NEPRA Net Metering Amendment: What It Restores for 466,506 Existing Solar Users

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

If you already own a rooftop solar system in Pakistan, one document decided whether your investment kept paying off — or lost more than half its value overnight. That document is the **NEPRA net metering amendment**, a draft change to the Prosumer Regulations 2026 that promised to reverse the rollback for all **466,506 existing prosumers**. Below, we break down exactly what the amendment changes, the public-comment window that let solar owners push back, and where things stand today.

This is essential reading for every homeowner and business that installed solar before 9 February 2026 — because your buyback rate, your 1:1 unit exchange, and your payback period all hang on it.

What triggered the crisis for existing solar users

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the **Prosumer Regulations 2026** (SRO 251(I)/2026), scrapping classic net metering in favour of a "net billing" or gross-metering model. The shift was brutal for solar economics:

• The **buyback rate collapsed from roughly Rs 26–27 per unit to just Rs 10–11 per unit**.
• The 1:1 unit exchange — where a unit you export cancels a unit you import — was abolished.
• New agreement terms were cut from **7 years to 5 years**.
• Your meter now measures import and export separately, so you no longer get full retail value for surplus solar.

For a typical 10 kW home system in Lahore or Karachi, that change could stretch a payback period from around 3 years to well over 6, wiping out the core reason many families borrowed to go solar. Understandably, the backlash was immediate. See our explainer on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan for how the two models differ in rupee terms.

The draft amendment: what it actually restores

After Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the Power Division to file a review, NEPRA notified a **draft amendment to the Prosumer Regulations 2026 on 17 February 2026** under Section 47(3) of the NEPRA Act, 1997. This is the "reversal" every existing prosumer was waiting for.

Here is what the **NEPRA net metering amendment** changes:

• **All approvals, licences, agreements, and concurrences granted under the previous (repealed) regulations remain valid.** Your existing net-metering agreement is not cancelled.
• Distributed generators with **valid agreements signed before 9 February 2026 will continue to be billed under the earlier 1:1 net-metering rate and mechanism** until their existing contract expires.
• The protection is **retroactive, deemed effective from 9 February 2026** — closing the gap so no one falls through the cracks.
• A separate simplification followed: **systems of 25 kW or below no longer need formal NEPRA concurrence**; the relevant DISCO (LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, etc.) can approve them directly.

In plain terms: if you already had a net-metering licence, you keep your old 1:1 deal and your original buyback rate for the full 7-year term. The Rs 10–11 net-billing regime applies only to **new** applicants going forward.

### Old rules vs. the amendment at a glance

| Factor | Prosumer Regs 2026 (9 Feb) | Draft Amendment (for existing users) | |---|---|---| | Unit exchange | Net billing (separate import/export) | 1:1 net metering retained | | Buyback rate | Rs 10–11 per unit | Original rate (~Rs 26–27) kept | | Contract term | 5 years | Existing 7-year term honoured | | Who is affected | All prosumers | New applicants only | | Existing 466,506 users | Downgraded | Protected until contract expiry | | ≤25 kW approval | NEPRA concurrence | DISCO approves directly |

The public-comment window: how prosumers could act

Under Section 47(3) of the NEPRA Act, every draft regulation must be opened for **public consultation for 30 days** before it is finalised. When NEPRA floated this amendment on 17 February 2026, that clock started ticking — giving citizens, solar installers, and industry bodies until roughly **mid-March 2026** to respond.

To participate in the window, stakeholders were invited to:

1. **Download the draft** from the official NEPRA website (nepra.org.pk). 2. **Write their comments or objections** clearly referencing the relevant sub-regulation. 3. **Submit them to the Registrar, NEPRA** within the 30-day period, by post or the channels listed on the notice.

This is the single most powerful — and most overlooked — tool ordinary Pakistanis have in energy policy. Public objections during past windows have measurably shaped final NEPRA decisions. Our practical tip from the field: successful submissions cite hard numbers (your system size, your invested amount in PKR, your projected loss under net billing) rather than general complaints. Regulators weigh evidence-based comments far more heavily.

You can read the primary source directly on NEPRA's official prosumer regulations page <a href="https://www.nepra.org.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(nepra.org.pk)</a> and track how the ministry framed the appeal via the <a href="https://pid.gov.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Press Information Department</a>.

Where things stand now (2026 update)

The pressure worked. By **April 2026, NEPRA confirmed that existing net-metering rates and contracts remain fully valid** for consumers who signed with their DISCO before 9 February 2026 — there would be no change to their licences or terms. In **August 2026**, NEPRA went further with S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026, formally exempting **≤25 kW systems** from NEPRA concurrence to speed up small residential approvals.

The regulator also signalled a parallel goal: designing a mechanism so the cost of subsidising 466,000 solar consumers is not unfairly pushed onto the country's 38-million-plus grid consumers. That tension — protecting early adopters without overburdening everyone else — will drive the next round of policy debate. If you are weighing a fresh installation, compare current returns in our 2026 solar buyback rate guide before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the NEPRA net metering amendment apply to me if I installed solar last year?** Yes. If your net-metering agreement with your DISCO was signed before 9 February 2026, the amendment protects your 1:1 unit exchange and original buyback rate until your existing contract (typically 7 years) expires.

**What buyback rate do new solar buyers get in 2026?** New prosumers registering after 9 February 2026 fall under net billing, with an export/buyback rate of roughly Rs 10–11 per unit — down from the earlier Rs 26–27. The 1:1 offset no longer applies to new applicants.

**Is the public-comment window still open?** The 30-day window on the February 2026 draft has closed, and NEPRA has since confirmed protection for existing users. However, NEPRA regularly opens new consultation windows — check nepra.org.pk periodically and submit comments to the Registrar whenever a fresh draft affects prosumers.

**Do I still need NEPRA approval for a small home system?** No. As of the August 2026 amendment (S.R.O. 1320(I)/2026), systems of 25 kW or below are exempt from NEPRA concurrence, and your DISCO can approve the installation directly — cutting weeks off the process.

The bottom line

The **NEPRA net metering amendment** is a rare case of policy being pulled back after public and political pressure. For all 466,506 existing prosumers, it means your solar investment keeps the terms you signed up for. For new buyers, the maths has changed — but with rising grid tariffs, rooftop solar still pays.

Not sure how the rules affect your specific setup or contract date? Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free, up-to-date net-metering assessment and a system quote built around the 2026 regulations.

Sources: Profit by Pakistan Today, The Nation, Business Recorder, Express Tribune, Dawn, Business Recorder – ≤25kW exemption, NEPRA.

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.