Applied Before Feb 8? How to Lock In the Old Rs 27/Unit Net Metering Rate

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 28 Sep, 2026
• Net Metering
• 8 min read @@METATITLE@@ Net Metering Before Feb 8: Keep Old Rs 27/Unit Rate @@METADESC@@ Applied for net metering before 8 Feb 2026? You keep the old ~Rs 27/unit rate. Learn how to confirm your pending application qualifies and push your DISCO.

If you filed a net metering application before **8 February 2026**, you are sitting on a valuable, time-limited right: the government has ordered that your application be processed under the **old net metering rules**, not the new net-billing regime. That difference is worth lakhs of rupees over the life of your system — the old policy offsets your exported units at roughly **Rs 27 per unit**, while new applicants are stuck with a buyback rate of only about **Rs 10–11 per unit**.

But the right is not automatic in practice. Thousands of qualifying applications stalled inside DISCO offices after the rules changed. This guide shows Pakistani homeowners and businesses exactly how to confirm your pending net metering application qualifies for grandfathering — and how to force your DISCO to process it under the old rules before the window quietly closes.

What actually changed on 8–9 February 2026

On **9 February 2026**, NEPRA notified the new **Prosumer Regulations 2026**, replacing the 2015 net metering framework with a "net-billing" model. Under net billing, imported units are charged at full peak/off-peak retail tariff, while exported units are bought back at a regulator-set rate of only about **Rs 10–11/unit** — a cut of more than 60% from the old ~Rs 27/unit value.

The rollback that protects you came days later. Facing public backlash and the Prime Minister's intervention, Power Minister Awais Leghari confirmed on **19 February 2026** that **5,165 applications received up to 8 February 2026** — a combined **250.822 MW** across all DISCOs including K-Electric — would be honoured under the **previous 2015 regulations**. A separate NEPRA amendment (around 16 February 2026) also protected consumers who already had a **signed net metering agreement before 9 February 2026**, keeping their old rates valid until the agreement expires.

For a fuller breakdown of the new regime, see our explainer on the NEPRA net billing rules for 2026.

Old net metering vs new net billing: what's at stake

| Factor | Old net metering (pre-8 Feb 2026) | New net billing (post-9 Feb 2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | Export/buyback value | ~Rs 27/unit (retail offset) | ~Rs 10–11/unit | | Billing method | Units netted against import | Import billed full; export paid separately | | Who qualifies | Applications filed by 8 Feb 2026 | Applications filed from 9 Feb 2026 | | Typical payback | ~3–4 years | ~5–7 years | | Contract protection | Valid until agreement expiry | Rate reviewable periodically |

On a typical 10 kW home system in Lahore or Karachi exporting 500–700 surplus units a month, the gap between Rs 27 and Rs 10 can mean **Rs 100,000–140,000 less per year** in value. Over a seven-year horizon that is easily **Rs 700,000 or more**. This is why confirming your grandfathered status is worth the effort.

Step 1: Confirm your application actually qualifies

Before you push your DISCO, gather proof that your application was **received on or before 8 February 2026**. Qualification hinges on the *received/filed* date, not the approval date.

• **Find your application acknowledgement** — the dated receipt, tracking number, or online portal submission confirmation from your DISCO (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, K-Electric, etc.).
• **Check the email timestamp** if you or your installer applied through the DISCO's online net metering portal.
• **Ask your solar installer** for their copy — reputable installers keep the stamped application and the load/feasibility documents.
• **Confirm your capacity** is within your sanctioned load; over-sizing is the most common technical rejection reason.

If your evidence shows a submission date of 8 February 2026 or earlier, you are inside the grandfathered pool of 5,165 applications.

Step 2: Force your DISCO to process it under the old rules

The Ministry issued a **written directive to all DISCOs** — including K-Electric — that pre-8 February applications must be processed strictly under the 2015 regulations and not blocked by the new framework. On **24 May 2026**, Leghari went further, ordering DISCOs to clear the remaining **1,355 pending applications by 1 June 2026**, warning of **administrative action** against senior officials and **withholding of bonuses** at underperforming companies. Use that leverage.

1. **Cite the directive in writing.** Send your DISCO a dated letter/email referencing the Minister's instruction that applications received till 8 February 2026 be processed under the old net metering regulations. Attach your application receipt. 2. **Invoke the NEPRA processing timeline.** NEPRA's rules prescribe a defined number of working days for feasibility, inspection, and issuance of the net metering agreement. Officials themselves have admitted processing time "significantly exceeds" the NEPRA limit — quote that. 3. **Escalate to the DISCO's designated net metering focal person** or Chief Engineer if the local subdivision stalls. 4. **File a complaint with NEPRA** through its Complaint Management System if the DISCO still delays beyond the prescribed period, and copy the Ministry of Energy (Power Division). 5. **Watch for the transformer-tagging trap.** A known cause of wrongful rejection is improper tagging of the transformer serving your connection. If rejected on technical grounds, ask specifically whether your meter/transformer mapping is correct and request re-verification rather than re-application (re-applying now could push you into net billing).

Step 3: Get the agreement signed — that locks it in

Your grandfathered rate is truly secured only once the **net metering agreement is signed** and the bidirectional meter is installed. Until then, keep every acknowledgement and follow up weekly. Do not withdraw and re-file, and do not let an installer "restart" the application — a fresh submission dated after 8 February 2026 would fall under net billing.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the old ~Rs 27/unit rate apply if my meter is installed after February 2026?** Yes. Grandfathering is based on when your application was *received* (on or before 8 February 2026), not when the meter is installed or the agreement signed. A later installation date does not push you into net billing, provided the original filing date qualifies.

**What proof do I need that I applied before 8 February 2026?** Your dated DISCO application receipt, online portal submission confirmation, tracking/reference number, or timestamped email. Your solar installer should also hold a stamped copy. Keep these safe — they are your evidence if the DISCO disputes eligibility.

**My DISCO rejected my pending application — can I still keep the old rate?** Often yes, if the rejection was on a technical issue like transformer tagging or load mismatch. Ask for the exact reason in writing and request re-verification of the *existing* application. Avoid filing a brand-new application, which would be dated after the cutoff and governed by net billing.

**What can I do if my DISCO simply won't process it?** Send a written demand citing the Minister's directive and the NEPRA processing timeline, escalate to the DISCO Chief Engineer, then file a formal complaint with NEPRA and copy the Power Division. The Ministry has publicly warned of administrative action and bonus withholding against DISCOs that delay these cases.

The bottom line

If your application beat the 8 February 2026 cutoff, the old net metering economics are legally yours — but paperwork and DISCO delays are the real barrier, not the policy. Confirm your filing date, document it, cite the government directive, and escalate through NEPRA if needed.

Need help assembling your evidence file or drafting the letter to your DISCO? **Talk to our net metering team at Best Solar Company PK** — we help pre-8-February applicants lock in the old rate before their window closes.

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.