New Net Metering in 2026: Is Rs8.13 Buyback Still Worth It?

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

If you are weighing rooftop solar in Pakistan this year, the rules have shifted under your feet. NEPRA's new **net metering** regime — technically "net billing" under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026 — pays fresh applicants only about **Rs8.13 per unit** for electricity exported to the grid, while consumers who signed earlier keep their locked-in **Rs25.32 per unit**. That is a jaw-dropping gap. So the honest question every homeowner and business owner is asking: with the buyback slashed, is applying for net metering in 2026 still worth it?

Short answer: yes — but only if you stop thinking like an exporter and start thinking like a self-consumer. Let's break down the numbers.

What actually changed in NEPRA's 2026 net metering rules

With effect from **9 February 2026**, NEPRA replaced classic one-to-one net metering with a **net billing** model. The difference matters:

• **Old net metering:** every exported unit offset an imported unit at the same retail tariff — effectively a 1:1 swap worth Rs25–27.
• **New net billing:** you sell surplus units cheap and buy back at the full consumer tariff, which can run up to **Rs60+ per unit** on higher slabs.

New applicants now receive roughly **Rs8.13 per exported unit** — a cut of about Rs17 versus the old Rs25.32. NEPRA has also introduced a small **application/setup fee of around Rs1,000 per kW**, ending the earlier free-connection era.

Crucially, if you already hold a signed net-metering agreement, you are protected — your **Rs25.32** rate stays valid until your existing contract term expires. This article is mainly for *new* applicants deciding what to do in 2026.

Why the Rs8.13 buyback rate isn't the number that matters

Here is the insight most headlines miss. The buyback rate only applies to **surplus** units you push to the grid. The units you use *inside your home or business at the moment they are produced* never touch the grid — so they are worth the retail tariff you would otherwise have paid, which is **Rs40–65 per unit** for most on-grid users.

Do the math on a single solar unit:

| Where the unit goes | 2026 value to you | |---|---| | Exported to grid (new applicant) | ~Rs8.13 | | Self-consumed (offsets your bill) | ~Rs40–65 | | Exported to grid (existing user) | Rs25.32 |

A self-consumed unit is worth **5 to 8 times** an exported one. That single fact rewrites how you should size a system in 2026.

Right-sizing your solar system for self-use

Under the old regime, over-sizing paid off — extra panels dumped cheap-to-generate power onto the grid for a fat Rs25 credit. That logic is dead. The winning 2026 strategy is to **match generation to your daytime load** so almost every unit is consumed on site.

Practical right-sizing tips from our installs across Punjab and Sindh:

• **Study your daytime consumption**, not just the monthly bill. Solar produces from roughly 8am to 5pm — align panel size to what you actually run during those hours (ACs, pumps, fridges, machinery).
• **Shift heavy loads to daylight.** Run washing machines, irrigation pumps, and water heaters at noon instead of at night.
• **Avoid gold-plating the array.** A household using 40 units/day rarely needs a 15kW system that spills half its output to a Rs8 grid.
• **Consider a modest battery** only if your evening load is high and diesel/UPS backup is expensive. Batteries add cost but let you self-consume after sunset.

A well-sized 10kW on-grid system generates roughly **35–45 units per day** and can still cut a Rs35,000+ monthly bill by **70–90%** — because those units are displacing expensive grid power, not chasing the export rate.

The 2026 payback math, with real PKR figures

Let's take a typical Lahore household with a Rs45,000 monthly bill.

• **10kW on-grid system cost:** roughly **Rs1,100,000–1,400,000** installed (quality tier-1 panels + reputable inverter + net-metering paperwork).
• **Monthly bill after right-sized solar:** around Rs6,000–12,000.
• **Monthly saving:** roughly **Rs33,000–39,000**.
• **Payback period:** about **2.5 to 3.5 years** — even with the low buyback rate, because savings come from self-consumption, not exports.

After payback, the system delivers largely free electricity for **20+ years**, and panels typically carry performance warranties to match. Compare that to grid tariffs, which have only trended upward. The buyback cut stings, but it barely moves the payback needle when your design leans on self-use.

For deeper cost breakdowns, see our guide to choosing the right solar system size and our overview of on-grid vs hybrid systems in 2026.

Should new applicants still apply for net metering in 2026?

For most homeowners and commercial users: **yes.** Net billing still legalises your grid connection, lets you bank surplus units for a small credit, and keeps you compliant with DISCO rules. Just do not build your business case on the Rs8.13 export price. The value is in slashing your own consumption of Rs40–65 grid power.

You should apply if:

• Your daytime load is meaningful (offices, shops, factories, homes with daytime ACs).
• You can right-size and shift loads to daylight hours.
• Your monthly bill is above roughly Rs25,000.

You might delay or go **off-grid/hybrid without export** if your consumption is almost entirely nocturnal and you'd export most of your generation for a pittance.

You can review NEPRA's official framework on the NEPRA website{target="_blank" rel="noopener"} and check current tariffs published by the Power Division{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is net metering still available in Pakistan in 2026?** Yes, but it now operates as "net billing" under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, effective 9 February 2026. New applicants export surplus units at about Rs8.13/unit and import at the full retail tariff.

**Will my existing Rs25.32 net metering rate be cut?** No. If you have a signed agreement, you keep the Rs25.32/unit buyback rate until your current contract term expires. The lower rate applies only to new applicants.

**Does the low Rs8.13 buyback rate make solar a bad investment?** Not if you right-size for self-consumption. Self-used units are worth Rs40–65 each versus Rs8.13 for exported ones, so a well-designed system still pays back in about 2.5–3.5 years.

**What size system should a new applicant install in 2026?** Match panel capacity to your daytime load rather than over-sizing to export. For many households a 5–10kW system that covers daytime consumption is the sweet spot.

The bottom line

NEPRA's 2026 buyback cut to Rs8.13/unit is real, and it genuinely hurts the old "sell to the grid" model. But **net metering** in Pakistan still pays — because the real return was never the export credit; it was avoiding Rs40–65 grid units in the first place. Right-size your system, shift loads into daylight, and solar remains one of the smartest rupee-for-rupee investments you can make in 2026.

Ready to design a system built for self-use? Get a free right-sizing consultation with our engineers and we'll model your exact payback before you spend a rupee.

Sources: Profit by Pakistan Today, The Express Tribune, Daily Times, Profit — setup fee, PV.com.pk 10kW pricing

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.