NEPRA Keeps the Rs26 Net-Metering Rate for Existing Solar Users: How to Lock It In

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 29 Oct, 2026
• Solar Policy
• 8 min read

If you installed rooftop solar before February 2026, there is important news: the **NEPRA net metering Rs26 export rate** you signed up for is being protected. After a fierce public backlash and a direct intervention by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, NEPRA has issued a draft amendment that lets existing net-metering holders keep their Rs26-per-unit buyback rate and one-to-one unit exchange until their original agreement expires — instead of being pushed onto the new, far lower net-billing rate.

But "grandfathered" does not mean "guaranteed forever and no matter what you do." Your protected rate is tied to a specific agreement, a specific premises, and a specific expiry date. If you handle any of those carelessly, you can accidentally drop back into the new regime. This guide explains what changed in 2026 and the concrete steps current prosumers must take to lock the Rs26 rate in.

What actually changed in 2026

On **9 February 2026**, NEPRA notified the new Prosumer Regulations, shifting Pakistan from *net metering* (where exported units were swapped one-for-one against imported units) to *net billing* (where you buy from the grid at the full retail tariff and sell your surplus back at a separate, much lower export rate).

The headline for new applicants is painful:

• The buyback rate fell from roughly **Rs26/unit** (around Rs25.98) to approximately **Rs10–Rs11/unit**.
• New connection agreements were cut from **seven years to five years**.
• The one-to-one unit exchange (netting) was removed for new prosumers.

Meanwhile, you still *buy* electricity from the grid at the full residential tariff — often **Rs55–Rs65/unit** for many slabs. That widening gap between the buy price and the sell price is exactly what made the change so unpopular.

Why PM Sharif's intervention matters for you

The original rollout alarmed existing owners because it appeared to apply the new lower rate **retroactively** — meaning people who had invested lakhs of rupees under a Rs26, seven-year contract would suddenly be paid less than half.

Following the backlash, PM Shehbaz Sharif took notice and directed the Power Division to seek a review. The retroactive cut for existing contract holders was blocked. NEPRA then moved to amend **Regulation 21** of the Prosumer Regulations, confirming that approvals, licences and agreements issued under the old rules stay valid, and that existing users continue to be billed under the old mechanism and old rate until their agreement naturally expires.

In short: if your net-metering agreement was executed **on or before 9 February 2026**, you keep Rs26/unit and one-to-one netting until expiry — typically somewhere between **2029 and 2033**, depending on when your seven-year term began.

Old vs new: a quick comparison

| Feature | Existing holders (pre–9 Feb 2026) | New applicants (2026 onward) | |---|---|---| | Export/buyback rate | ~Rs26/unit | ~Rs10–Rs11/unit | | Unit exchange (netting) | One-to-one | Abolished (net billing) | | Contract length | 7 years | 5 years | | Retail import tariff | Full tariff (~Rs55–65/unit) | Full tariff (~Rs55–65/unit) | | Status | Grandfathered until expiry | New net-billing regime |

How to lock in your Rs26 rate

This is the practical part. Based on how the amendment and DISCO agreements are structured, here is what current prosumers should do now.

1. **Confirm your agreement date.** Pull out your net-metering agreement and check the execution/commissioning date. It must be on or before 9 February 2026. This single date is the whole basis of your protection. 2. **Secure your paperwork.** Keep certified copies of three documents together: your signed DISCO net-metering agreement, your NEPRA generation/net-metering licence, and your DISCO approval/commissioning letter. If a billing dispute ever arises, these are your evidence. 3. **Note your exact expiry date.** Count seven years from your agreement's start. Mark it in your calendar — that is the day your Rs26 protection ends and you will likely renew under the net-billing rules. 4. **Do not surrender or re-apply unnecessarily.** Voluntarily cancelling and re-applying resets you as a *new* applicant on the Rs11 net-billing rate. Never let the agreement lapse through inaction either. 5. **Be very careful with capacity upgrades.** Adding panels or increasing your sanctioned load can trigger a **fresh agreement** under the current rules, which may void your grandfathered rate on the added — or even the whole — capacity. Confirm the impact with your DISCO in writing *before* you expand. 6. **Handle property sale/transfer correctly.** The agreement is tied to the premises and the meter. If you sell your home, check your DISCO's transfer procedure so the new owner inherits the existing agreement rather than being forced to sign a new net-billing contract. 7. **Audit every bill.** Check that exported units are still credited at Rs26 and netted one-to-one. If a bill shows the Rs11 rate, raise a complaint immediately with your DISCO and escalate to NEPRA, citing the Regulation 21 amendment. 8. **Submit comments during the consultation.** The amendment is still in *draft*. Prosumer associations and individuals can file objections/comments during NEPRA's public consultation window before the final notification. Participation keeps pressure on the protection staying intact.

For a fuller breakdown of the two systems, see our guide on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan, and if you are weighing a new system, review current solar panel prices in Pakistan.

An expert tip from the field

Most installers only tell clients to "keep the agreement safe." In our experience the real risk is the **capacity-enhancement trap**. We have seen owners who added just 2–3 kW of extra panels after Feb 2026 and unknowingly signed an addendum that re-dated their whole agreement — pushing their entire system onto the Rs11 rate. If you genuinely need more generation, consider adding a separate battery/self-consumption setup that does **not** export, rather than amending the net-metering agreement itself. That way you raise your savings without touching the contract that protects your Rs26 rate.

You can read NEPRA's own regulatory documents on the official NEPRA website and track the national rollout through the Alternative Energy Development Board, both authoritative primary sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the NEPRA net metering Rs26 export rate apply to me automatically?** Yes — if your agreement was executed on or before 9 February 2026, the draft amendment to Regulation 21 keeps you on the Rs26/unit rate and one-to-one netting automatically until your contract expires. You don't need to re-apply; in fact, re-applying would move you to the new net-billing rate.

**When exactly does my protected rate end?** At the end of your original seven-year term. Depending on when you signed, that typically lands between 2029 and 2033. After that, renewal is expected to follow whatever net-billing rules apply at the time.

**What happens if I add more solar panels?** Increasing your sanctioned capacity can require a new or amended agreement under the current rules, which may strip the Rs26 rate from the added capacity — or your whole system. Always confirm the effect with your DISCO in writing before expanding, or add non-exporting self-consumption capacity instead.

**Is this final, or can NEPRA still change it?** It is currently a draft amendment undergoing consultation. The protection for existing holders has strong political backing after the PM's intervention, but you should still submit comments during the public window and keep your documents ready until the final notification is issued.

The bottom line

The shift to net billing genuinely slashes returns for anyone going solar in 2026 — but existing owners dodged the worst of it. Thanks to PM Sharif blocking the retroactive cut, NEPRA's amendment lets you hold the **Rs26 export rate** until your contract runs its full term. Treat that agreement as a financial asset: guard the paperwork, avoid resets, and verify every bill.

Not sure whether your current setup is correctly registered, or want to size a battery-backed expansion that won't touch your net-metering contract? Contact the team at Best Solar Company PK for a free, no-obligation review of your system and agreement.

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.