Net Billing in Pakistan 2026: Is Rooftop Solar Still Worth It?

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 03 Sep, 2026
• Net Metering
• 7 min read

Pakistan's rooftop solar math changed almost overnight in 2026. Under NEPRA's new Prosumer Regulations, **net billing** replaced the old unit-for-unit net metering for new solar owners — and fresh industry analysis shows it has cut the value of a typical rooftop system by roughly **44–49%**. The reason is brutal but simple: the grid now credits your exported units at about **Rs11 per unit** while charging you close to **Rs50 per unit** for the electricity you import.

So is rooftop solar still worth it in Pakistan? Short answer: yes — but only if you size and use your system differently. This guide breaks down what net billing actually costs a homeowner, and the exact self-consumption strategy that protects your return on investment (ROI).

From net metering to net billing: what actually changed

In February 2026, <a href="https://www.nepra.org.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEPRA</a> notified its Prosumer Regulations 2026, ending the generous net metering regime for new connections and moving them to a financial "net billing" settlement.

The old system credited every exported unit one-for-one against a unit you imported — effectively a swap worth full retail value. The new system pays cash for exports at a much lower feed-in rate (a proposed Rs11.30 per unit), while you still buy grid power at the full slab tariff of Rs37–55 per unit.

Here's the side-by-side that every prospective solar buyer needs to see.

| Feature | Net metering (old) | Net billing (2026) | |---|---|---| | Export credit | 1:1 unit swap (~Rs22–27 value) | ~Rs11 per unit, cash | | Import charge | Netted off exports | Full retail Rs37–55 per unit | | Settlement | Units carried up to 3 months | Monthly, in rupees | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Max system size | Up to 1.5× sanctioned load | Capped at sanctioned load |

Crucially, **existing net-metering users are protected**. If you already hold a valid agreement, you keep your old buyback rate until your contract expires — the Prime Minister even ordered NEPRA to appeal and safeguard current prosumers. Only new applicants move to net billing.

How much value did net billing really cut?

The headline "44–49%" comes from modelling a representative household that self-consumes about 40% of its generation and exports the other 60%. When those exported units drop from a full-retail swap to a flat ~Rs11 credit, the *blended* value of the whole system falls by nearly half.

Picture a 10kW system in Lahore generating roughly 1,300–1,500 units a month:

• **Under old net metering:** every exported unit offset a Rs50 import unit — a near-perfect rupee-for-rupee return.
• **Under net billing:** each exported unit now fetches only ~Rs11 — an ~80% haircut on those units.
• Blend that with the units you use directly (still worth the full ~Rs50 you avoid), and total monthly savings fall 44–49% for an export-heavy home.

That is why payback periods have stretched from the old 2–3 years to about 5–7 years for systems designed the old way.

Is rooftop solar still worth it in Pakistan in 2026?

Yes — because the most valuable part of solar is untouched. Every unit you consume *directly from your panels* still displaces Rs45–55 of grid electricity, exactly as before. Net billing only devalued the surplus you push back to the grid.

Consider the economics today. A turn-key **10kW on-grid** system runs about PKR 10–14.5 lakh, while a **10kW hybrid** with a lithium battery costs roughly PKR 16–21 lakh, with panels around Rs43–48 per watt. Against grid tariffs that keep climbing with fuel-cost adjustments, a well-designed, self-consumption-first system can still pay back in **4–6 years** and then deliver 15+ years of near-free daytime power.

The verdict from independent analysts, including <a href="https://ieefa.org/resources/future-net-metered-solar-power-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IEEFA</a>, is consistent: solar remains a strong investment in Pakistan — the winning design has simply shifted from "maximise export" to "maximise self-use." See our deeper comparison in net metering vs net billing in Pakistan.

How to size for self-consumption and protect your ROI

This is where you claw back most of that lost value. Because exporting now pays almost nothing, the goal is to consume as much of your own generation as possible. Aim for a **70–80% self-consumption ratio** — a rule of thumb I give every client is the "80% rule": size the array so about 80% of what it makes is used on-site.

Practical steps that work in Pakistani homes and offices:

• **Size to your daytime load, not your total bill.** Oversizing to "bank" units is now dead money — and NEPRA caps you at your sanctioned load anyway.
• **Shift heavy loads into sunlight hours (10am–4pm).** Run air-conditioners, washing machines, water pumps, irons and EV charging while the sun is up.
• **Add a right-sized battery (go hybrid).** Storing midday surplus for the evening peak avoids Rs50 grid units instead of exporting at Rs11 — battery "self-supply" now beats export.
• **Prefer a smaller system you fully use** over a big one that dumps cheap power to the grid.
• **Use a smart hybrid inverter with load scheduling** and Wi-Fi timers so appliances follow the sun automatically.

Match your profile to the right approach:

| Your daytime usage | Best-fit approach | |---|---| | House empty 9–5 | Smaller array + battery; shift loads to evening from stored sun | | Home or office active in daytime | Size to daytime load; minimal export | | Heavy evening / night load | Hybrid + larger battery to bank midday generation |

Before finalising, run your numbers on a proper solar ROI calculator for Pakistan and compare quotes using current solar panel prices in Pakistan. The right-sized hybrid, not the biggest system, is what protects your payback under net billing.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is net metering completely banned in Pakistan now?** No. Net metering is closed to *new* applicants, who move to net billing. If you already have a valid net-metering agreement, you keep it — and your old buyback rate — until it expires.

**What is the export rate under net billing?** Roughly Rs11 per unit (a proposed feed-in tariff of Rs11.30), while you still pay Rs37–55 per unit for grid electricity you import, settled monthly in rupees.

**Does adding a battery help under net billing?** Yes, more than ever. Storing your midday surplus to use at night lets you avoid ~Rs50 grid units instead of exporting them for ~Rs11 — dramatically improving self-consumption and ROI.

**What size solar system should I install in 2026?** Size to your daytime self-consumption and your sanctioned-load cap, not your total monthly bill. A smaller, fully-used hybrid system now beats an oversized export-heavy one.

The bottom line

Net billing has changed the game, not ended it. The policy devalued exports, but the core benefit — cheap, self-generated daytime power that offsets Rs45–55 grid units — is fully intact. Design for self-consumption, add storage where evening loads are heavy, and stay within your sanctioned load, and rooftop solar in Pakistan still delivers a 4–6 year payback and decades of savings.

Want a system sized to protect your ROI under net billing? Book a free load assessment with Best Solar Company PK and get a self-consumption-optimised design for your home or business.

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.