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

If you filed your rooftop solar application before 8 February 2026, there is important news you cannot afford to ignore. Your **net metering pending application** is protected under the old rules — the generous one-to-one unit-exchange system — even though Pakistan has officially moved to net billing. Understanding this window, and acting fast to secure it, could be worth lakhs of rupees over the life of your system.

Here is exactly who qualifies, what the deadlines mean, and how to make sure your distribution company (DISCO) honours the legacy rate.

What actually changed on 9 February 2026

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the **NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026**, replacing the decade-old Net Metering Regulations, 2015. This was not a minor tweak — it ended one-to-one net metering for new applicants.

Under the old net metering system, every unit (kWh) you exported to the grid offset a unit you imported at the same retail price. It was a true "unit exchange."

Under **net billing**, imports and exports are billed separately:

  • **Exported units** are bought from you at roughly **Rs 10–11 per unit** (pegged to the National Average Power Purchase Price).
  • **Imported units** are charged at the full retail tariff — often **Rs 55–65 per unit** in peak slabs.

The gap is stark: you sell your surplus for around Rs 11 but buy it back for up to Rs 65 — a difference that can slash a household's solar savings by half or more.

New net-billing contracts are also capped at **five years**, versus the effectively long-term arrangements under the 2015 regime.

Why the government cut the buyback rate

The shift did not happen in a vacuum. The Power Division argued that net metering consumers had shifted a burden of about **Rs 159 billion** onto ordinary grid consumers by December 2024, a figure projected to balloon to **Rs 4,240 billion by 2034** if left unchanged. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) first approved cutting the buyback rate from **Rs 27 to Rs 10** in 2025, and the Prosumer Regulations formalised the separate import/export billing structure.

The 5,165-application grandfathering window

Here is the good news for early applicants. Federal Minister for Power **Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari** directed that all net metering applications submitted **up to 8 February 2026** be processed under the **previous** regulations.

According to the Power Division, a total of **5,165 applications** — carrying a cumulative capacity of **250.822 megawatts** — were on file across all DISCOs, including K-Electric, by that date. Every one of these is entitled to the old 1:1 unit-exchange terms, not net billing.

In short:

  • **Applied on or before 8 February 2026** → processed under old net metering (unit-exchange) rules.
  • **Applied on or after 9 February 2026** → falls entirely under net billing, including the ~Rs 11 export rate.

Separately, all consumers who already held **valid net metering agreements** as of 9 February 2026 keep their one-to-one terms until their existing contracts naturally expire — a protection NEPRA later confirmed with retrospective effect after industry pushback and the Prime Minister's intervention.

Who exactly qualifies for legacy rates

You are in the protected group if **any** of the following is true:

| Your situation on 8–9 Feb 2026 | Which rules apply | | --- | --- | | Application submitted to DISCO on/before 8 Feb | Old net metering (1:1) | | Demand notice issued and/or paid before 9 Feb | Old net metering (1:1) | | Valid net metering agreement already signed | Old rules until contract expires | | Application submitted on/after 9 Feb | New net billing (~Rs 11 export) |

The key evidence is a **dated acknowledgement** from your DISCO showing your file was logged before the cut-off, plus any demand notice or payment receipt.

How to secure your legacy net metering rate

The Power Division has ordered DISCOs to clear pending net-metering cases, but paperwork can stall. Protect yourself:

1. **Gather proof of your filing date.** Save your online portal submission timestamp, the diary/registration number, and any demand notice or challan. 2. **Confirm your file is flagged "legacy."** Ask your DISCO's net metering focal person, in writing, to confirm your application is being processed under the 2015 rules. 3. **Complete your technical requirements fast.** You need a PEPCO-approved **bi-directional smart meter**, an **AEDB-certified installer**, a single-line diagram, and an inverter with **anti-islanding protection**. Delays here give the DISCO room to push you onto new terms. 4. **Escalate if pushed onto net billing.** If your demand notice was paid before 9 February and the DISCO tries to apply net-billing rates, file a **written complaint to NEPRA** citing the Minister's directive on pre-8 February applications. 5. **Track the 30–90 day timeline.** Most DISCOs (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, HESCO, K-Electric) take 30–90 days from application to commissioning. Follow up every fortnight.

From our own project experience across Punjab, the single biggest cause of a "downgrade" to net billing is an **incomplete file** — a missing single-line diagram or an installer who is not AEDB-certified. Close those gaps before the DISCO does.

For a full walkthrough of the new framework, see our guide on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan and our breakdown of the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does the old net metering rate last forever?** No. Even for grandfathered consumers, the 1:1 terms run until your existing agreement expires. Legacy applicants receive the old-rule agreement, but future policy reviews and the general five-year direction mean you should not assume perpetual protection.

**I paid my demand notice on 6 February 2026 but have no meter yet. Am I safe?** Yes — a demand notice paid before 9 February places you in the protected pre-cut-off group. Keep the paid challan and demand notice safe as proof, and insist in writing that your DISCO process you under the 2015 rules.

**What is the difference in money between net metering and net billing?** Under net metering, an exported unit offsets an imported unit worth up to Rs 55–65. Under net billing, that same exported unit earns only about Rs 10–11 while you still pay full retail on imports — often cutting effective solar savings by 40–60%.

**Can I still apply for solar in 2026 if I missed the deadline?** Absolutely. Solar remains highly worthwhile even under net billing — you save most by **self-consuming** your generation during the day rather than exporting. Size your system to match daytime load, and consider batteries to store surplus instead of selling it cheaply.

The bottom line

If you are among the **5,165 pre-8 February applicants**, you hold a valuable, time-limited advantage: the old unit-exchange rates that net billing has otherwise ended. Secure it now — document your filing date, complete your technical requirements, and escalate to NEPRA the moment a DISCO tries to move you onto net billing. Missed the window? Solar still pays in 2026; just design for self-consumption. Talk to our team at Best Solar Company PK to confirm your status and lock in the best possible arrangement before your file moves.

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.