In short: the cost of getting net metering (now net billing) in Lahore has several parts:
- the net billing service, which with Solar Net Metering costs Rs 160,000 for a 10 kW system with LESCO
- LESCO’s demand notice for interconnection and metering
- a load extension security deposit if your sanctioned load is too low
- a NEPRA licence fee only for systems above 25 kW
The solar panels, inverter and installation are a separate cost.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Official charges are taken from NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026, NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual (revised 2025) and Dawn’s report on the licence fee change. Sources are listed at the end.
Every cost, item by item
| Cost | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Net billing service, 10 kW (Solar Net Metering) | Rs 160,000 with LESCO and K-Electric (Rs 200,000 with the other distribution companies) | 10 kW net billing |
| NEPRA licence fee | None up to 25 kW; Rs 1,000 per kW above 25 kW, one time | Systems above 25 kW |
| LESCO demand notice for interconnection and metering | Estimate for your connection: actual material cost (with 12% store handling) plus installation charges | Every net billing connection |
| Load extension security deposit | Residential urban Rs 1,220 per kW; commercial urban Rs 1,810 per kW; industrial from Rs 1,580 per kW | If your sanctioned load is below your solar size or below 5 kW |
| Meter, if LESCO has none | Market price of an approved meter | Only if LESCO cannot supply a meter; LESCO tests it before installation |
| Load flow study | Consultant or DISCO charges | Systems of 250 kW or more |
| Solar system (panels, inverter, structure, installation) | Depends on size and equipment | Always, quoted separately |
Ask us exactly what is included in our net billing service for your connection before you start. Charges set by LESCO appear on the demand notice LESCO issues.
The official charges explained
NEPRA licence fee: free for most homes
When net billing started in February 2026, a licence fee was announced. After public criticism, NEPRA amended the rules, and Dawn reported on 28 April 2026 that systems of 25 kW or less need no licence and pay no fee. Larger systems pay a one-time Rs 1,000 per kW. A 50 kW commercial system, for example, pays Rs 50,000 once.
LESCO demand notice for interconnection and metering
Under NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026, the prosumer pays for the interconnection facilities up to the interconnection point, including the metering installation. LESCO issues the connection charge estimate within 7 working days of signing your agreement, and you pay within 7 working days. NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual bases connection charges on the actual cost of material, including a 12% store handling charge, plus installation charges. Because every connection needs different material, there is no single fixed amount. Read more in our guide to the LESCO green meter and demand notice.
Load extension: only if your sanctioned load is too low
Your solar system cannot be larger than your sanctioned load, and the net billing portal needs at least 5 kW. If you must extend, the demand notice includes a security deposit per additional kW, set in Annexure IV of NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual. Extending an urban home from 5 kW to 10 kW, for example, means 5 × Rs 1,220 = Rs 6,100 in security deposit, plus any material and installation charges. See how to check and increase sanctioned load with LESCO.
Example: 10 kW net billing for a Lahore home
| Item | Home already at 10 kW sanctioned load | Urban home extending from 5 kW to 10 kW |
|---|---|---|
| Net billing service (Solar Net Metering) | Rs 160,000 | Rs 160,000 |
| NEPRA licence fee | Rs 0 | Rs 0 |
| Load extension security deposit | Not needed | Rs 6,100 |
| LESCO demand notice(s) | As issued by LESCO | As issued by LESCO |
The solar equipment itself is quoted separately. For how much a 10 kW system produces in Lahore, see our 10 kW solar system guide.
Is the cost worth it?
Every solar unit you use yourself saves your full tariff, which Dawn reported at about Rs 37 to Rs 55 per unit before taxes when net billing was announced. Exported units are credited at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11. A system sized for your daytime use recovers its costs fastest. In our experience, a correctly sized system used mainly during the day typically pays back in 2 to 3 years, not counting a battery. For the full rules, read our complete guide to net billing in Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the net metering cost in Lahore?
With Solar Net Metering, net billing for a 10 kW system costs Rs 160,000 with LESCO. On top of that come LESCO’s demand notice for interconnection and metering, and a load extension security deposit if your sanctioned load is too low.
Is there a NEPRA licence fee for home solar?
Not for systems of 25 kW or less. Larger systems pay a one-time Rs 1,000 per kW.
How much is the LESCO load extension security deposit?
Under NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual, Rs 1,220 per kW for urban residential connections and Rs 1,810 per kW for urban commercial connections, plus any material and installation charges on the demand notice.
Does the price include the solar panels?
No. The net billing service and the official charges are separate from the cost of the solar system itself.
Is the 10 kW net billing price the same outside Lahore?
Not everywhere. Solar Net Metering charges Rs 160,000 for 10 kW net billing with LESCO and K-Electric, and Rs 200,000 with the other distribution companies.
اردو خلاصہ
لاہور میں نیٹ میٹرنگ (اب نیٹ بلنگ) کے اخراجات کئی حصوں پر مشتمل ہیں۔ سولر نیٹ میٹرنگ کے ساتھ لیسکو میں 10 کلو واٹ سسٹم کی نیٹ بلنگ 1,60,000 روپے ہے۔ اس کے علاوہ لیسکو کا ڈیمانڈ نوٹس ہوتا ہے جو کنکشن اور میٹرنگ کے اصل اخراجات پر مبنی ہوتا ہے۔ اگر منظور شدہ لوڈ کم ہو تو سیکیورٹی ڈپازٹ دینا ہوتا ہے، شہری رہائشی کنکشن کے لیے 1,220 روپے فی کلو واٹ۔ 25 کلو واٹ تک کے سسٹم پر نیپرا لائسنس فیس نہیں ہے۔ سولر پینلز اور انورٹر کی قیمت الگ ہے۔
Get an exact quote for your connection
Solar Net Metering installs solar systems and handles net billing applications in Lahore. Net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000. Office: 222 Main Boulevard, DHA Phase 6, Lahore.
Sources
- Dawn, 28 April 2026: Nepra abolishes licence requirement, fee for small solar users
- NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026
- NEPRA Consumer Service Manual (revised 2025): clause 2.5 and Annexure IV
- Dawn, 10 February 2026: Nepra pulls the plug on net-metering
Official charges can change; LESCO’s demand notice shows the final amounts for your connection.