Is It Too Late for Net Metering? A Pakistani Solar Buyer's Real Options in Mid-2026

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 21 Jul, 2026
• Buying Guide
• 9 min read

If you have been putting off going solar and now feel like you missed the boat, take a breath. The rules changed in February 2026, but solar in Pakistan is still one of the best investments a homeowner or business can make. What changed is *how* you get paid for surplus power — and that changes how you should design and size your system.

Here is the honest, up-to-date picture for mid-2026.

What actually changed in February 2026

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the new **Prosumer Regulations 2026** (through SRO 251(I)/2026), replacing the 2015 net metering framework that solar owners had enjoyed for a decade.

The headline change is the shift from **net metering** to **net billing**:

• **Old net metering (1:1):** Every unit you exported to the grid offset a unit you imported, essentially at the same retail rate (around Rs27 per unit). Export 100 units, import 100 units, pay almost nothing.
• **New net billing:** Your exported units are now bought at the **National Average Energy Purchase Price (NAEPP)** — roughly **Rs8 to Rs11 per unit** — while the units you buy back from the grid are billed at the full applicable tariff (commonly **Rs37 to Rs55 per unit** before taxes).

New connections are also placed on a **five-year contract** rather than the older seven-year term.

Are existing solar owners affected?

No — and this matters if you already have a meter or applied before the cutoff. Consumers with a **valid net metering agreement dated before 9 February 2026** are protected (grandfathered) at their old 1:1 terms for the remainder of their contract.

The change caused a public backlash, and on 15–16 February Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Power Division and NEPRA to file a review and protect existing users, with NEPRA floating a draft amendment to lock in a grandfathering clause. The PM made the point that the burden of roughly 466,000 solar users should not be shifted onto 37.6 million grid consumers.

For a **new buyer in mid-2026**, though, plan on net billing being your reality. Do not build a business case around getting the old 1:1 rate back.

So is solar still worth it? The new math

Here is where buyers panic unnecessarily. Under the old system, the smart move was to **oversize** your system and dump surplus to the grid for full credit. That strategy is now dead. The new smart move is to **self-consume** as much of your own generation as possible, because every unit you use yourself is worth Rs40+ (the tariff you avoid), while every unit you export is worth only Rs8–11.

Consider a **10kW system** in Punjab producing about **35–45 units per day** (roughly 1,050–1,350 units a month):

• **If you consume 70% yourself:** ~900 units offset at ~Rs45 = **~Rs40,500 saved per month**.
• **The remaining 30% (~400 units) exported** at Rs10 = **~Rs4,000 earned per month**.
• **Total benefit: ~Rs44,500/month.**

Under old net metering that same system might have returned ~Rs50,000+ if heavily export-tilted. So net billing trims your return, but for a household that runs ACs, pumps and appliances during daylight, the drop is modest — often only 10–20%.

Your three real options in mid-2026

**1. On-grid (net billing) system — best for daytime-heavy users.** A 10kW on-grid system runs about **PKR 1.1–1.3 million**. If your consumption is concentrated in daylight hours (offices, shops, homes with daytime AC use), you self-consume most of your power and export little, so the low buyback rate barely stings. This is the best value-per-rupee option for most commercial buyers.

**2. Hybrid + lithium battery — the new default for homes.** Because exporting is now poorly paid, storing your surplus for the evening beats selling it. A **10kW hybrid system with lithium (LiFePO4) storage** runs roughly **PKR 1.4–1.8 million**, with lithium batteries costing about **Rs40,000–55,000 per usable kWh** and lasting 8–10+ years. Instead of exporting a unit for Rs10 and buying it back at night for Rs45, you bank it in the battery and use it yourself — a swing of Rs35 per unit. For evening-heavy households, a battery now pays for itself far faster than it did under net metering.

**3. Off-grid / self-consumption without a meter — for the impatient.** Some buyers now skip the DISCO application entirely and simply size a hybrid system to cover their own load with battery backup, exporting nothing. You lose the small export income but avoid the paperwork and the five-year contract. This suits areas with unreliable grid supply or heavy load-shedding.

How to size your system now

The old advice — "size to your annual units and let the grid balance it" — no longer applies. Instead:

• **Match generation to your daytime load first.** Aim to self-consume 60–80% of what you produce.
• **Don't massively oversize** just to export; those extra units now earn only Rs8–11.
• **Add storage sized to your evening load**, not your whole day. Even 5–10 kWh of lithium can shift most of a household's evening consumption off the grid.
• **Get a hybrid inverter** even if you skip the battery today, so you can add storage later without replacing hardware.

The bottom line

It is **not** too late. Solar in Pakistan still pays back in roughly **3 to 5 years** even under net billing, because grid tariffs are high and rising while panel prices keep falling. What changed is the winning strategy: yesterday you sold surplus to the grid; today you use or store it yourself. Design around self-consumption, add a battery if your evenings are heavy, and the numbers still work firmly in your favour.

If you want a system sized for the net-billing era rather than the old rules, our team can model your exact bill and daylight usage before you spend a rupee. See our related solar buying guide for panel and inverter selection tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I still get 1:1 net metering in 2026?** Only if you already held a valid net metering agreement before 9 February 2026 — those contracts are grandfathered at the old rate for their remaining term. New applicants from that date onward are placed on net billing with a buyback of roughly Rs8–11 per unit.

**How much will the grid pay me for exported units now?** Exported units are bought at the National Average Energy Purchase Price, currently around Rs8–11 per unit, versus the ~Rs27 per unit effective value under old net metering. Meanwhile you still buy grid power back at the full tariff (Rs37–55 per unit before taxes).

**Does net billing make solar a bad investment?** No. For daytime-heavy users the difference is small, and payback still lands around 3–5 years. The key is designing for self-consumption instead of exporting surplus.

**Should I add a battery now?** For most homes with heavy evening use, yes. Storing a unit and using it at night saves ~Rs35–45, while exporting it earns only ~Rs10. Lithium storage at Rs40,000–55,000 per kWh now pays back faster than under the old export-friendly system.

**Is there any chance the government reverses net billing for new users?** The policy triggered a review ordered by the Prime Minister and a NEPRA draft amendment, but as of mid-2026 the protection secured is for *existing* users. New buyers should plan around net billing and treat any future relief as a bonus, not a basis for their decision.

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.