Net Metering Feb 8, 2026 Cutoff: Old Rs22 Rules Still Apply

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

If you applied for rooftop solar before this year's deadline, there is good news buried inside NEPRA's messy 2026 policy shake-up. The **net metering Feb 8, 2026 cutoff** is a hard line in the sand: applications that reached your distribution company (DISCO) on or before that date are still processed under the older, far more generous rules — a seven-year agreement and a buyback rate near **Rs22 per unit**, not the stripped-down net-billing terms new applicants now face.

That single date can be worth hundreds of thousands of rupees over the life of your system. Below, we explain exactly what "grandfathered" means here, how to confirm your filing date with proof, and how to put a real PKR figure on the deal you locked in.

What actually changed in 2026

In February 2026, NEPRA replaced the old **net metering** system with a **net billing** framework under the Prosumer Regulations 2026. The headline change: DISCOs stopped exchanging your exported units one-for-one against imports. Instead, exports are bought at a fixed, lower rate, and the contract term was cut.

After a public backlash and a direct intervention by the Prime Minister, NEPRA issued amendments (drafted 16 February 2026 and finalised in April 2026) confirming that older applicants are protected. The amendment is deemed effective from **9 February 2026** — meaning anything validly filed *before* that day sits under the previous rules.

Here is the practical comparison for homeowners and businesses:

| Feature | Old rules (filed on/before 8 Feb 2026) | New net billing (filed after) | | --- | --- | --- | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Export buyback | ~Rs22 per unit (fixed in agreement) | ~Rs11 per unit | | Unit exchange (offset) | Yes — import/export netted | No — gross metering | | Tariff certainty | Locked until expiry | Subject to revision |

Roughly **5,165 applications** were pending at the cutoff, representing about **250.8 MW** of capacity. Every one of those applicants is entitled to the old terms once approved.

How to check your net metering filing date

"Filed before the cutoff" only helps if you can prove it. Do not rely on memory or on a verbal assurance from your installer. Gather documentary evidence:

• **Application acknowledgement / diary number:** When you (or your solar company) submitted the net metering application to the DISCO — LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, MEPCO, FESCO, GEPCO and others — the office issues a receiving stamp, an online tracking ID, or a diary number with a date. This is your single strongest proof.
• **DISCO online portal status:** Most DISCOs let you track the application by reference number. A submission timestamp on or before 8 February 2026 is what you want to see.
• **Email trail:** Check for the automated confirmation email or the demand notice (DN) issued after inspection. The date on the DN also anchors your place in the queue.
• **Your installer's records:** A reputable company keeps the stamped submission copy. Ask for a scanned PDF for your file.

If you cannot find any of this, submit a **written query to your DISCO's net metering cell** referencing your reference or consumer number and ask them to confirm the recorded submission date in writing. Get it on the record now, while the policy is fresh — not two years from now when staff have rotated.

For a step-by-step on the application flow itself, see our guide to applying for net metering in Pakistan.

What the grandfathered rate is actually worth

Let's translate the policy into money. Take a common **10 kW residential system** in Punjab. On a decent rooftop it produces roughly **1,200–1,400 units per month**, and a typical household exports a meaningful share of that during daylight when it is out at work or school.

Assume the system exports **500 units per month** to the grid (a conservative, realistic figure for a family home).

• **Old rate (~Rs22/unit):** 500 × 22 = **Rs11,000 per month** in export value
• **New rate (~Rs11/unit):** 500 × 11 = **Rs5,500 per month**
• **Difference:** **Rs5,500 per month**, or **Rs66,000 per year**

Over the **seven-year** grandfathered term, that gap is worth roughly **Rs4.6 lakh** more than the five-year net-billing deal — before you even count the extra two years of contract and the value of unit exchange on your self-consumption. For a commercial site exporting several thousand units a month, the advantage runs into the **millions of rupees**.

That is why confirming your filing date is not paperwork housekeeping. It is protecting a real, quantifiable asset.

The one mistake that can void your old rate

There is a critical catch every grandfathered prosumer must understand: **do not increase your sanctioned export capacity.** NEPRA's amendment states that any modification that raises the maximum electrical output will strip away the tariff advantages of the old arrangement.

In plain terms — if you have a 10 kW approved system on the old Rs22 terms and later apply to expand to 15 kW, the enhancement can push your whole agreement onto the new net-billing rules. If you are planning growth, weigh it carefully; sometimes a **separate connection** or simply keeping the original approval intact protects more value than adding panels. Talk it through with an engineer before filing any change request.

Practical checklist for grandfathered applicants

• Locate and save your dated submission proof (diary number, portal screenshot, DN).
• Confirm your DISCO has your application logged as pre-9 February 2026.
• Read your signed agreement and note the **exact export rate and expiry date** written into it.
• Avoid capacity upgrades that could trigger a switch to net billing.
• Keep a copy of the NEPRA amendment for your records in case of a future billing dispute.

Thinking about whether solar still adds up under the newer rules? Our breakdown of solar panel prices and payback in Pakistan for 2026 walks through the numbers for both old and new applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the Feb 8, 2026 cutoff apply to the application date or the approval date?** It hinges on when your application was validly submitted to the DISCO, not when it was finally approved. NEPRA confirmed that pending applications filed up to 8 February 2026 are processed under the old rules even if approval and meter installation happen later. Your dated submission receipt is the proof that matters.

**What exactly is the old net metering buyback rate?** Grandfathered agreements carry the previous framework's terms — a seven-year contract with an export buyback around Rs22 per unit and one-for-one unit exchange, versus roughly Rs11 per unit and a five-year term under the new net billing model. Your own agreement document states the precise figure and expiry date.

**Can my DISCO force me onto net billing before my agreement expires?** No. NEPRA's amendment protects valid agreements executed under the repealed regulations until their term ends. If a DISCO tries to change your rate early, cite the amendment (effective 9 February 2026) and escalate to NEPRA's complaint channel. Keep your signed agreement handy.

**Will adding more solar panels later cost me the old rate?** It can. Any modification that increases your sanctioned maximum output may move your agreement onto the new net-billing terms. Get engineering and regulatory advice before applying for any capacity enhancement.

The bottom line

The **net metering Feb 8, 2026 cutoff** created two very different classes of solar owners in Pakistan. If your application reached the DISCO in time, you hold a seven-year, roughly Rs22-per-unit agreement that is now worth lakhs more than what new applicants receive — but only if you can prove your filing date and avoid capacity changes that void it. Pull your paperwork today, confirm the recorded submission date with your DISCO in writing, and safeguard the deal you already earned.

Want to make sure your existing system captures every grandfathered rupee? Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free review of your net metering agreement and export performance.

Sources: Old rules for net metering till Feb 8 — Tribune · Nepra restores old net metering for pre-Feb 9 applications — The News · Pre-Feb 9, 2026 solar agreements: rates to continue — Business Recorder

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.