• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 04 Aug, 2026
  • Solar Policy
  • 7 min read

If you installed rooftop solar in Pakistan expecting to bank your surplus units at a generous rate, 2026 brought a jolt. Under NEPRA's Prosumer Regulations 2026, the electricity you export to the grid is now valued at the **National Average Purchase Price** — roughly **Rs11 per unit** — instead of the ~Rs27 many older systems enjoyed. Understanding this single number is now the most important part of any solar payback calculation in the country.

This guide explains what the National Average Purchase Price actually is, how NEPRA calculates it, and the real risk that it gets trimmed even further for future prosumers.

What the National Average Purchase Price actually is

When you consume electricity, your Distribution Company (DISCO) bills you at the full consumer tariff — currently **Rs37–Rs55 per unit** before taxes and surcharges. That tariff bundles together two very different costs:

  • **Energy (fuel) charges** — the actual cost of the gas, coal, furnace oil, or imported LNG burned to generate each unit.
  • **Capacity charges** — fixed payments owed to power plants whether or not they run, plus transmission and distribution overheads.

The **National Average Energy Purchase Price (NAEPP)** — the rate NEPRA now uses to buy your solar exports — reflects only the **fuel/energy component**. It deliberately excludes capacity charges. That is why it lands near **Rs10–Rs11 per unit** rather than the ~Rs26 all-in power purchase price for FY26.

In short: you buy grid power at the full retail tariff, but you sell your solar surplus at wholesale fuel cost. The gap between the two is exactly what changed.

How NEPRA sets the number

The figure is not arbitrary. It flows from the monthly generation data submitted by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), Pakistan's single buyer.

Each month, CPPA-G totals how many units the national grid generated and what fuel it cost, then adjusts for transmission losses. In one recent month, for example, roughly 9,886 GWh was generated at an average fuel cost of about **Rs8.51 per unit**, rising to **Rs8.72 per unit** after 2.35% transmission losses. Blended across the year and across all fuel types, this energy component sits in the Rs9–Rs11 band.

For FY26, NEPRA set the reference national power purchase price at roughly **Rs25.98 per unit** — split into about **Rs9.67 energy charge** and **Rs16.67 capacity charge**. The NAEPP that values your exports is essentially that Rs9.67 energy slice, updated periodically for fuel-price movements.

Here is how the old and new frameworks compare:

| Feature | Net Metering (2015 rules) | Net Billing (2026 rules) | |---|---|---| | Export value | ~Rs27/unit (full NAPP) | ~Rs11/unit (NAEPP, fuel only) | | How surplus is treated | Unit-for-unit offset | Bought & sold separately | | Import (grid) tariff | Rs37–Rs55/unit | Rs37–Rs55/unit | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years (renewable +5) | | Settlement of surplus | Carried forward as units | Paid in cash, quarterly |

The shift from *net metering* to *net billing* is the structural change. Previously your exported units were swapped one-for-one against units you imported. Now every unit you send out is **purchased** at Rs11, and every unit you draw in is **sold** to you at the full tariff. Any leftover credit is paid in cash on a quarterly cycle.

Why the rate could be cut even further

The Rs11 figure is not a floor guaranteed forever — and that is the part future prosumers should watch closely. Several forces point downward.

**1. Rising renewable share pushes fuel cost down.** Solar, wind, and hydro carry zero fuel cost. As their share of the grid grows, the average fuel cost — and therefore the NAEPP — mechanically falls. A cleaner grid ironically means a lower buyback rate for your exports.

**2. Capacity charges dominate the bill.** Around **63%** of the total power purchase price is now capacity payments, not fuel. Policymakers argue that rooftop solar owners avoid these fixed costs while still relying on the grid at night, shifting the burden onto non-solar consumers. That argument is the regulator's stated rationale for keeping (and potentially lowering) the export value.

**3. The rate was never formally locked.** The Rs11 buyback was discussed with stakeholders and applied through the new framework, and NEPRA retains the power to revise it as fuel and generation data change. There is no legislated minimum protecting future entrants.

For context on how the wider framework works, see our explainer on the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026 and our side-by-side breakdown of net metering versus net billing.

What this means for your solar investment in 2026

The economics have not collapsed — they have re-centred on **self-consumption**. When the grid buys your surplus at Rs11 but sells it back at Rs45+, the smart move is to use as much of your own generation as possible rather than exporting it.

Practical steps that protect your return:

  • **Right-size your system** to your daytime load instead of oversizing for export income.
  • **Shift heavy loads to daylight hours** — run the AC, pump, washing machine, and iron while the sun is up.
  • **Consider battery storage** to bank midday surplus for evening use, avoiding both the Rs11 export haircut and the Rs45+ import tariff.
  • **Lock in now if you can** — existing net-metering contracts remain valid until expiry, and grandfathered rates are worth more than any future agreement.

Grid electricity in Pakistan is still expensive and unreliable, so the value of **displacing** your own bill remains strong even when the export rate is modest. The payback period for a well-designed home system now sits in the region of 3–5 years for self-consumption-focused setups — read our rooftop solar payback guide for 2026 for a full worked example.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the National Average Purchase Price for solar exports right now?** It is the fuel/energy component of the national power purchase price — currently around Rs11 per unit. NEPRA uses it to buy the surplus electricity your rooftop system sends to the grid under the 2026 net-billing framework.

**Why is the export rate so much lower than the tariff I pay?** Because the rate you pay includes capacity charges, taxes, and distribution costs, while the export rate reflects only wholesale fuel cost. That structural gap is why buying at Rs45+ and selling at Rs11 now co-exist.

**Does the new Rs11 rate apply to my existing net-metering system?** No. Existing net-metering agreements remain valid until they expire. DISCOs may migrate you to net billing only after your contract term ends, so current installations keep their better terms for now.

**Could the National Average Purchase Price fall below Rs11?** Yes. As renewables expand and average fuel cost drops, the NAEPP can decline. There is no legislated floor, so future prosumers should budget conservatively and prioritise self-consumption.

The bottom line

The National Average Purchase Price is simply the wholesale fuel cost of electricity — and by tying your solar exports to it, NEPRA has made **using your own power** far more valuable than selling it. For future prosumers, the direction of travel points toward a lower, not higher, buyback rate. Design your system around self-consumption, act before your grandfathered rate lapses, and treat any export income as a bonus rather than the core return.

Ready to size a system for maximum self-consumption? Talk to our team at Best Solar Company PK for a free, tariff-aware quote.

*Sources: NEPRA official tariff decisions, CPPA-G power purchase price forecasts, and reporting on the 2026 Prosumer Regulations. Verify current figures with NEPRA before making an investment 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.