’s bill because it uses more of its solar power while the sun is shining. Running water pumps, washing machines, irons and air conditioners during the day makes a real difference under net billing.
Who can apply for net billing?
- Connection type: the regulations define an applicant as a three-phase 400V or 11kV consumer of a DISCO. This covers domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, general services and single-point bulk supply consumers. A home on a single-phase connection would first need a three-phase connection.
- System size: from 1 kW up to 1 MW, and no bigger than the sanctioned load of your premises. If you need a larger system, you must get your sanctioned load extended first.
- Transformer limit: your DISCO will not accept an application if the solar capacity already connected to your local transformer has reached 80% of its rated capacity.
- Large systems: systems of 250 kW or more need a load flow study, done through the DISCO or a consultant registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council.
- Equipment: grid-connected inverters must meet the UL 1741 standard.
How to apply for net billing: step by step
The regulations set a deadline for each step. These are working days, and real timelines can be longer if documents are missing or a site visit is needed.
| Step | What happens | Official deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ask your DISCO for the application documents (free of cost) | DISCO provides within 2 days |
| 2 | Submit the application with supporting documents | DISCO acknowledges and checks completeness within 5 days; you supply anything missing within 3 days |
| 3 | Initial technical review | Within 15 days (if not feasible, reasons given within 3 days) |
| 4 | Sign the net billing agreement with your DISCO | Within 7 days |
| 5 | DISCO issues the connection charge estimate (including metering) | Within 7 days of the agreement |
| 6 | Pay the connection charges | Within 7 days of the estimate |
| 7 | DISCO installs and commissions the interconnection and bidirectional meter | Within 15 days of payment |
| 8 | For systems above 25 kW, the DISCO forwards your case to NEPRA for concurrence and billing starts after it. Systems up to 25 kW skip this step since S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026 (August 2026) | NEPRA decides within 7 days of receiving the documents |
For systems above 25 kW, once NEPRA grants concurrence, you must start generating within six months, or a fresh concurrence is needed. Any later change to the technical parameters of your system also needs fresh concurrence.
Documents usually asked for
Your DISCO provides the official forms. Applicants are typically asked for:
- A copy of the CNIC of the person the electricity connection is registered to
- Recent paid electricity bills
- Proof of ownership of the property, or the owner’s consent if you are a tenant
- Solar system details: panel and inverter datasheets and a single-line (schematic) diagram of the system
- An affidavit in NEPRA’s prescribed format
Requirements can differ between DISCOs, so confirm the list with yours before submitting.
Fees and costs
- NEPRA licence fee: after an amendment reported by Dawn on 28 April 2026, systems of 25 kW or less pay no licence fee. Systems above 25 kW pay a one-time fee of Rs 1,000 per kW.
- Interconnection and meter: the prosumer pays for the interconnection facilities up to the connection point, including the metering installation. If the DISCO has no meter available, you may buy one yourself, and the DISCO tests it before installation.
- Solar Net Metering service: net billing for a 10 kW system costs Rs 160,000 with LESCO and K-Electric, and Rs 200,000 with the other distribution companies. Call or WhatsApp us for a quote.
Your agreement: term, renewal and termination
- The agreement runs for five years from commissioning.
- After that it can be renewed for another five years, and so on, if both you and the DISCO agree.
- You can end the agreement with 30 days’ written notice. The DISCO can end it with 30 days’ notice, but only with NEPRA’s prior approval.
- NEPRA can revise the export rate during the agreement.
Already on net metering? What happens to you
If you signed a valid net metering agreement before 9 February 2026, you are protected. After an April 2026 amendment (S.R.O. 547(I)/2026), existing net metering consumers keep their current arrangement until their agreement expires. Renewals after that follow the net billing rules.
Be careful before expanding your system. A “material modification” that changes your system’s maximum electrical output or solar capacity, such as adding panels or fitting a bigger inverter, ends that protection straight away.
Is solar still worth it under net billing?
Yes, for most homes and businesses, as long as the system is sized for how you use electricity. Every solar unit you use yourself saves you your full tariff, which is several times the export rate. In our experience, a correctly sized system used mainly during the day typically pays back in 2 to 3 years, not counting a battery, since many households buy one for load-shedding anyway.
Five ways to save more under net billing
- Size for daytime use, not for export. Oversizing only adds cheap exported units.
- Move heavy loads to sunny hours: water pumps, washing machines, irons and water dispensers.
- Consider a hybrid system with batteries if most of your use is in the evening, so you store midday power instead of exporting it cheaply.
- Check your sanctioned load early. If it is too low for the system you need, apply for a load extension first.
- Use a UL 1741-compliant inverter and keep your paperwork complete to avoid delays.
Frequently asked questions
Is net metering still available in Pakistan?
Not for new applications. Since 9 February 2026, new solar connections are processed under net billing. Consumers with existing net metering agreements keep them until they expire.
What is the net billing rate per unit in Pakistan?
Exported units are credited at the national average energy purchase price. When the rules started, it was reported at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit. NEPRA can revise it, so check your DISCO bill for the current rate.
Can I install a solar system larger than my sanctioned load?
