In short: solar suits DHA Lahore homes well: wide roofs, three-phase connections and strong sunshine. Before you install, get three things right:
- DHA approval first. DHA’s 2026 regulations require a solar proposal to be approved before installation, a PPIB-authorised vendor, Tier 1 equipment and height limits (upper edge at most 10 feet above the roof for 1 kanal and above).
- The right size. Size by your bill, within your sanctioned load.
- Net billing. Most DHA phases are LESCO areas and apply on the PITC Net Billing Portal; Phase 12 (EME) is supplied by DHA itself.
With Solar Net Metering, net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000. Our office is in DHA Phase 6.
Last updated: 22 September 2026. Based on DHA Lahore’s Construction and Development Regulations 2026 and its solar installation guidelines, NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026 and PVGIS data for Lahore. Sources are listed at the end.
DHA Lahore’s rules for rooftop solar
DHA Lahore regulates solar panels on houses. The rules are in clause 67 of its Construction and Development Regulations 2026, and in solar installation guidelines DHA published in June 2026. The main points:
- Approval before installation: a complete proposal, including a detailed design and the placement of panels on the roof, must be submitted to DHA for scrutiny and approval before any work starts.
- Vendor: the system must be bought from and installed by a vendor approved or authorised by the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), with work eligibility in Punjab.
- Equipment: panels and inverters must be Tier 1.
- Structure: permanent structures built into the grey structure are not allowed. The frame must be fixed to the roof with stainless steel anchors, with concrete footings for the steel columns and the roof’s waterproofing kept intact.
- Safety: AC and DC earthing and a lightning arrester are mandatory for every installation.
Height limits for solar panels in DHA
| Where | Upper edge of panels | Lower edge of panels |
|---|---|---|
| Houses of 1 kanal and above | At most 10 feet above the roof | At most 5 feet above the roof |
| Houses of 5 to 10 marla | At most 12 feet above the roof (strictly) | According to the space available |
| Mumtee, machine room or overhead water tank | At most 1 foot 6 inches above that roof, and only with DHA’s prior permission | At most 2 inches above that roof |
Documents DHA asks for
- LESCO NOC, or an electricity bill for the property that shows the distributed generation (DG) load
- A valid copy of the solar company’s PPIB licence
- A structure stability certificate from the solar company (original), rated for wind of 100 km/h for a standard structure or 125 to 140 km/h for an elevated or customised one
- A commissioning certificate from the solar company covering the electrical, earthing and mechanical work (original)
Ask any installer to show their PPIB licence before you sign. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with DHA’s building control office before you apply.
Who supplies electricity in your DHA phase
DHA’s own solar rules name two distribution companies in DHA: LESCO and DHA EME.
- LESCO phases: most DHA Lahore homes, including Phase 6, are LESCO customers. They apply for net billing online on the PITC Net Billing Portal, like any other LESCO home. See our step-by-step guide to LESCO net metering and net billing in Lahore.
- Phase 12 (EME): DHA holds its own NEPRA distribution licence for the EME sector. It buys electricity from LESCO in bulk and supplies residents itself. The PITC portal lists LESCO, not DHA EME, so EME residents should ask DHA’s EME electricity office how to apply for net billing.
Check the company name printed on your electricity bill if you are not sure.
What size solar system does a DHA home need?
Size by the units on your bill, not by plot size. In Lahore, PVGIS data puts yearly production at about 1,570 units per kW, roughly 130 units per kW per month, so divide your average monthly units by 130 for a starting estimate. DHA counts a marla as 225 square feet and a kanal as 4,500 square feet.
| DHA plot | Standard plot size | Typical starting size |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 25 × 45 ft | About 4 to 6 kW |
| 10 marla | 35 × 65 ft | About 8 to 10 kW |
| 1 kanal | 50 × 90 ft | About 10 to 15 kW |
| 2 kanal | 75 × 120 ft or 100 × 90 ft | About 15 to 25 kW |
The “typical starting size” column is a loose guide only; your own bill and clear roof space decide. Plan for about 70 to 80 sq ft of clear roof per kW. For detail, see our guides for 5 and 10 marla houses and for a 1 kanal house.
Two limits apply to every LESCO home:
- Sanctioned load: your solar system cannot be larger than the sanctioned load on your bill, and net billing needs a three-phase connection. See how to check and increase sanctioned load with LESCO.
- Transformer capacity: LESCO does not accept new applications once solar on your transformer reaches 80% of its rating. You can check your transformer on the PITC portal before you apply.
Net billing for DHA homes
- How exports are paid: units you export are credited at the national average energy purchase price, reported at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit when the rules started. Units you use yourself save your full tariff, so size for your daytime use.
