Free 2KW Solar Scheme vs Buying Your Own: What Actually Powers Your Home in 2026

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 11 Aug, 2026
• Buying Guide
• 8 min read

Every few months a new headline promises free solar panels for ordinary households. In 2026, the biggest is Punjab's **Roshan Gharana** programme, which is handing out free 2KW systems to low-income families. It's a genuinely welcome subsidy — but before you pin your load-shedding hopes on it, you need to understand exactly what a free 2KW kit covers and where it stops.

This guide compares the **free 2KW solar scheme vs buying your own** system, with real coverage numbers, backup limits, and honest PKR costs. If you run a fridge, a water pump, or a small business, the answer may surprise you.

What the free 2KW scheme actually gives you

The **Roshan Gharana** scheme, launched by the Punjab government under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aims to distribute around 100,000 free solar systems. It is administered through the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), with applications via the official cmsolarscheme.punjab.gov.pk portal or by SMS to **8800**.

To qualify you must:

• Be a domestic consumer in Punjab with a valid CNIC and a bill from LESCO, MEPCO, FESCO, GEPCO or PESCO.
• Have a **sanctioned load of up to 2KW**.
• Have used **0–200 units** per month (based on June 2024 consumption).
• Apply for **one system per household**; winners are picked by **ballot**, district by district.

The package includes solar panels, an inverter, and installation — and, in the 2KW tier, a small battery in some phases. A 2KW array in Pakistan produces roughly **8–10 units per day** (250–300 units a month), which can pull a Rs 5,000 bill down toward Rs 1,000 or less for a light user.

The backup limits nobody mentions

Here's the catch most families discover only after installation. These handout systems are built to offset your **daytime** consumption cheaply, so they lean heavily on solar and the grid, not on stored energy.

• If your kit is **on-grid** (no meaningful battery), it produces **zero backup during load-shedding**. When WAPDA power cuts, your solar cuts too.
• If it includes a small **battery**, expect only a modest reserve — enough for a few lights and fans for a short while, not an air conditioner overnight.
• A 2KW inverter caps your instant draw at roughly **1.5–1.8KW usable**. Start a 1-ton AC (which surges well past 2KW) and the system trips.

So a free kit is excellent at shaving your bill and running essentials in sunlight. It is **not** a solution for summer nights, deep tube wells, or a shop that must stay open through outages.

Buying your own: what a bigger system really costs in 2026

When you pay for solar yourself, you choose the size, the battery, and the backup. Based on current 2026 market rates in Pakistan, here's how the options compare.

| System type | Typical size | Price (PKR) | Backup during load-shedding | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---| | Free scheme kit | 2KW | Rs 0 (ballot) | None to minimal | Light users, 0–200 units | | On-grid (self-bought) | 2KW | Rs 180,000–220,000 | None | Daytime bill savings only | | Hybrid (self-bought) | 2KW | ~Rs 346,000 | A few hours (with battery) | Small homes wanting backup | | Hybrid + battery | 5–6KW | Rs 900,000–1,300,000 | ACs, pump, fridge overnight | Full homes, small businesses |

A self-bought 2KW hybrid with a lithium battery lands around **Rs 346,000**, while a 5–6KW hybrid that can genuinely carry a family through outages typically runs **Rs 900,000 to Rs 1.3 million** depending on panel brand and battery capacity. Prices move 5–10% by dealer and city, so get itemised quotes.

When paying for a bigger hybrid+battery setup makes sense

Choose a paid hybrid system over (or on top of) the free kit if any of these describe you:

• **You run air conditioning.** One AC alone needs 1.5–2KW; a free 2KW kit can't cover the house and the AC together.
• **You face long load-shedding** and need reliable evening/night power without a diesel generator.
• **You run a business or tube well** where downtime costs money.
• **Your bill regularly exceeds 300–400 units**, putting you above the free scheme's eligibility band anyway.

The economics also depend on **net billing**. In late 2025, NEPRA moved from net metering toward a **net billing** model under its Prosumer Regulations. Exported surplus is now credited at a lower, nationally set rate — the ECC approved cutting the solar buyback from around **Rs 27 to roughly Rs 10–11 per unit** for new consumers, and the contract term dropped from seven to five years. Existing net-metering agreements continue until they expire. See our breakdown of net metering vs net billing in Pakistan for the full picture.

The takeaway: because you now earn far less for units you send to the grid, **self-consumption and battery storage matter more than ever**. A bigger hybrid that stores your own power for the evening is more valuable in 2026 than one that dumps cheap surplus to the grid.

A practical middle path

You don't have to pick just one. A smart strategy for many Punjab households:

1. **Apply for the free scheme** — it costs nothing but a CNIC and an SMS. 2. If you win, treat it as a **daytime bill-cutter** for fans, lights and the fridge. 3. **Budget separately for a hybrid battery upgrade** if you need AC or outage backup.

If you're buying from scratch, size the system to your **actual peak load and outage hours**, not just your bill. Our guide to the right solar system size for your home and the best hybrid solar systems in Pakistan can help you match capacity to real usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the free 2KW solar scheme really free?** Yes — for eligible, balloted applicants under Punjab's Roshan Gharana programme there is no charge for the panels, inverter or installation. But selection is by ballot and limited to low-consumption domestic users (0–200 units), so not everyone who applies will receive one.

**Can a free 2KW system run an air conditioner?** Not realistically. A 2KW system and inverter can supply fans, lights, a TV and a small fridge in daylight, but a single 1-ton AC needs nearly the entire capacity on its own and will overload the setup, especially at start-up.

**Will the free scheme give me backup during load-shedding?** Only if your kit includes a battery, and even then just a small reserve for lights and fans. On-grid versions produce nothing when the grid is down. For genuine overnight or whole-home backup you need a paid hybrid system with adequate battery storage.

**Is buying my own solar still worth it after the 2025 net billing changes?** Yes, because the savings come mainly from using your own power, not selling it. With buyback rates cut to roughly Rs 10–11 per unit, a hybrid system with a battery that lets you self-consume in the evening now pays back better than an export-heavy on-grid setup.

The bottom line

The free 2KW scheme is a real, worthwhile subsidy — grab it if you qualify. Just size your expectations to match: it trims your bill and runs the basics in sunlight, not your ACs at midnight. If you need dependable backup or run heavier loads, budget for a **hybrid + battery** system built around self-consumption in 2026. Talk to a certified installer, get an itemised PKR quote, and choose capacity based on your real load — that's how you turn sunshine into savings you can count on.

*Ready to size the right system for your home or business? Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free load assessment and transparent 2026 pricing.*

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.