Bijli Sahulat Winter Package: How Solar Homes Can Grab Rs26/Unit Relief

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 12 Sep, 2026
• Energy Savings
• 8 min read

If you run rooftop solar in Pakistan, the **Bijli Sahulat winter package** creates a rare situation where buying *more* electricity from the grid can actually save you money. From December to February, the government is offering up to **Rs26.07 per unit** relief on the electricity you consume *above* your historical benchmark. For most homeowners that is a straightforward discount. But for solar households now sitting on the new net-billing regime, it flips the usual "self-consume everything" playbook on its head.

This guide explains what the package actually pays, why net billing changes the maths, and exactly which loads you should shift back to the grid this winter to capture the relief — without wrecking your system economics.

What the Bijli Sahulat winter package actually offers

Announced by the Power Division and cleared by the regulator, the package runs for the three low-demand winter months. The core mechanic is simple: consume more than your reference benchmark, and those *extra* units are billed at a deeply discounted flat rate instead of your normal high slab.

• **Domestic consumers:** up to **Rs26.07 per unit** relief on incremental usage
• **Commercial consumers:** up to **Rs22.71 per unit** relief
• **Industrial consumers:** up to **Rs15.05 per unit** relief
• **Eligibility cap:** incremental consumption of roughly **up to 25% above** your reference benchmark qualifies

The "benchmark" is your consumption in the corresponding period, so the relief is designed to reward households that increase demand during winter, when national grid demand normally collapses and idle capacity sits unused.

You can confirm the notified rates and dates for your area through <a href="https://nepra.org.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEPRA</a> and the <a href="https://power.gov.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Power Division</a>, since exact figures and the eligibility formula are set by official notification each winter.

Why net billing changes everything for solar homes

Here is the piece most people miss. Under the older net-metering rules, a unit you exported roughly cancelled a unit you imported — export was worth as much as import. That is over for anyone on the new **net-billing** system under NEPRA's 2026 prosumer regulations.

Under net billing:

• Every unit you **import** from the grid is charged at the full prevailing tariff and slab rate.
• Every unit you **export** is bought back at a low, separate rate — around **Rs8–11 per unit** for new prosumers.
• Existing net-metered consumers are largely grandfathered at their older buyback rate (about **Rs25.32/unit**) for the remainder of their agreement term.

So if you are a *new* net-billing solar home, exporting your surplus in winter earns you a measly ~Rs8–11 per unit. That surplus is nearly worthless. Meanwhile, winter is exactly when your panels underperform — short days, Punjab fog, and low sun angles routinely cut generation by 30–50% versus summer. You are already leaning on the grid more than usual.

Put those two facts together and the strategy writes itself.

The winter load-shift play: capture the Rs26 relief

The goal is to push your **billed grid import above your benchmark** so those extra units land in the discounted Bijli Sahulat band — often cheaper per unit than the effective value of self-generating in low-output winter, and far more valuable than exporting at Rs8.

Concrete moves for December through February:

• **Run high-wattage loads from the grid in the evening**, not off stored solar or batteries. Electric water heaters (geysers), clothes dryers, and space heating are ideal candidates.
• **Charge your EV or e-bike overnight** on grid power to build incremental units.
• **Stop discharging batteries to avoid grid draw.** Let the grid carry the load so those units count toward your benchmark-plus band.
• **Don't over-export.** If your inverter lets you cap or curtail export, there is little point dumping units at Rs8 when the same energy self-consumed offsets a full-tariff unit.
• **Track your benchmark.** You only benefit *above* the reference line, so front-load discretionary usage once you have crossed it.

### Worked example (illustrative)

| Scenario | Units from grid | Effective cost/unit | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Export surplus (net billing) | — | ~Rs8–11 earned | Surplus sold cheaply, low value | | Normal winter grid import | Below benchmark | Full slab (~Rs40+) | No relief applies | | **Incremental import under Bijli Sahulat** | Above benchmark (≤25%) | **Discounted by up to Rs26** | The winning band |

The exact net figure depends on your slab, your DISCO, and the notified relief, but the direction is unambiguous: for net-billing homes, *incremental grid units in winter beat cheap exports*.

Who should NOT chase this

This is not free money for everyone. Be honest about your own setup:

• **Grandfathered net-metering homes** at ~Rs25.32 export value have far less to gain — exporting is still valuable for you, so don't blindly stop.
• **Off-grid or battery-first households** with no meaningful grid relationship can ignore the package.
• **Anyone near the eligibility cap** should avoid overshooting; consumption beyond the ~25% window may not earn relief and can push you into higher normal slabs.

The smart approach is to model one month before committing. If you are unsure where net billing leaves you, read our explainer on how net billing works in Pakistan and our guide to winter solar output and load planning. For households weighing storage, our battery vs grid savings breakdown shows when discharging actually pays.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the Bijli Sahulat winter package apply to net-metering and net-billing solar users?** Yes. The relief is tied to your metered grid consumption above the benchmark, so any household drawing from the grid can qualify. The strategy differs by regime: net-billing homes gain most because their export value is low, while grandfathered net-metering homes should weigh the relief against their higher buyback rate.

**How much is the Bijli Sahulat relief per unit?** Up to Rs26.07 per unit for domestic consumers on incremental usage, with lower relief for commercial (up to Rs22.71) and industrial (up to Rs15.05) users. Confirm the exact notified figure for your DISCO each winter.

**Why would a solar owner want to buy more from the grid?** Because under net billing, exported units earn only about Rs8–11, and winter generation is already low. Shifting discretionary loads like geysers and EV charging to the grid pushes you into the discounted incremental band, which can cost less per unit than the alternatives.

**When does the winter package run and how do I qualify?** It covers the December–February window, and eligibility generally requires consuming up to about 25% above your reference benchmark. Check your bill and NEPRA/Power Division notifications for the current benchmark method and dates.

The bottom line

For net-billing solar homes, the **Bijli Sahulat winter package** rewards exactly the behaviour that used to feel wrong: leaning on the grid. With export value gutted and winter generation weak, deliberately shifting geysers, heating, and EV charging onto grid power for three months can turn your incremental units into the cheapest electricity you will buy all year.

Run the numbers on your own benchmark this week, confirm your relief rate with your DISCO, and plan your December loads now. **Want a free winter tariff and net-billing review for your home?** Talk to our team before the package window opens.

Best Solar Company PK designs and installs reliable solar systems in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Taunsa Sharif and Karachi. Contact us for a free survey and the best advice for your home or business.