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

If you installed rooftop solar before 9 February 2026, you are sitting on one of the best energy deals in Pakistan — and it has an expiry date. The shift from **net metering to net billing** means that when your agreement ends, or the moment you upgrade your system, your distribution company (DISCO) can move you onto a far lower export rate. This guide explains exactly how the transition works and the concrete steps existing owners take to protect their old **Rs25.32 per unit** rate.

What actually changed in 2026

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the new **Prosumer Regulations 2026**, scrapping the 2015 Distributed Generation and Net Metering framework and replacing it with **net billing**. Under the old model, one exported unit offset one imported unit (a true 1:1 swap), with surplus valued near the power purchase price of about **Rs25.32/unit**.

Net billing breaks that swap. New prosumers now buy grid power at the full consumer tariff (often **Rs45–55/unit**) but sell surplus at only the national average energy purchase price — reported at roughly **Rs8–11/unit**. That gap is the whole story: your exports are suddenly worth a fraction of what you pay.

The single most valuable asset a pre-2026 solar owner has is not the panels on the roof — it's the grandfathered agreement that still values every exported unit at Rs25.32.

You are grandfathered — for now

Here is the good news. NEPRA confirmed that every net metering agreement signed **before 9 February 2026** is exempt from net billing. Your contract stays valid on its original 1:1 terms, and your surplus keeps its ~Rs25.32/unit value **until the agreement expires**. Old agreements ran for a **seven-year** term; new ones are capped at **five years**.

So a household that signed in, say, 2022 keeps full net metering economics until roughly 2029. That protection is real — but it is fragile, and two events can end it early.

### Trigger 1: Contract expiry

When your seven-year term runs out, you do not automatically keep the old rate. To stay connected as a prosumer you must **re-enter an agreement**, and any fresh agreement falls under the 2026 rules — meaning net billing at the low buyback rate. Expiry is the cliff edge most owners forget about because it feels years away.

### Trigger 2: Any capacity upgrade

This is the trap that catches people early. If you increase your **sanctioned load** or expand the system beyond your **original approved capacity** — for example going from 5kW to 10kW — the DISCO treats it as a new application. That pushes the whole connection onto a fresh 2026 agreement, and you lose the Rs25.32 rate on your *entire* system, not just the new panels.

Under the 2026 regulations, existing prosumers cannot expand beyond their originally sanctioned load and keep protection. In practice, the grandfathered rate is frozen to the size of the system you already have.

Old rate vs new rate: the numbers

| Factor | Grandfathered (pre-9 Feb 2026) | New net billing (2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | Export mechanism | 1:1 net metering | Net billing (cash credit) | | Export value | ~Rs25.32/unit | ~Rs8–11/unit | | Import (buy) price | Full consumer tariff | Full consumer tariff | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Effect of capacity upgrade | Loses protection | N/A |

For a home exporting 400 units a month, that is roughly **Rs10,128** in monthly credit under the old rate versus around **Rs3,200–4,400** under net billing — a difference of **Rs60,000–80,000 a year**. Protecting the rate is worth real money.

The exact steps to protect your Rs25.32 rate

Follow these in order. Most are simple record-keeping — but skipping them is how owners accidentally forfeit the deal.

  • **Find and file your original agreement.** Locate the signed net metering agreement and licence/concurrence letter with its exact commissioning date. This document is your legal proof of grandfathering — store a scanned copy safely.
  • **Confirm your expiry date.** Count seven years from the agreement start. Mark the month 6–9 months before expiry as your decision window.
  • **Do not upgrade capacity casually.** Before adding panels, batteries that change sanctioned load, or a bigger inverter, confirm in writing with your DISCO whether it triggers a new agreement. If it does, weigh the extra generation against losing Rs25.32 on your whole system.
  • **Keep your meter and load unchanged.** Avoid meter replacements, tariff-category changes, or connection transfers that the DISCO could log as a fresh application. If a meter must be swapped, insist in writing that your existing agreement terms carry over.
  • **Never let the agreement lapse silently.** An expired, un-renewed agreement can leave exports uncredited. Engage the DISCO before expiry, in writing.
  • **Model the renewal decision early.** As expiry nears, compare staying on net billing versus adding battery storage to self-consume more and export less — often the smarter play once export rates fall.

For a deeper walkthrough of the calculation, see our guides on how net billing changes your solar payback and sizing a battery to beat low buyback rates. If you are still on the fence about installing at all, read is rooftop solar still worth it under net billing.

A practical, first-hand tip

From working with existing prosumers this year, the most common costly mistake is the "just add two more panels" upgrade. Owners assume expansion is harmless. In reality, one small capacity change can convert a Rs25.32/unit contract into a Rs8/unit contract overnight. If you genuinely need more generation, the cleaner route is often a **separate self-consumption system** (extra panels feeding only your own load, not exporting) so your protected net metering agreement stays untouched.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the shift to net billing cancel my existing net metering agreement?** No. Agreements signed before 9 February 2026 are grandfathered and stay on 1:1 net metering at the old rate until their seven-year term expires. Net billing applies to new applicants and to anyone who re-enters an agreement.

**What happens to my rate when my net metering contract expires?** At expiry you must sign a fresh agreement to remain a prosumer, and that new agreement falls under the 2026 net billing rules — so your export rate drops from about Rs25.32 to roughly Rs8–11 per unit. Plan your renewal decision before the term ends.

**Will upgrading my solar system move me to net billing?** Yes. Increasing your sanctioned load or expanding beyond your original approved capacity is treated as a new application and pushes your entire connection onto a 2026 net billing agreement, ending the grandfathered rate.

**How do I prove I qualify for the old Rs25.32/unit rate?** Keep your original signed net metering agreement, licence/concurrence letter, and commissioning date on file. These documents establish that your contract predates 9 February 2026 and is exempt from net billing.

Bottom line

Your grandfathered net metering agreement is a time-limited asset worth tens of thousands of rupees a year. Guard it: know your expiry date, keep your documents, and think hard before any capacity upgrade. If you want a personalised review of your contract and the smartest renewal strategy, contact Best Solar Company PK — we will map your exact expiry timeline and protection plan before the deadline catches you off guard.

*Verify current tariffs directly with NEPRA{target="_blank" rel="noopener"} and your local DISCO before making decisions.*

**Sources:** Dawn — Nepra pulls the plug on net-metering, The Nation — Nepra replaces net-metering with net-billing, pv magazine — Pakistan's new net metering rules, Profit by Pakistan Today — how the regulations change.

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.