NEPRA Clears Net Metering Backlog: Is Your Pre-Feb 2026 Application Still Eligible?

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

If you applied for solar net metering before 9 February 2026 and are still waiting for your bidirectional meter, there is finally good news. NEPRA net metering rules changed sharply this year — but a fresh regulatory order means your old application may still qualify for the far more generous one-to-one buyback terms.

On 22 August 2026, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) directed the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to review and update thousands of pending net metering applications stuck in the system. The order specifically covers cases that were complete but unprocessed **before 9 February 2026** — the cut-off date that separates the old, generous regime from the new net billing model.

This article explains exactly what the order says, who still qualifies for the old terms, and the concrete steps to check your own status.

Why the 9 February 2026 date matters so much

To understand the stakes, you need to know what changed. On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the new **Distributed Generation and Prosumers Regulations 2026**, replacing the older Net Metering Regulations of 2015. The shift was dramatic:

• The old system paid you **1:1** — every unit you exported offset one unit you imported, effectively valued at your retail tariff (roughly **Rs 37–55 per unit**).
• The new **net billing** system buys your surplus solar at the National Average Energy Purchase Price — cut to around **Rs 10–11 per unit** for new prosumers, down from about Rs 26–27.
• Under net billing, your import and export are settled separately, and new agreements run for **5 years** instead of the previous 7.

Crucially, on 16 February 2026 NEPRA issued a clarifying amendment: every consumer holding a valid net metering agreement **dated before 9 February 2026** stays under the old 2015 rules — the 1:1 offset and the buyback rate locked at signing — until their existing contract expires. That protection is exactly what the August backlog-clearance order is meant to deliver to people who did everything right but got stuck in a queue.

What NEPRA's August 2026 order actually directs

NEPRA's Registrar referred back to the Authority's earlier directive of **31 July 2026**, which had already told all Discos and K-Electric to comb through their records and process delayed cases. The 22 August follow-up letter escalated this to PITC — the company that runs the national net metering software and billing backend.

Key points of the order:

• PITC must **verify and update** pending net metering connections in its billing system "without further delay."
• The review explicitly targets cases **pending before 9 February 2026**.
• It applies **across all DISCOs and K-Electric** nationwide (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, FESCO, GEPCO, HESCO, PESCO, QESCO, SEPCO, TESCO and KE).
• It covers prosumer/net metering systems of **up to 25 kW**, the standard domestic and small-commercial band.

Important caveat: this is **not** an automatic connection order for every applicant. PITC must first confirm which consumers genuinely completed their formalities before the cut-off. Only verified, complete cases inherit the old 1:1 terms.

Do you still qualify? The eligibility checklist

You are eligible for the old 2015 net metering terms if — **before 9 February 2026** — you had completed all of the following where applicable:

1. **Paid your demand notice** issued by the DISCO after inspection. 2. Had your meter **physically replaced or reprogrammed** to a bidirectional (net) meter. 3. **Executed the Meter Change Order (MCO)**, where the DISCO required one. 4. Completed the process under the **2015 Net Metering Regulations** — i.e., your file was substantively done, only the software activation lagged.

If you only *submitted* an application before 9 February but had not paid the demand notice or completed the MCO, your case is far weaker and may fall under the new 2026 net billing regime. The order rewards completed paperwork, not merely early filing.

| Your situation before 9 Feb 2026 | Likely outcome | | --- | --- | | Demand notice paid + MCO executed + meter changed | Old 1:1 terms — covered by the order | | Demand notice paid, meter not yet installed | Strong case — likely old terms; push DISCO to verify | | Application filed, demand notice unpaid | At risk — may shift to net billing | | Applied after 9 Feb 2026 | New net billing (~Rs 10–11 buyback) |

How to check your net metering application status

Here are practical steps we recommend to Pakistani homeowners and businesses chasing a stuck file:

• **Log in to the PITC portal** at `nmp.pitc.com.pk` using your reference number to see the current stage of your application.
• **Gather your proof:** the paid demand notice challan, MCO copy, and any meter-installation acknowledgement. Dates on these documents are your evidence that formalities predate 9 February 2026.
• **Visit your DISCO's XEN/net metering focal office** and ask them to confirm your case is flagged in the PITC verification batch under the July–August directives.
• **Submit a written follow-up** referencing NEPRA's 31 July and 22 August 2026 directives to PITC; keep a stamped received copy.
• If a DISCO wrongly tries to move your completed case to net billing, you can **file a complaint with NEPRA** citing the 16 February 2026 protection amendment.

For a fuller walkthrough of the process, see our guide on how net metering works in Pakistan and our breakdown of net metering vs net billing under the 2026 rules.

What this means for your solar payback

For a typical 10 kW home system in Lahore or Karachi costing roughly **Rs 1.6–2.2 million** installed in 2026, retaining 1:1 terms can shave **a year or more** off payback compared with net billing. Every summer export unit valued at your retail rate rather than ~Rs 11 compounds into meaningful annual savings — often **Rs 150,000–300,000 a year** for households that export heavily during peak sun.

The lesson is clear: if your file was complete before 9 February 2026, act now to get it verified and activated while the regulatory door is open.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the NEPRA August 2026 order automatically connect my net metering?** No. It directs PITC to review and update pending cases, but each application is verified first. Only files that were genuinely complete before 9 February 2026 inherit the old 1:1 terms.

**What is the cut-off date to keep the old 1:1 buyback terms?** 9 February 2026. Consumers who completed formalities — paid demand notice, executed MCO, and had the meter changed — before that date stay under the 2015 regulations until their agreement expires.

**How much is the new net billing buyback rate versus the old one?** The new rate is about Rs 10–11 per unit for fresh prosumers, versus roughly Rs 26–27 previously, while the old net metering scheme effectively valued exports at your retail tariff of around Rs 37–55 per unit under 1:1 offset.

**Where can I check my pending net metering application?** Use the PITC net metering portal at nmp.pitc.com.pk with your reference number, and confirm status directly with your DISCO's net metering focal office.

**I applied after 9 February 2026 — am I stuck with net billing?** Yes, applications completed after the cut-off fall under the 2026 Prosumers Regulations and net billing. Solar still pays, but model your savings on the lower export rate.

The bottom line

NEPRA's order is a genuine second chance for the thousands of Pakistanis whose net metering paperwork was finished but never switched on. If you filed and completed your formalities before 9 February 2026, verify your case with PITC and your DISCO immediately — the old, generous terms are worth fighting for. Need help auditing your application or sizing a system? Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free eligibility check today.

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.