• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 20 Sep, 2026
  • Solar Policy
  • 8 min read @@METATITLE@@ NEPRA Tariff Hike Sept 29: Lock In Solar Before October @@METADESC@@ NEPRA's Sept 29, 2026 hearing may add ~Rs1.73/unit in October. See why locking in solar now beats the next NEPRA tariff hike in Pakistan.

If you have been putting off the switch to solar, the calendar just gave you a hard deadline. On **September 29, 2026**, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) will hold a public hearing on a fresh adjustment request that could add roughly **Rs1.73 per unit** to electricity bills from October. For homeowners and businesses already stretched by rising tariffs, this NEPRA tariff hike is one more reason to lock in solar before the next increase lands.

This article breaks down exactly what is being decided on September 29, what it means in rupees, and why the timing makes solar in Pakistan a defensive move — not just a green one.

What NEPRA Is Deciding on September 29, 2026

The hearing centres on a petition filed by the **Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G)** on behalf of the ex-WAPDA distribution companies (the XWDISCOs). The core argument is a fuel-cost gap.

  • Consumers were billed a **reference fuel cost of Rs7.0998 per unit**.
  • The **actual fuel cost came in at Rs8.8265 per unit**.
  • The DISCOs want the **Rs1.7267 per unit** difference passed on to consumers.

In plain terms, generating electricity cost far more than the tariff assumed, and the regulator is being asked to recover that gap from bill-payers. According to The Express Tribune, the companies have offered to forego and refund about Rs10.097 billion in previous adjustments and another Rs10.617 billion in RLNG fuel-rate adjustments — but the headline pass-through remains close to Rs1.73 per unit.

The pressure is structural, not a one-off. Power generation cost jumped **37.6% in August 2026** year-on-year, driven largely by a **111% surge in expensive RLNG-based power**, per The Nation. When fuel costs climb like that, adjustments follow.

This Is Not the First 2026 Increase — And Won't Be the Last

The September 29 hearing does not happen in isolation. Bill-payers have already absorbed a run of increases this year:

  • A **quarterly adjustment of about Rs0.52 per unit** (for April–June) is being billed from September through November 2026.
  • Separately, Dawn reported NEPRA raising costs by **Rs2.58 per unit** in a recent decision.
  • The **national average uniform tariff sits around Rs33.38 per unit** as of early 2026.

Now stack the proposed ~Rs1.73 per unit on top. For a typical protected residential slab the base rate already runs into the mid-Rs20s per unit, while unprotected domestic users above 700 units pay **north of Rs47 per unit**, and commercial consumers face a base tariff near **Rs45 per unit**.

Every quarterly and monthly adjustment is essentially a variable you cannot control — unless you generate your own power and stop buying so many units from the grid in the first place.

What an Extra Rs1.73 Per Unit Actually Costs You

Small per-unit numbers hide big annual totals. Here is what the proposed adjustment adds on top of your existing bill, before taxes and other surcharges:

| Monthly usage | Extra at ~Rs1.73/unit (month) | Extra per year | |---|---|---| | 300 units (small home) | ~Rs519 | ~Rs6,228 | | 600 units (large home) | ~Rs1,038 | ~Rs12,456 | | 1,500 units (small business) | ~Rs2,595 | ~Rs31,140 | | 5,000 units (commercial) | ~Rs8,650 | ~Rs103,800 |

And remember: this single adjustment is layered on a base tariff that has *also* been climbing. A solar system freezes most of that exposure by cutting the number of grid units you buy each month.

Why Locking In Solar Before the Hike Protects You

The case for acting before October rests on three shifts that are all moving against the buyer who waits.

**1. Grid tariffs only trend one way.** With RLNG-heavy generation and rupee pressure, adjustments like the September 29 request are becoming routine. Solar converts a rising, unpredictable cost into a fixed, upfront investment. The higher grid tariffs go, the faster your panels pay for themselves.

**2. Net metering has already been replaced by net billing.** On **February 9, 2026**, NEPRA issued new Prosumer Regulations that scrapped the old 1-for-1 net metering. Under the new **net billing** model, exported units are bought back at a reduced rate — **about Rs8.13 per unit for new consumers**, down sharply from the earlier ~Rs25.32 per unit, per Profit by Pakistan Today. Crucially, consumers with valid agreements **as of February 9, 2026 are grandfathered** at their old rates until their contract expires.

**3. The economics now reward self-consumption.** Because export credits are lower under net billing, the biggest savings come from using your solar output directly during the day rather than banking it with the grid. That makes system sizing and battery decisions matter more than ever — and it makes early, well-designed installs more valuable than rushed ones later.

Put simply: waiting exposes you to a higher base tariff, the new ~Rs1.73 adjustment, *and* a less generous buyback regime. Acting now locks in today's costs and today's savings math.

How to Move Before October — A Practical Checklist

  • **Audit your last 6 bills.** Note your average monthly units and your slab; that determines system size.
  • **Prioritise daytime self-consumption.** Under net billing, a unit you use is worth more than a unit you export.
  • **Get a load-matched quote.** A right-sized system beats an oversized one that dumps cheap exports to the grid.
  • **Confirm your metering status.** If you already hold a pre-February 9, 2026 net-metering agreement, understand exactly what is grandfathered.
  • **Book installation early.** Demand spikes around every tariff hike; lead times stretch.

Want a deeper cost breakdown? See our guides on net billing vs net metering in Pakistan and how to size a home solar system. For businesses, our commercial solar payback analysis shows how quickly rising tariffs shorten the return period.

You can also review the official process and documents on the NEPRA website ahead of the hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is NEPRA deciding on September 29, 2026?** NEPRA will hear a CPPA-G petition, filed for the XWDISCOs, seeking to recover a fuel-cost gap of about Rs1.7267 per unit — the difference between the reference fuel cost of Rs7.0998 and the actual Rs8.8265 per unit. If approved, the impact would show up on bills from October 2026.

**How much will the NEPRA tariff hike add to my bill?** Roughly Rs1.73 per unit before taxes. A 600-unit household would pay about Rs1,038 extra per month, or around Rs12,456 a year — on top of existing base-tariff and quarterly adjustments.

**Does going solar before October really protect me?** Yes, in effect. Solar reduces the number of grid units you buy, so future per-unit adjustments hit a much smaller portion of your usage. The higher tariffs climb, the more each self-generated unit saves you.

**Is net metering still available in Pakistan in 2026?** No. Since February 9, 2026, NEPRA has shifted new consumers to net billing, with a lower buyback rate near Rs8.13 per unit and a five-year contract. Consumers with valid agreements before that date keep their older terms until expiry.

The Bottom Line

The September 29 hearing is a signal, not a surprise. Fuel costs are up, RLNG generation is expensive, and adjustments like the proposed ~Rs1.73 per unit are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Every month you stay fully on the grid, you ride those increases in full.

Locking in solar now — sized for daytime self-consumption under the new net-billing rules — turns an unpredictable, rising bill into a fixed, one-time investment. **Talk to Best Solar Company PK today for a load-matched quote and beat the next hike before October.**

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.