• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 24 Aug, 2026
  • Net Metering
  • 8 min read

After months of frustrating delays, there is real movement on net metering in Pakistan. In August 2026, NEPRA directed the Power Information Technology Company (PITC) to review every pending connection case across the DISCOs and K-Electric, so applicants who completed their paperwork months ago can finally get connected. If your net metering application has been stuck, this is the window you have been waiting for. But it comes with a catch: net billing rates are tightening, and the sooner you clear the queue, the better your economics.

This guide breaks down what changed, why the backlog is moving now, and the exact steps pending applicants should take today.

Why the Net Metering Backlog Piled Up

The bottleneck was building all through early 2026. By May, as many as 1,355 net metering applications were stuck across various distribution companies. Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari ordered DISCOs to clear the backlog and install the remaining connections by June 1, warning companies over the delays.

The deeper cause was a policy shift. On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the new Prosumer Regulations 2026, which replaced the decade-old net metering system with "net billing." In the transition, thousands of applications submitted under the old framework were left in limbo while DISCOs, PITC and NEPRA sorted out which files belonged under which rules.

The August 2026 update is the fix. NEPRA has tasked PITC with inspecting cases, especially those pending before 9 February 2026, updating records, and confirming the precise status of each application so approvals can resume in an orderly way.

If you applied before 9 February 2026 and met the requirements, your case is exactly what PITC has been told to identify and clear first.

Net Metering vs Net Billing: What Actually Changed

Understanding the difference is the whole reason speed matters now.

Under classic net metering, the units you exported to the grid offset the units you imported at (roughly) the same tariff. Under net billing, they are no longer equal. You buy electricity from the grid at the full retail tariff, but the grid buys back your exported solar units at a much lower fixed rate.

Here is the shift in plain numbers:

| Factor | Old net metering | New net billing (2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | Export buyback rate | ~Rs 22–27 per unit | ~Rs 8–11 per unit | | How exports are valued | Offset against imports | Paid at National Average Energy Purchase Price | | New contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Max system size | Up to 1 MW | Capped at 1 MW, limited to sanctioned load | | Existing users | — | Grandfathered until agreement expires |

The single most important line in that table is the last one: **existing prosumers are grandfathered.** If your agreement is already signed with your DISCO, your older, more favourable terms continue for the life of that contract. That is why finalising a pending application now, rather than reapplying later, protects your returns.

What Pending Applicants Must Do Right Now

If you are in the queue, treat the next few weeks as time-sensitive. Take these steps:

  • **Confirm your application status in writing.** Contact your DISCO's net metering cell (or K-Electric) and get the current status and reference number. With PITC updating records, you want your file flagged as complete, not missing documents.
  • **Fix any incomplete paperwork immediately.** The most common reasons files stall are a missing CNIC copy, an outdated paid electricity bill, an incorrect sanctioned load, or an inverter/panel spec sheet that does not match the installed system.
  • **Match your system to your sanctioned load.** NEPRA now limits system capacity to your sanctioned load. If your solar array is larger than your connection allows, either apply for a load enhancement or right-size the paperwork before inspection.
  • **Prepare for the transformer capacity check.** No new connection is allowed if generation on your transformer has already reached 80% of its rated capacity. Ask your DISCO whether your feeder has headroom, so you are not surprised at the survey stage.
  • **Arrange a load flow study if your system is 250 kW or above.** This is now mandatory for larger commercial and industrial systems and can add time if you start late.
  • **Keep your installer on standby.** Once the DISCO schedules the site inspection and meter installation, a responsive installer who can correct minor issues on the spot keeps you from dropping back into the queue.

The current processing time, once a file is clean, is roughly 3 to 5 weeks. A single missing document can reset that clock, so front-load the fixes.

Should You Still Go Solar Under Net Billing?

Yes, and the math still works, just differently. The old model rewarded oversizing your system to export as much as possible. The new economics reward self-consumption: using your own solar power during the day instead of exporting it cheaply.

Practical implications for 2026 buyers:

  • **Right-size, do not oversize.** Build a system that covers your daytime load well, with only modest export.
  • **Shift heavy loads to daytime.** Run air conditioning, water pumps and washing during peak sun to consume your own generation at full retail value.
  • **Consider battery storage.** With export paid at only Rs 8–11 per unit, storing surplus for evening use is increasingly worth the added cost. See our related note on choosing the right solar system size for your home.

Even at the reduced buyback rate, a well-designed rooftop system in Pakistan typically pays back in roughly 4 to 6 years, because the biggest saving comes from avoiding the full grid tariff, not from selling surplus.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is net metering finished in Pakistan?** Not exactly. The classic net metering scheme is closed to new applicants and replaced by net billing under the Prosumer Regulations 2026. Existing agreements signed under the old rules continue on their original terms until they expire.

**I applied months ago. Will I get the old rate?** Possibly. NEPRA has directed PITC to identify applicants who fulfilled the requirements before 9 February 2026 and finalise their status. If your file was complete under the old framework, push to have it processed and grandfathered. Get your status confirmed in writing now.

**How long does approval take in 2026?** Once your application is complete and your feeder has capacity, expect about 3 to 5 weeks through survey, agreement and bidirectional meter installation.

**What is the new buyback rate?** Exported units are compensated at the National Average Energy Purchase Price, discussed at roughly Rs 8 to 11 per unit, down from the Rs 22 to 27 range under old net metering. Rates for imports remain the full retail tariff.

The Bottom Line

The backlog is finally moving, but every week matters. Net billing rates are already lower than the old net metering credits, and future revisions are likely to tighten further. If your application is pending, confirm your status, close every documentation gap, and get connected before the window narrows. If you are still deciding, design for self-consumption and, ideally, storage.

Need help auditing your pending file or right-sizing a system for the 2026 rules? Talk to the Best Solar Company PK team and get your application over the line while the DISCOs are clearing the queue.

Sources: Tribune, Dawn, Pakistan Today, Daily Pakistan

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.