- No NEPRA fee or approval up to 25 kW: systems up to 25 kW pay no NEPRA licence fee, and since August 2026 they no longer need NEPRA’s concurrence (S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026).
- Agreement: five years.
- Our price: net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000 with Solar Net Metering. See the full net metering cost breakdown for Lahore.
For all the rules, read our complete guide to net billing in Pakistan.
Tips for DHA homeowners
- Plan the layout around the height limits. An elevated structure lets you keep using the roof, but on a 1 kanal house the upper edge must stay within 10 feet.
- Avoid shade from the mumtee, water tanks, parapets and neighbouring houses. Even partial shade cuts output.
- Clean panels regularly. Lahore’s dust and winter smog reduce production. See our solar panel cleaning guide for Lahore.
- Evening loads: if your ACs run mostly after sunset, a battery can store daytime solar. See hybrid solar systems in Lahore.
- Keep the paperwork: DHA’s approval, the stability and commissioning certificates, and your net billing agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need DHA’s approval to install solar panels?
Yes. Under DHA Lahore’s 2026 regulations, a complete solar proposal must be submitted to DHA for scrutiny and approval before installation.
How high can solar panels be on a DHA house?
For houses of 1 kanal and above, the upper edge can be at most 10 feet above the roof and the lower edge at most 5 feet. For 5 to 10 marla houses, the upper edge can be at most 12 feet.
Who can install solar in DHA Lahore?
DHA’s rules require a vendor approved or authorised by the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), with work eligibility in Punjab. DHA asks for a copy of the vendor’s PPIB licence.
Is DHA Lahore electricity from LESCO?
Most DHA Lahore phases are LESCO areas. Phase 12 (EME) is supplied by DHA itself under its own NEPRA distribution licence, with electricity bought from LESCO in bulk.
What size solar system does a 1 kanal house in DHA need?
Most 1 kanal homes using 1,300 to 2,000 units a month on average need about 10 to 15 kW, and about 1,050 to 1,200 sq ft of clear roof for 15 kW. See our full guide to a solar system for a 1 kanal house.
How much does net billing cost for a 10 kW system in DHA?
With Solar Net Metering, net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000. LESCO’s demand notice and the solar system itself are separate.
اردو خلاصہ
ڈی ایچ اے لاہور میں سولر لگانے سے پہلے ڈی ایچ اے سے منظوری لینا ضروری ہے۔ 2026 کے قواعد کے مطابق سسٹم صرف پی پی آئی بی سے منظور شدہ وینڈر لگا سکتا ہے اور پینل اور انورٹر ٹیئر ون ہونے چاہییں۔ ایک کنال یا اس سے بڑے گھر میں پینل کا اوپری کنارہ چھت سے زیادہ سے زیادہ 10 فٹ اور 5 سے 10 مرلہ گھر میں 12 فٹ تک ہو سکتا ہے۔ ارتھنگ اور لائٹننگ اریسٹر لازمی ہیں۔ زیادہ تر ڈی ایچ اے فیز لیسکو کے علاقے ہیں جہاں نیٹ بلنگ کی درخواست پی آئی ٹی سی پورٹل پر دی جاتی ہے، جبکہ فیز 12 (ای ایم ای) میں بجلی ڈی ایچ اے خود فراہم کرتا ہے۔ سولر نیٹ میٹرنگ کے ساتھ لیسکو میں 10 کلو واٹ کی نیٹ بلنگ 1,60,000 روپے ہے۔ ہمارا دفتر ڈی ایچ اے فیز 6 میں ہے۔
اردو میں مکمل گائیڈ: ڈی ایچ اے لاہور میں سولر: منظوری، اونچائی کی حد اور نیٹ بلنگ
Solar for your DHA home
Solar Net Metering is based at 222 Main Boulevard, DHA Phase 6, Lahore. Send us your LESCO bill and we will suggest the right system size for your house. Net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000.
Sources
- DHA Lahore, Construction and Development Regulations 2026: clause 67, solar system installation guidelines; definitions of marla and kanal
- DHA Lahore, Guidelines for Installation of Solar System (June 2026)
- DHA Lahore, byelaws for installing solar energy panels, naming LESCO and DHA EME
- NEPRA, distribution licence of DHA for the EME sector (2016)
- NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026
- PITC Net Billing Portal, including the transformer overloading check
- PVGIS (European Commission Joint Research Centre): Lahore, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses
This page explains the rules in plain language and is not legal or engineering advice. Confirm current requirements with DHA and LESCO for your house.