No. Under the 2026 regulations, the system capacity cannot exceed the sanctioned load of your premises. You need to extend your sanctioned load first.
Can a single-phase home apply for net billing?
The regulations define applicants as three-phase 400V or 11kV consumers, so a single-phase home would first need a three-phase connection.
Is there a NEPRA licence fee for a 10 kW home system?
No. Following the April 2026 amendment, systems of 25 kW or less pay no licence fee. Larger systems pay a one-time Rs 1,000 per kW.
How long does net billing approval take?
Adding up the official deadlines gives roughly two to three months of working days from a complete application. Real timelines often run longer. Since August 2026, systems up to 25 kW no longer need NEPRA’s concurrence (S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026), which removes one step.
How much does net billing cost for a 10 kW system?
With Solar Net Metering, net billing for a 10 kW system costs Rs 160,000 with LESCO and K-Electric, and Rs 200,000 with the other distribution companies. Call or WhatsApp 0313 8783630 for a quote.
اردو خلاصہ: پاکستان میں نیٹ بلنگ
9 فروری 2026 سے پاکستان میں نئے سولر کنکشنز کے لیے نیٹ میٹرنگ کی جگہ نیٹ بلنگ نافذ ہو چکی ہے۔ آپ گرڈ سے جو یونٹ لیتے ہیں ان کا بل آپ کے عام ٹیرف پر بنتا ہے، اور جو یونٹ آپ گرڈ کو دیتے ہیں ان کا کریڈٹ نیشنل ایوریج انرجی پرچیز پرائس پر ملتا ہے، جو قواعد کے آغاز پر تقریباً 8 سے 11 روپے فی یونٹ بتائی گئی تھی۔
نیا معاہدہ پانچ سال کا ہوتا ہے۔ سولر سسٹم آپ کے منظور شدہ لوڈ سے بڑا نہیں ہو سکتا، اور درخواست کے لیے تھری فیز کنکشن ضروری ہے۔ 25 کلو واٹ تک کے سسٹم پر نیپرا لائسنس فیس نہیں ہے۔ پرانے نیٹ میٹرنگ صارفین اپنا معاہدہ ختم ہونے تک پرانی شرائط پر رہیں گے۔
اب سب سے زیادہ بچت دن کے وقت اپنی سولر بجلی خود استعمال کرنے سے ہوتی ہے۔ 10 کلو واٹ سسٹم کی نیٹ بلنگ لیسکو اور کے-الیکٹرک میں 1,60,000 روپے، جبکہ باقی تمام ڈسکوز میں 2,00,000 روپے۔ معلومات کے لیے کال یا واٹس ایپ کریں: 0313 8783630
اردو میں مکمل گائیڈ: نیٹ بلنگ کیا ہے؟ اور لیسکو نیٹ بلنگ کے لیے درخواست کیسے دیں
Need help with net billing?
Solar Net Metering designs and installs solar systems and handles the net billing process for homes and businesses. Net billing for a 10 kW system: Rs 160,000 with LESCO and K-Electric, or Rs 200,000 with the other distribution companies.
Net billing by city
The rules are national, but each city has its own electricity company, application route and solar output. Yearly units per kW are PVGIS long-term averages for a south-facing system at a 20-degree tilt with 14% losses.
| City | Electricity company | Yearly units per kW | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore | LESCO | About 1,570 | LESCO net metering guide |
| Karachi | K-Electric | About 1,702 | K-Electric net metering guide |
| Islamabad & Rawalpindi | IESCO | About 1,553 | IESCO net metering guide |
| Faisalabad | FESCO | About 1,604 | FESCO net metering guide |
| Multan | MEPCO | About 1,654 | MEPCO net metering guide |
| Gujranwala & Sialkot | GEPCO | About 1,558 | GEPCO net metering guide |
| Peshawar | PESCO | About 1,537 | PESCO net metering guide |
| Abbottabad | HAZECO | About 1,561 | HAZECO net metering guide |
| Quetta | QESCO | About 1,850 | QESCO net metering guide |
| Hyderabad | HESCO | About 1,713 | HESCO net metering guide |
| Sukkur | SEPCO | About 1,722 | SEPCO net metering guide |
Lahore net billing guides
- How to apply for LESCO net metering and net billing in Lahore
- LESCO green meter: application, demand notice and unit price
- LESCO net metering bill explained
- Sanctioned load in your LESCO bill: how to check and increase it
- Net metering cost in Lahore: every fee and charge
- Solar system size for a 5 marla or 10 marla house
- 10 kW solar system in Lahore: units per day and load capacity
- Solar panel cleaning in Lahore
- Hybrid solar system in Lahore
- Solar system for factories in Lahore
- Solar system size for a 1 kanal house
- Solar installation in DHA Lahore: DHA rules and net billing
- Net metering in Bahria Town Lahore
Sources
- NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026 (official PDF)
- Dawn, 10 February 2026: Nepra pulls the plug on net-metering
- Dawn, 28 April 2026: Nepra abolishes licence requirement, fee for small solar users
- Profit, 3 April 2026: NEPRA protects existing solar net metering users
This guide explains the rules in plain language and is not legal advice. Rates and procedures can change; confirm details with your DISCO or NEPRA.