In short: a “green meter” is the name most people in Pakistan use for the bidirectional meter fitted for net metering and net billing. It records units you take from LESCO and units your solar system sends back.
You get it through the net billing process. LESCO issues a demand notice for the interconnection and metering, you pay it, and LESCO installs the meter. Under NEPRA’s rules, the prosumer pays for the metering installation.
Last updated: 21 September 2026. Based on the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026 and NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual. Sources are listed at the end.
What is a LESCO green meter?
A normal electricity meter measures electricity flowing in one direction, into your home. A green meter measures both directions. NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026 require the metering equipment to be “capable of accurately measuring the flow of electricity in two directions”. DISCOs may use either one bidirectional meter or two separate meters, one for each direction, as long as the result is the same.
NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual also requires DISCOs to offer new and prospective three-phase consumers the option of a bidirectional meter even before they install a solar system, where they intend to apply for net metering.
How to get a green meter from LESCO
- Check eligibility: a three-phase connection, a sanctioned load of at least 5 kW and at least your solar size, and spare transformer capacity.
- Apply for net billing on the PITC Net Billing Portal (nmp.pitc.com.pk), yourself or through your installer. See our step-by-step guide to applying for LESCO net billing in Lahore.
- LESCO reviews and signs the agreement. NEPRA’s regulations give LESCO 15 working days for the initial review, and 7 working days to sign the agreement once you qualify.
- Demand notice: within 7 working days of the agreement, LESCO issues the connection charge estimate for the interconnection facility, including the metering installation.
- Pay within 7 working days of the demand notice being issued.
- Installation: LESCO must install and commission the interconnection within 15 working days of your payment. In LESCO’s process this is the meter installation and meter change order (MCO) stage.
- Billing starts once your billing record is updated. Systems up to 25 kW no longer need NEPRA’s concurrence (S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026); larger systems still need it first.
Green meter demand notice fee
There is no single fixed “green meter fee” published for every home. The demand notice is an estimate for your specific connection. NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual describes connection charges as based on the actual cost of material, including a 12% store handling charge, plus installation charges. The regulations make the prosumer responsible for:
- all costs of the interconnection facilities up to the interconnection point, including the metering installation; and
- costs LESCO reasonably incurs for improvements needed only to connect your solar system.
If LESCO does not have a suitable meter available, the regulations let you buy the meter yourself, and LESCO must test it before installation. For the full picture of charges, see our breakdown of net metering costs in Lahore.
Green meter unit price: what you pay and what you earn
| Direction | How it is billed under net billing |
|---|---|
| Units from LESCO to you (import) | Your applicable tariff. Dawn reported this at about Rs 37 to Rs 55 per unit before taxes. |
| Units from your solar to LESCO (export) | National average energy purchase price. Reported at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit when the rules started; NEPRA can revise it. |
If the value of your exports is more than your imports in a billing cycle, the difference is credited to your next bill or paid quarterly. For a line-by-line explanation, read how to read your LESCO net metering bill.
Meter readings
The regulations say meter readings should preferably be taken through hand-held units (HHU) and through automated means as NEPRA directs. Your bill will show separate import and export readings instead of a single reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is a green meter in Pakistan?
It is the common name for the bidirectional meter used for net metering and net billing, which records both units imported from the grid and units exported by your solar system.
How much is the LESCO green meter demand notice?
It depends on your connection. The demand notice covers the cost of interconnection and metering, based on actual material and installation charges, so the amount differs from home to home.
Can I buy the green meter myself?
Yes, if LESCO does not have a meter available. The regulations allow the prosumer to procure it, and LESCO tests it before installation.
How long does green meter installation take?
The regulations require installation and commissioning within 15 working days of paying the demand notice. Systems up to 25 kW no longer need NEPRA’s concurrence (S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026); larger systems still need it before billing starts.
What is the green meter unit price?
Under net billing, imported units are charged at your tariff and exported units are credited at the national average energy purchase price, reported at roughly Rs 8 to Rs 11 per unit when the rules started.
اردو خلاصہ
گرین میٹر وہ دو طرفہ (بائی ڈائریکشنل) میٹر ہے جو نیٹ میٹرنگ اور نیٹ بلنگ کے لیے لگتا ہے اور لیسکو سے لیے گئے اور سولر سے گرڈ کو دیے گئے دونوں یونٹس ریکارڈ کرتا ہے۔ یہ نیٹ بلنگ کی درخواست کے ذریعے ملتا ہے: لیسکو کنکشن اور میٹرنگ کا ڈیمانڈ نوٹس جاری کرتا ہے، آپ سات ورکنگ دن میں ادائیگی کرتے ہیں، اور ادائیگی کے 15 ورکنگ دن کے اندر میٹر لگانا ضروری ہے۔ ڈیمانڈ نوٹس کی رقم ہر کنکشن کے لیے مختلف ہوتی ہے۔ اگر لیسکو کے پاس میٹر نہ ہو تو آپ خود خرید سکتے ہیں جسے لیسکو ٹیسٹ کرے گا۔
Need a green meter in Lahore?
Solar Net Metering installs solar systems and handles net billing applications, including the green meter process, in Lahore. Net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000. Office: 222 Main Boulevard, DHA Phase 6, Lahore.