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

Getting solar approved in Pakistan just got dramatically faster. In August 2026, NEPRA removed its own approval step for smaller systems — and this single change to the paperwork could shave weeks off your wait. If you have been putting off going solar because of the dreaded net metering delays, this is the update you have been waiting for.

The new **DISCO direct net metering approval** for systems up to 25kW means your local distribution company can now sign off on your rooftop solar without sending your file to Islamabad first. For most homeowners and small businesses, that is the biggest bottleneck gone.

Let's break down exactly what changed, how much time you save, and the step-by-step process to apply in 2026.

What NEPRA Actually Changed in August 2026

On 6–7 August 2026, NEPRA notified an amendment to the Prosumer (formerly net metering) framework. The regulator **scrapped the licence requirement — and the Rs 1,000 per kW licensing fee — for small-scale prosumers with systems up to 25kW**, and delegated approval powers directly to the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

In plain terms:

  • **Before:** Your application often bounced between the DISCO and NEPRA. The regulator's clearance added a layer that could stall files for weeks.
  • **Now:** Systems up to 25kW are approved entirely by your DISCO — LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, MEPCO, GEPCO, HESCO and the rest. No separate NEPRA permission. No licensing fee for that band.

For a typical home or SME running a 5kW to 15kW system, NEPRA is effectively out of the approval loop. Your utility is now the single window.

This does **not** abolish net metering itself. It streamlines the *approval* — a people-first fix that Pakistan's rooftop solar sector had demanded for years, as reported by Dawn and Business Recorder.

How Much Time Does DISCO Direct Approval Save?

Under the older process, net metering approval commonly took **30 to 90 days**, and files stuck at the NEPRA stage sometimes dragged past three months. By removing that layer and binding DISCOs to strict statutory timelines, the 2026 rules target a much tighter cycle.

The mandated DISCO timeline now looks like this:

| Stage | Statutory time limit | What happens | |---|---|---| | Application acknowledgement | Within 5 working days | DISCO confirms receipt & completeness | | Technical / feasibility review | Within 15 days | Load, transformer & site checks | | Interconnection & meter installation | Within 15 days of payment | Bidirectional meter fitted, system energised | | **Realistic total** | **~4–6 weeks** | From clean application to commissioning |

Removing the NEPRA approval step is what makes these deadlines achievable. In practice, a complete, error-free file for a sub-25kW system should now move from submission to a live bidirectional meter in roughly **four to six weeks** — a real cut from the old two-to-three-month norm.

Who Qualifies for the Under-25kW Fast Track?

You are covered by DISCO direct approval if:

  • Your solar system capacity is **25kW or less** (covers the vast majority of homes and small businesses).
  • You have a **three-phase or single-phase connection** in your own name (or a valid authorisation).
  • Your **sanctioned load** is equal to or greater than your proposed solar capacity — a long-standing net metering rule that still applies.
  • Your premises are within a DISCO service area (K-Electric follows the same delegated model in Karachi).

Systems **above 25kW** still follow the older, more involved route. If you are near the threshold, it is often worth sizing at or under 25kW to stay on the fast track.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply Under the 2026 Rules

Here is the practical, first-hand process our installation teams follow for a smooth, single-attempt approval:

1. **Right-size your system.** Match capacity to your sanctioned load and your average day-time consumption. A correctly sized solar system avoids export losses under the new net-billing rates. 2. **Install with a certified vendor.** Use AEDB-certified equipment and installers. DISCOs check inverter and panel compliance during the technical review. 3. **Prepare documents.** Keep your CNIC, a recent electricity bill, the paid connection details, a single-line diagram (SLD), and equipment datasheets ready. 4. **Submit to your DISCO.** File the net metering application directly with your distribution company — online portals are available for most DISCOs. No NEPRA submission needed for sub-25kW. 5. **Pass the site inspection.** The DISCO conducts a feasibility and safety check within 15 days. 6. **Pay & get your bidirectional meter.** Once approved, pay the meter cost and the DISCO installs the bidirectional (net) meter within 15 days. 7. **Go live.** Your agreement is signed and the system is energised. You start exporting surplus units.

**Original tip from the field:** the number-one cause of delay is still an incomplete single-line diagram or a mismatched inverter rating on the datasheet. Have your installer double-check the SLD against the actual equipment *before* submission — a clean first file is what unlocks the 4–6 week timeline.

What About Net Billing and Buyback Rates?

Faster approval is welcome, but understand the economics you are signing into. The 2026 regime shifted new solar users from classic net *metering* to net *billing*:

  • **New prosumers:** Exported surplus is bought back at roughly **Rs 11 per unit** (the national average purchase price band), while imported units are billed at the full retail slab — around **Rs 37–55 per unit**.
  • **Contract length:** New agreements run **5 years** (down from 7).
  • **Existing users protected:** Anyone with a valid net metering agreement as of **9 February 2026** keeps their old **~Rs 26/unit** buyback and one-to-one unit exchange until their contract expires.

The takeaway: with a lower buyback rate, **self-consumption is king**. Size your system to power your day-time load first and export only the genuine surplus. A well-designed 10kW on-grid system (roughly **PKR 950,000–1,200,000** installed in 2026) still delivers a strong payback because you are avoiding expensive grid units, not relying on generous export credits. Compare options in our 2026 solar system price guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Do I still need NEPRA approval for a home solar system in 2026?** No. For systems up to 25kW, NEPRA has delegated approval to your DISCO and removed the licence requirement and the Rs 1,000/kW fee. Your distribution company is now the single approving authority.

**How long does net metering approval take now?** With the NEPRA step removed and DISCOs bound to statutory deadlines (5 days to acknowledge, 15 days to review, 15 days to install the meter), a complete application typically reaches commissioning in about 4–6 weeks — faster than the old 30–90 day range.

**Does this change apply to K-Electric customers in Karachi?** Yes. The delegated, DISCO-direct approval model applies across all distribution companies, including K-Electric, for eligible systems up to 25kW.

**Will my buyback rate change under the new rules?** New prosumers fall under net billing with a buyback of about Rs 11/unit. If you already had a valid net metering agreement before 9 February 2026, you keep your existing rate and one-to-one exchange until your contract ends.

The Bottom Line

NEPRA's August 2026 decision to hand approval powers to DISCOs for systems up to 25kW is genuine good news for Pakistani solar adopters. It removes the slowest, most frustrating link in the chain and puts a realistic four-to-six-week timeline within reach — while cutting the licensing fee entirely.

Pair the faster approval with smart, self-consumption-focused system sizing and you get the best of the 2026 landscape.

**Ready to go solar the fast way?** Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free load assessment, a right-sized 2026 design, and a complete DISCO net metering application handled end to end. @@END@@

Sources: Dawn · Business Recorder · The Nation · Daily Pakistan

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.