• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 24 Sep, 2026
  • Net Metering
  • 8 min read

If you have been putting off your solar application, 2026 is the year that delay could cost you real money. Across Pakistan, DISCO feeder capacity limits are quietly slowing—and in many areas outright blocking—new net-metering approvals. The problem is not paperwork. It is physics: the transformer on your street may already be full.

This is now a hard rule, not a rumour. Under NEPRA's framework, a distribution company (DISCO) is prohibited from accepting new net-metering applications once the total distributed generation on a single distribution transformer reaches **80% of its rated capacity**. Once that ceiling is hit, applications on that feeder are rejected until the transformer is upgraded—which can take months.

Here is what feeder saturation means for your home or business, how to check whether your transformer is already maxed out, and why applying now (with correctly sized battery backup) protects both your approval and your long-term savings.

Why DISCO feeder capacity is suddenly a problem

Pakistan's rooftop solar boom was explosive. Cheap panels, brutal grid tariffs and load-shedding pushed hundreds of thousands of consumers to install systems in 2023 and 2024. In many housing societies, almost every second house went solar at once.

The grid was never designed for that. A residential distribution transformer feeds a fixed cluster of homes. When too much solar pushes power back up the line at midday, voltage rises, protection equipment trips, and the transformer risks overload. To protect the network, NEPRA capped how much solar any one transformer can host.

Once distributed generation on your transformer crosses 80% of its rated capacity, the DISCO must stop approving new net-metering connections on that feeder—no matter how good your rooftop is.

The maths is simple. A **100 kVA transformer** can host roughly **80 kW of combined solar** across every home it feeds. In dense colonies of DHA, Bahria Town and older urban feeders under LESCO, IESCO and MEPCO, that number is already spoken for. K-Electric's older Karachi feeders face the same squeeze. Rural PESCO and QESCO feeders, with weaker infrastructure, hit technical rejection even faster.

How to check if your transformer is saturated

You cannot see feeder loading from your electricity bill, but you can find out before you spend on hardware. Do these checks in order:

  • **Ask your DISCO's net-metering/AMI office directly.** LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO and K-Electric each have a dedicated net-metering wing. Give them your reference number and transformer/pole ID; ask for the available headroom on your distribution transformer in kW.
  • **Talk to neighbours who already have net metering.** If several houses on your transformer already export solar, headroom is shrinking fast. A cluster of recent approvals near you is a red flag.
  • **Have your installer file a feasibility/demand notice first.** A reputable solar company will submit the technical application and get the DISCO's capacity verdict before you commit to panels.
  • **Watch for repeated "technical" rejections in your area.** If installers tell you your feeder is "closed," that usually means the 80% cap is reached and an upgrade is pending.

Do not assume a rejection is permanent. It means your transformer needs upgrading—but you may wait months in the DISCO's queue, and other consumers ahead of you will take the remaining slots the moment capacity opens.

Why applying now matters more than ever

Two forces are closing the window at the same time: physical capacity and policy.

On capacity, every approval on your feeder shrinks the pool. This is genuinely first-come, first-served. Once your transformer hits 80%, you join a waitlist with no guaranteed date.

On policy, the economics for **new** applicants have already changed. NEPRA's shift from classic net metering toward **net billing** means surplus units are no longer swapped one-for-one. Under the revised framework, exported surplus for new prosumers is bought back at roughly **Rs 10–11 per unit**, while existing net-metered consumers with a valid agreement retain their far more generous **Rs 26–27 per unit** arrangement. The net-metering contract term was also trimmed from seven years to five, and your system size cannot exceed your sanctioned load.

Crucially, NEPRA has confirmed the revised rules do **not** apply retroactively to consumers who already hold a valid licence, concurrence or agreement. In plain terms: locking in your approval sooner can protect your export rate and terms.

The economics: net metering vs net billing

Here is how the same 10 kW rooftop looks under the old and new regimes.

| Factor | Existing net-metered consumer | New applicant (2026, net billing) | |---|---|---| | Export buyback rate | ~Rs 26–27 / unit | ~Rs 10–11 / unit | | Import vs export | Unit-for-unit offset | Net difference billed | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | System size cap | Up to sanctioned load | Cannot exceed sanctioned load | | Best strategy | Export freely | Self-consume + store |

The takeaway: when export is worth Rs 10 instead of Rs 26, every unit you send to the grid is a unit sold cheap. The smart response is to **consume your own solar** and store the rest—which is exactly why battery sizing now matters as much as panel sizing.

Battery sizing: the new priority under net billing

Under old net metering, the grid was effectively your free battery. Under net billing, that "battery" pays you a fraction of what your units are worth. A properly sized battery lets you shift midday surplus into the evening peak instead of exporting it for Rs 10.

Practical sizing guidance for a typical Pakistani home:

  • **Size the battery to your evening load, not your whole day.** Cover the 6–11 pm peak—usually the costliest slab—rather than trying to go fully off-grid.
  • **A common starting point** is 5–10 kWh of usable lithium (LiFePO4) storage for a 5–10 kW rooftop. That typically covers fans, lights, a fridge and one AC through the evening.
  • **Match usable capacity, not headline capacity.** Lithium delivers ~90% usable depth of discharge; older lead-acid barely 50%.
  • **Pair it with a hybrid inverter** so you can self-consume, charge the battery, and still export any true surplus.

Yes, a battery adds cost—expect roughly **Rs 250,000–500,000** for a quality 5–10 kWh lithium pack in 2026, depending on brand. But when your export is only worth Rs 10/unit, storing power you would otherwise sell cheap and buy back expensive is often the better return. For a deeper look, see our guide to solar battery options in Pakistan.

For authoritative, up-to-date rules, always cross-check with NEPRA and the Punjab Energy Department's official net-metering guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I know if my transformer's feeder capacity is full?** Contact your DISCO's net-metering office with your reference and transformer/pole number and ask for the remaining headroom in kW. If neighbouring houses already export solar, or installers say your feeder is "closed," you are likely at or near the 80% cap.

**What happens if my net-metering application is rejected for capacity?** It means your distribution transformer has reached 80% of its rated capacity. Your application is deferred until the DISCO upgrades the transformer. There is no fixed timeline, and new slots are taken by whoever applies first once capacity frees up.

**Is net metering being abolished in Pakistan?** Classic net metering is being replaced by net billing for new applicants, with a lower buyback rate of around Rs 10–11 per unit. Existing consumers with a valid agreement keep their current terms and are not affected retroactively.

**Should I still go solar if my export rate is only Rs 10 per unit?** Yes—self-consumption savings against grid tariffs remain strong. The strategy simply shifts from exporting surplus to storing and using it via a correctly sized battery.

The bottom line

Feeder capacity is now the real bottleneck in Pakistani net metering, and 2026 is closing the window on both slots and favourable rates. Check your transformer's headroom, apply before your feeder saturates, and size a battery so you keep the value of every unit your roof produces. If you would like a free feeder-capacity check and a system+battery quote for your area, contact Best Solar Company PK today—before the transformer on your street fills up.

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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.