• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 22 Jul, 2026
  • Buying Guide
  • 8 min read

Pakistan's rooftop solar story has gone from niche to nationwide in barely six years. Installed net-metering capacity climbed from just 190 MW in FY2020 to roughly 6,978 MW by June 2026 — an almost 37-fold jump. That surge wasn't driven by generous subsidies. It was driven by pain: a rupee that lost close to 75% of its value between FY2021 and FY2025, grid tariffs that rose around 140%, and imported panel prices that fell about 60%. Solar simply became the cheapest way to keep the lights on.

But the same success that put panels on hundreds of thousands of roofs has now changed the rules. In February 2026, NEPRA replaced the old net-metering system with **net billing** for all new applicants. If you're still deciding, the maths now rewards moving quickly — and sizing correctly.

What Actually Changed With Net Billing

Under the old net-metering regime, one unit you exported to the grid cancelled one unit you later imported — a straight 1:1 swap, effectively valuing your surplus at the full retail tariff (around Rs 27/unit).

Net billing breaks that link. Now:

  • Every unit you **import** from the grid is charged at the full prevailing slab tariff.
  • Every unit you **export** is bought back at a separate, much lower rate — pegged near the national average energy purchase price, currently reported around Rs 8–13 per unit depending on the finalised tariff.

That's the core shift: your exports are no longer worth what your imports cost. Surplus electricity you send to the grid now earns roughly a third to a half of what it did under the old rules.

The lesson is blunt: under net billing, the electricity you *use yourself* is worth far more than the electricity you *sell*. Self-consumption is now king.

A few other changes matter for new buyers:

  • **System size is capped at your sanctioned load.** Previously many consumers could oversize; the new rules effectively tie approved capacity to your existing connected load, trimming the old headroom.
  • **Contracts run for five years,** renewable for another five under whatever rules apply at that time — so today's terms aren't locked in forever.
  • **Existing net-metering consumers are grandfathered** under their original agreements until those agreements expire. Anyone already approved before the cut-over keeps the better deal for now.

Why "Install Now" Is More Than a Sales Line

There are three concrete reasons the timing genuinely favours acting sooner rather than later.

**1. The direction of travel is one-way.** NEPRA has moved from a 1:1 swap worth ~Rs 27 to a buyback of ~Rs 8–13 in a single revision. With 7,000 MW of rooftop solar now leaning on the grid — and distribution companies arguing that lost revenue is being shifted onto non-solar consumers — the pressure is to tighten export rates further, not loosen them. Locking in today's terms with an approved five-year contract is a hedge against the next revision.

**2. Approvals take time, and the queue is growing.** DISCO processing, meter installation and documentation can take weeks to a few months. The earlier your application is in, the earlier your five-year clock starts on today's rules.

**3. Hardware is cheap right now.** Panel prices have rarely been lower in dollar terms, and N-type (TOPCon) modules — now the 2026 standard — deliver better heat performance and lower degradation than the older panels most early adopters bought. You're buying better equipment at a better price than the 2021 pioneers did.

How to Size a System for the Net-Billing Era

Under old net metering, oversizing to "bank" summer surplus made sense. Under net billing, that surplus is worth little — so the winning strategy is to **size for self-consumption, not export.**

  • **Match generation to your daytime load.** A home that runs ACs, pumps and appliances during daylight should aim to consume most of what it produces on-site.
  • **Consider a hybrid inverter and battery** if a big share of your usage is in the evening. With exports paying only Rs 8–13, storing your own daytime generation to use at night (offsetting Rs 40+ retail units) now pays back faster than it used to.
  • **Right-size to your sanctioned load** — going beyond it is no longer permitted, so confirm your connected load before finalising the design.

### What It Costs in 2026

Indicative market pricing as of mid-2026:

  • **Solar panels:** roughly Rs 27–45 per watt for A-grade N-type modules.
  • **10 kW on-grid system:** around Rs 1,100,000 for a solid setup.
  • **10 kW hybrid system with LiFePO4 battery:** Rs 1,800,000 and up.
  • **10 kW hybrid inverter alone:** Rs 400,000–600,000 depending on brand (Growatt, Huawei, GoodWe, Inverex and similar).

Prices vary with brand, battery inclusion, roof type and site conditions — always get an itemised quote. For a fuller breakdown, see our 10 kW solar system cost guide and our hybrid vs on-grid comparison.

The Payback Picture

Even with lower buyback rates, the economics remain strong — because the biggest saving comes from *avoiding* expensive grid units, not from selling cheap ones. A well-sized 10 kW system offsetting Rs 40–65/unit grid electricity on a heavy summer bill can still pay for itself in roughly three to five years, with panels warrantied to produce for 25+ years. The difference now is that the return leans heavily on how much of your own generation you consume, which is exactly why sizing discipline matters more than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is net metering completely gone in Pakistan?** For new applicants, yes — NEPRA moved to net billing effective February 8, 2026. Consumers already approved under the earlier net-metering rules are grandfathered and keep their existing terms until their agreements expire.

**How much will I now get for the electricity I export?** Exports are bought back near the national average energy price, reported in the range of roughly Rs 8–13 per unit — down sharply from the old ~Rs 27 equivalent under 1:1 net metering. The exact figure depends on the finalised tariff, so confirm the current rate with your installer or DISCO.

**Does that mean solar isn't worth it anymore?** Not at all. Most of your savings come from replacing grid units you'd otherwise buy at Rs 40+ per unit, not from exporting. Solar remains one of the fastest-paying investments available to Pakistani households and businesses — you just need to size for self-consumption.

**Should I add a battery?** If a large share of your consumption is in the evening, a hybrid system with a LiFePO4 battery is now more attractive, because storing your own daytime generation avoids costly night-time grid units that far exceed the Rs 8–13 export rate.

**How big a system can I install?** New rules tie approved capacity to your sanctioned/connected load, so you generally can't oversize beyond it. Check your connection's sanctioned load before designing the system, and keep documentation ready for DISCO approval.

**Why the urgency to install now?** Export rates have already been cut once and could tighten again. Getting your application approved locks in current five-year terms, secures today's low equipment prices, and starts your savings before the next revision — talk to a certified installer to begin your feasibility and paperwork early.

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.