NEPRA's Rs8.13 Buyback Rate: What New Solar Buyers Actually Earn in 2026

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 15 Sep, 2026
• Net Metering
• 8 min read

If you are buying a rooftop solar system in Pakistan in 2026, the single most important number to understand is the **NEPRA Rs8.13 buyback rate**. Under the new NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, this is what a fresh solar buyer now earns for every surplus unit exported to the grid — less than one-third of the Rs25.32 per unit that older net-metering users still enjoy. This one change quietly rewrites the entire economics of going solar, and if you plan your system around the old assumptions, you will lose money.

This guide gives you a concrete, numbers-first breakdown of what the Rs8.13 net billing rate actually means for your bill, why exporting is no longer the goal, and how to redesign your system so **self-consumption** becomes your real return on investment.

From net metering to net billing: what actually changed

For years, net metering worked like a simple swap. One unit you exported cancelled one unit you imported — effectively paying you the full retail tariff (often Rs50–60 per unit) for your surplus. That era is over for new applicants.

NEPRA has replaced net metering with a **net billing** model. The regulator abolished the "netting" of sold and purchased units entirely. Now two separate prices apply:

• **Electricity you export** to the grid is bought at the fixed **Rs8.13 per unit** buyback rate.
• **Electricity you import** from the grid is charged at the full prevailing slab tariff, which can reach roughly Rs50–60 per unit.

New prosumers sign a net billing agreement for an initial **five years**, renewable for a further five-year term, with payments for surplus electricity settled on a **quarterly** basis. NEPRA has also layered on a fixed charge of around **Rs1,000 per kW** of sanctioned capacity, adding to the cost of ownership.

Rs8.13 vs Rs25.32: the two-tier reality

The most talked-about part of the new regime is the split between old and new users. If you already had an approved net-metering connection before the rules changed, you are protected — you continue selling at **Rs25.32 per unit**. Every new buyer from 2026 onward gets **Rs8.13 per unit**. That is a cut of about Rs17.19 per exported unit.

| Factor | Existing net-metering users | New 2026 prosumers (net billing) | |---|---|---| | Export (buyback) rate | Rs25.32 per unit | **Rs8.13 per unit** | | Import charged at | Netted against exports | Full slab tariff (up to ~Rs60/unit) | | Units netted? | Yes | No (separate billing) | | Agreement term | Existing terms retained | 5 years + 5-year renewal | | Surplus payment | Adjusted on bill | Paid quarterly | | Extra fixed charge | None originally | ~Rs1,000 per kW |

The lesson is blunt: a unit dumped to the grid at Rs8.13 is worth barely a sixth of a unit you consume yourself and avoid buying back at Rs50+.

What a new buyer actually earns per exported unit

Let us run the arithmetic on a typical **10 kW** home system in Lahore or Karachi generating roughly **1,400 units per month**.

Suppose your household directly uses 60% of that generation (840 units) and exports the remaining 40% (560 units).

• **Exported 560 units × Rs8.13 = Rs4,553 per month** in buyback credit.
• The same 560 units, had you consumed them instead of importing at Rs55, would have saved you **Rs30,800**.

That gap — Rs4,553 versus Rs30,800 for the same 560 units — is the entire argument in one calculation. Under Rs8.13 net billing, **every unit you fail to self-consume is money left on the table**. Exporting is now a fallback for genuine surplus, not a profit strategy.

Why self-consumption now beats exporting

The strategic goal has flipped. Under old net metering you could happily over-size a system and "bank" summer exports against winter imports. Under net billing that banking is gone. Your savings come almost entirely from the units you use in real time.

Practical ways to lift your self-consumption ratio:

• **Right-size the system.** Match panel capacity to your daytime load rather than over-building for export. An oversized array now feeds the grid at Rs8.13 instead of banking value.
• **Shift heavy loads to daylight.** Run washing machines, water pumps, irons, and pool/water heating between 10am and 4pm when your panels are producing.
• **Add battery storage.** A lithium battery lets you store midday surplus and use it in the evening at effectively Rs55+ avoided cost — a far better return than a Rs8.13 export. See our guide to solar batteries for Pakistani homes.
• **Automate with a hybrid inverter and timers** so appliances follow the sun without you thinking about it.

For most homeowners, aiming for a **70–85% self-consumption ratio** transforms the payback period. Read our full walkthrough on designing a solar system for the net billing era and how it changes solar payback periods in 2026.

Does solar still make sense in 2026?

Yes — but for a different reason than before. Solar is no longer an "export and earn" scheme; it is now a **hedge against expensive grid electricity**. With residential tariffs pushing well past Rs50 per unit and rising, every unit you generate and use yourself is a guaranteed, tax-free saving at that avoided rate. That value is real and large; the Rs8.13 buyback is simply a small bonus on top for spillover.

A well-designed, correctly-sized system with a self-consumption focus still typically pays back in **four to six years** and then delivers 20+ years of near-free daytime power. What has changed is that careless over-sizing — once harmless — now actively wastes capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the NEPRA Rs8.13 buyback rate?** It is the fixed rate, set under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, at which new solar prosumers are paid for surplus electricity exported to the grid. At Rs8.13 per unit, it is less than one-third of the Rs25.32 per unit that existing net-metering users retain.

**Will existing net-metering users be affected?** No. NEPRA has grandfathered existing consumers, who continue to sell at Rs25.32 per unit under their original terms. Only new applicants from 2026 fall under the Rs8.13 net billing rate.

**Is net billing the same as net metering?** No. Net metering netted your exported units against imported units at retail value. Net billing prices them separately — you export at Rs8.13 and import at the full slab tariff, so the two no longer cancel out.

**How can I make solar worthwhile under the new rate?** Focus on self-consumption. Size the system to your daytime demand, shift heavy appliances to daylight hours, and add battery storage so you use your own generation in the evening instead of exporting cheap and buying back expensive.

The bottom line

The **NEPRA Rs8.13 buyback rate** ends the era of profiting by exporting to the grid. For new 2026 buyers, the smart money is in using your own generation — every self-consumed unit is worth roughly Rs55, while every exported unit earns just Rs8.13. Size your system for your load, add storage where it pays, and treat the grid as backup, not a customer.

Want a system engineered for the net billing era? Get a free self-consumption assessment from our team and we'll model your exact savings in PKR before you spend a rupee.

Sources: Profit by Pakistan Today — NEPRA shifts to net billing, Minute Mirror — NEPRA slashes solar rates for new consumers, The Express Tribune — NEPRA rolls out new prosumer regulations

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.