• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 11 Oct, 2026
  • Net Metering
  • 8 min read @@METATITLE@@ Net Metering Old Rate: Lock In Rs25/Unit (2026 Guide) @@METADESC@@ NEPRA keeps the net metering old rate (~Rs25.9/unit) for solar files already in the DISCO queue before Feb 8, 2026—see who qualifies & how to lock it in.

If you applied for solar net metering before February 2026 and your file is still sitting at your DISCO, there is good news. NEPRA's partial rollback preserves the **net metering old rate** of roughly Rs25.9 per unit for applications already in the queue — not the slashed Rs10–11 buyback that now applies to everyone else. But this is a closing window, and a stuck file can still be wrongly pushed onto the new net-billing terms.

This guide explains who qualifies for the legacy tariff, the concrete steps that prove your place in the queue, and how to lock in the old rate before your DISCO closes the backlog.

What actually changed on 9 February 2026

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA's new Prosumer Regulations 2026 took effect, replacing classic **net metering** (a one-to-one, unit-for-unit exchange) with a *net-billing* model for all new applicants. Under net billing:

  • Your **exported** units are bought at the national average energy purchase price — about **Rs10–11 per unit**.
  • Your **imported** units are charged at the full consumer tariff, including taxes and surcharges.
  • The agreement term was cut from **7 years to 5 years**.

That is a steep drop from the old regime, where exported units were credited at roughly **Rs25.9 per unit** and could offset your import bill almost one-for-one. The government justified the cut by pointing to a Rs159 billion cost burden shifted onto grid consumers by December 2024, projected to balloon toward Rs4,240 billion by 2034 if left unchecked.

The rollback: old rate preserved for pending files

After strong pushback, the Power Division directed all distribution companies — including K-Electric — to process every net metering application **submitted on or before 8 February 2026 under the earlier (2015) regulations**. NEPRA floated a draft amendment confirming the same protection.

The numbers tell the story: **5,165 applications**, totalling about **250.822 MW**, were in the DISCO pipeline as of the cutoff. Power Minister Awais Leghari set a hard target to clear the backlog and energise every pending connection by **1 June 2026**.

If your registration date is before 9 February 2026, you are legally entitled to the old net metering regime — the Rs25.9/unit credit and the 7-year contract — not the new net-billing rate.

Who qualifies for the net metering old rate?

You fall inside the grandfathered group if, **before 9 February 2026**, your application had moved past "just submitted." The directive specifically protects connections that remained pending *even after* the consumer had already:

  • Paid the **demand notice** issued by the DISCO.
  • Received the **net-metering licence / NOC** from NEPRA or the DISCO.
  • Undergone **physical meter replacement or reprogramming** to a bidirectional meter.
  • Executed the **meter connection order** (agreement signed) prior to 9 February 2026.

In short: submission date on or before 8 February 2026 is the gatekeeper, and the further along your file is, the stronger your claim. If your file is simply stuck mid-process, the rollback is designed for exactly your situation — see our guide on fixing a net-metering file stuck at the DISCO backlog.

Old regime vs new net billing — side by side

| Factor | Legacy net metering (pre-9 Feb 2026 files) | New net billing (new applicants) | | --- | --- | --- | | Export (buyback) rate | ~Rs25.9 / unit | ~Rs10–11 / unit | | Billing mechanism | Unit-for-unit offset | Separate import & export billing | | Agreement term | 7 years | 5 years | | Who it covers | Applications on/before 8 Feb 2026 | Applications from 9 Feb 2026 onward | | Payback on a 10kW system | ~3–4 years | ~5–7 years |

For a typical 10kW rooftop system exporting 600–800 units a month, the gap between Rs25.9 and Rs11 is worth **tens of thousands of rupees every month** over the life of the contract. That difference is precisely what makes locking in the legacy rate worth the effort.

How to lock in the legacy rate before it closes

Treat this as time-sensitive. Here is the practical checklist we walk our own customers through:

1. **Confirm your registration date in writing.** Pull your online application portal record or demand-notice copy showing a date on or before 8 February 2026. This single document anchors your entire claim. 2. **Gather the paper trail.** Keep your paid demand-notice receipt, net-metering licence/NOC, and signed meter connection order together as one file. 3. **Insist on the 2015 regulations in your agreement.** When the DISCO prepares your net-metering agreement, verify it references the old regime and a **7-year** term with the Rs25.9/unit credit — not a 5-year net-billing contract. 4. **Push for energisation.** The backlog was meant to be cleared by 1 June 2026, yet many files lingered. If yours is still pending, file a written follow-up and, if ignored, a complaint with NEPRA's Consumer Affairs wing. 5. **Get expert help if it stalls.** A professional installer can escalate correctly. Talk to our net-metering team if your DISCO tries to move you to net billing despite a pre-February date.

**One original tip from the field:** always ask the DISCO for your agreement draft *before* you sign the meter connection order, and photograph the signed order with a timestamp. We have seen cases where a correct pre-February file was quietly re-templated onto the 5-year net-billing format — catching the wrong term at the draft stage saved those owners the Rs25-to-Rs11 downgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the net metering old rate of Rs25.9 per unit still available for new applications?** No. New applications submitted from 9 February 2026 onward fall under net billing at roughly Rs10–11 per unit. The ~Rs25.9/unit legacy rate is reserved for files already in the DISCO queue on or before 8 February 2026.

**I paid my demand notice in January 2026 but have no meter yet. Do I qualify?** Yes. The rollback explicitly covers connections pending even after the consumer paid the demand notice and received the licence. Keep your dated receipts and press the DISCO to energise under the 2015 regulations.

**What is the difference between net metering and net billing?** Net metering offsets your exported units against imported units almost one-for-one at ~Rs25.9/unit. Net billing bills exports (~Rs10–11) and imports (full tariff) separately, so the financial benefit is much smaller.

**How long does the grandfathered agreement last?** Legacy applicants keep the **7-year** term. New net-billing agreements run for **5 years**, renewable by mutual consent.

**Where can I verify these rules officially?** Check the regulator directly at NEPRA{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}, which publishes the Prosumer Regulations 2026 and the amendment protecting pre-February applicants.

The bottom line

The partial rollback is a genuine, time-limited win for the roughly 5,000 solar owners caught in the DISCO backlog. If your application predates 9 February 2026, the **net metering old rate** and the 7-year term are yours by right — but only if your file is processed and energised correctly. Verify your registration date, hold the DISCO to the 2015 regulations, and act now rather than let a stalled file drift onto the lower net-billing tariff.

Ready to secure your legacy rate or start a fresh system the right way? Get a free solar and net-metering assessment from Best Solar Company PK today.

**Sources:**

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.