Why Your Net-Billing Solar Bill Won't Hit Zero in 2026

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 01 Aug, 2026
• Net Metering
• 8 min read

If you are shopping for rooftop solar in Pakistan this year, you have probably been promised a "zero bill." Under the new **NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026**, that promise no longer holds. New solar owners now shoulder grid capacity charges, fixed monthly fees and a buy-high, sell-low tariff gap — so your net-billing bill will shrink, but it will not fall to zero.

This is the single biggest change to solar economics in Pakistan since 2015, and most homeowners still don't understand why their bill behaves differently now. Let's break down exactly what changed, with real rupee figures.

What the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026 actually changed

On **8 February 2026**, NEPRA notified the Prosumer Regulations 2026, repealing the decade-old 2015 net-metering framework. The old system let you *exchange units* one-for-one: a unit you exported cancelled a unit you imported. That exchange mechanism is gone.

The new **net-billing** model separates the two sides of your meter:

• **Electricity you import** from the grid is billed at your full applicable tariff — which can reach **Rs 45–55 per unit** including taxes and surcharges.
• **Surplus electricity you export** is bought back at the **National Average Energy Purchase Price (NAEPP)**, roughly **Rs 11–13 per unit** — down from the Rs 21–27 per unit that net-metering credits were once worth.

That gap between the buy price and the sell price is the first reason your bill never reaches zero. Every night, when your panels sleep and you pull power from the grid, you pay the high rate. Every sunny afternoon, when you export, you earn the low rate.

Why grid capacity charges landed on solar prosumers

Pakistan's power sector is choked by **capacity payments** — fixed sums owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) whether or not their electricity is used. As solar adoption exploded past **7,000 MW** of net-metered capacity in FY2025-26, regulators argued that solar owners were still leaning on the grid for backup and nighttime power without paying their share of these fixed costs.

NEPRA's own analysis claimed net-metering consumers had shifted a burden of about **Rs 159 billion** onto non-solar grid users by December 2024, with an estimated **Rs 223 billion** impact in FY2024-25 alone. The reform — partly tied to Pakistan's IMF commitments — was designed to claw that back.

The practical result: as a prosumer you now help fund grid capacity through the tariff structure, plus explicit fees. You are no longer treated as someone who simply "cancels out" the grid. You are treated as a grid-connected customer who happens to generate power.

The new fees you will actually pay

Here is how the charges stack up under the 2026 framework versus the old net-metering regime.

| Charge | Old net metering (pre-2026) | New net billing (2026) | |---|---|---| | Export credit / buyback rate | ~Rs 21–27 per unit | ~Rs 11–13 per unit (NAEPP) | | Import tariff | Full slab rate | Full slab rate (up to ~Rs 50/unit) | | Unit exchange (1:1) | Yes | **Abolished** | | One-time concurrence fee | None | **Rs 1,000 per kW** (non-refundable) | | Fixed / capacity charges | Minimal | Applied to help fund grid upkeep | | Contract period | 7 years | **5 years** | | System size cap | Up to sanctioned load | Up to 1 MW, capped at sanctioned load |

A **10 kW** home system now attracts a one-time concurrence fee of about **Rs 10,000** at the application stage. That is modest — but the recurring costs matter far more. Because your exports earn less than half of what your imports cost, your monthly settlement leaves a residual balance that fixed charges and taxes sit on top of.

What this means for your monthly bill — a worked example

Say your household consumes **900 units** a month and your 8 kW system generates **1,100 units**, exporting 400 and importing 200 at night.

• **Import cost:** 200 units × Rs 48 = **Rs 9,600**
• **Export earnings:** 400 units × Rs 12 = **Rs 4,800**
• **Net energy position:** Rs 9,600 − Rs 4,800 = **Rs 4,800 payable**
• Add fixed charges, meter rent, taxes and surcharges, and your bill settles around **Rs 6,000–7,000** — not zero.

Under the old 1:1 exchange, those same 400 exported units would have wiped out 200 imported units *and* banked a 200-unit credit. The difference is stark, and it is entirely driven by policy, not by your equipment.

How to protect your solar savings in 2026

You cannot change the regulations, but you can change your usage pattern. Practical steps that genuinely move the needle:

• **Shift heavy loads to daylight.** Run your washing machine, iron, pool pump, EV charger and water pump between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so you *self-consume* instead of exporting cheap and importing dear.
• **Right-size, don't oversize.** Under net billing, a system built to dump huge surplus onto the grid earns you only Rs 11–13 a unit. Sizing closer to daytime demand pays back faster.
• **Consider a battery.** Storing your midday surplus to use at night avoids the Rs 48 import entirely — the economics of hybrid systems now beat pure grid-tie for many homes.
• **Lock in before your load changes.** New five-year contracts still beat having no agreement at all.

Existing owners have a real advantage here. If your net-metering agreement was valid as of **9 February 2026**, you are **grandfathered** at your old rates until it expires — so there is no reason to switch to net billing voluntarily. For a fuller comparison, see our guide on net billing vs net metering in Pakistan and how to size a solar system for the 2026 tariffs.

The bottom line for 2026: solar in Pakistan is still one of the best investments a homeowner can make against Rs 50-a-unit grid power. It just no longer promises a zero bill — it promises a *much smaller* one, provided you use your own sunshine before you sell it. For the official rules, review NEPRA's notifications and the independent analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

Frequently Asked Questions

**Why won't my net-billing bill drop to zero in 2026?** Because you buy grid power at your full tariff (up to ~Rs 50/unit) but sell your surplus back at only ~Rs 11–13/unit under the NAEPP. Add fixed and capacity-related charges, taxes and meter rent, and a residual balance always remains — even with a well-sized system.

**What is the grid capacity charge for solar prosumers?** It is the share of the grid's fixed costs — largely IPP capacity payments — that new solar owners now help fund through the net-billing tariff structure, plus a one-time non-refundable concurrence fee of Rs 1,000 per kW. It reflects your continued reliance on the grid for backup and nighttime power.

**Are existing net-metering users affected by the 2026 rules?** No. If your net-metering agreement was valid as of 9 February 2026, you are grandfathered and keep your original buyback rate until your contract expires. The new net-billing terms apply only to new applications.

**Is rooftop solar still worth it in Pakistan under net billing?** Yes, for most homes and businesses. Grid tariffs are so high that self-consuming your own solar during the day still delivers strong savings and a payback of roughly 3–5 years. Adding a battery and shifting loads to daylight hours improves returns further.

Ready to model your real savings under the 2026 rules? Get a free, no-obligation net-billing assessment from **Best Solar Company PK** and see exactly what your new bill will look like before you invest.

Sources: The Express Tribune · Profit by Pakistan Today · Dawn · IEEFA

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.