• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 29 Oct, 2026
  • Net Metering
  • 7 min read @@METATITLE@@ Net Metering Old Rules: Check If You're Grandfathered @@METADESC@@ Govt cleared 11,695 pre-Feb-8 net metering files under old 1:1 rules. Check if your pending application is grandfathered before Rs8–11 net billing hits.

If you applied for net metering before 8 February 2026 and your file is still sitting at your DISCO, there is good news — and a deadline you cannot ignore. The government has ordered all distribution companies to process these **pending net metering applications** under the old 1:1 rules, and the Power Division has already cleared 11,695 backlog cases. The catch: you must confirm your application is actually "grandfathered" onto the old terms before the far less generous Rs8–11 net-billing buyback quietly swallows your savings.

This guide explains exactly what changed, who qualifies for the old regime, and the step-by-step way to verify your status in 2026.

What actually changed in February 2026

On 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified the new Prosumer Regulations, replacing the long-standing **net metering** scheme with a **net billing** model for new solar consumers. The difference is huge for your wallet.

Under old net metering, your exported units offset your imported units almost one-for-one (1:1), effectively valued near the full retail tariff of roughly **Rs25–27 per unit**. Under the new net billing regime, the grid buys your surplus solar at a fixed buyback rate reported in the **Rs8–11 per unit** range (sources have cited Rs8.13, Rs9.80 and up to Rs11), while you still buy grid power at the full tariff. The sign-up contract period was also cut from 7 years to 5.

The gap is stark: a unit you once "banked" at about Rs25 may now be bought back at under Rs10 — less than half its former value.

That one change can stretch a typical home solar payback from around 3 years to 5 years or more, which is precisely why grandfathering onto the old 1:1 terms matters so much.

The relief order: pre-8-February files stay on old rules

Facing a flood of complaints, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari directed every DISCO — including K-Electric — to ensure that applications received **up to 8 February 2026** are processed strictly under the **previous regulatory framework**, not the new net billing rules.

In early September 2026, the Power Division confirmed the scale of the cleanup:

  • **16,654** net metering applications were pending during the transition.
  • **11,695** were cleared, verified and declared fully compliant with the applicable rules.
  • **4,959** cases remained under verification at the time of the announcement.

PITC (Pakistan Information Technology Company) then began contacting the 11,695 cleared applicants directly via SMS, WhatsApp and other digital channels. Crucially, the government stressed that **no fees should be paid to agents or middlemen** to "speed up" a file.

| Factor | Old net metering (pre-8-Feb) | New net billing (post-8-Feb) | |---|---|---| | Export value | ~1:1, near retail (~Rs25–27/unit) | Fixed buyback ~Rs8–11/unit | | Billing logic | Units offset units | Import and export priced separately | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Who qualifies | Applied on/before 8 Feb 2026 | Applied on/after 9 Feb 2026 |

How to check if your pending application is grandfathered

Do not assume your file is safe just because you applied early. Verify it, in this order:

1. **Confirm your submission date.** Find your application acknowledgement, the DISCO receipt, or the portal timestamp. You need documentary proof that it was lodged **on or before 8 February 2026**. 2. **Check the official PITC portal.** Visit **nmverification.pitc.com.pk** and enter your reference/application number to see your current status. This is the single authoritative source — ignore WhatsApp forwards claiming otherwise. 3. **Watch for a genuine PITC message.** Cleared applicants are being notified by SMS/WhatsApp. Treat any message asking for a payment or an OTP as a scam. 4. **Call the power helpline 118** or your DISCO's net metering cell if the portal shows no record. Quote your application number and 8-Feb cutoff. 5. **Insist in writing that old 1:1 terms apply.** When the DISCO contacts you for the agreement, confirm — by email or stamped letter — that your approval and connection agreement reflect the **previous net metering regime**, not net billing.

If your file predates 8 February but the DISCO tries to issue a net-billing agreement, that is a processing error you can formally contest. For a deeper walkthrough of stuck files, see our guide on fixing a net-metering application stuck at your DISCO.

What to do if your application is NOT grandfathered

If you applied on or after 9 February 2026, you fall under net billing — but solar is still strongly worth it. The economics simply shift from "exporting surplus to the grid" to **self-consumption**:

  • **Size the system to your daytime load** so you use most of what you generate rather than exporting it cheaply.
  • **Consider batteries** to shift solar into evening peak hours instead of selling at Rs8–11.
  • **Run heavy loads in daylight** — washing, pumping, ironing, AC pre-cooling.

Compare both models before you finalise a design in our explainer on net billing vs net metering in Pakistan and the full breakdown of the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026.

A practical tip from the field

In our installations across Punjab this year, the single biggest avoidable loss has been homeowners who had a valid pre-8-February application but let the DISCO lapse them onto net billing because they never followed up. Keep a dated PDF of your original submission, screenshot your portal status every few weeks, and never let an installer or "agent" handle the agreement signing without you reading which regime is named on it. Five minutes of vigilance protects years of Rs25-per-unit savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the 1:1 net metering rule gone for everyone in Pakistan?** No. It is closed to new applicants from 9 February 2026, but applications received on or before 8 February 2026 are to be processed under the old net metering terms. The 11,695 cleared cases all fall in that pre-cutoff window.

**How do I check my pending net metering application status?** Use the official PITC portal at nmverification.pitc.com.pk with your reference number, or call the power helpline 118. Cleared applicants are also contacted directly by SMS and WhatsApp.

**What is the new net billing buyback rate in 2026?** Reported figures sit in the Rs8–11 per unit range (commonly cited around Rs10), compared with the roughly Rs25–27 per unit value under the old 1:1 net metering offset.

**Do I have to pay anyone to clear my backlog case?** No. The Power Division has explicitly warned consumers not to pay any fees to intermediaries. Verification and processing are handled free through your DISCO and PITC.

The bottom line

The pre-8-February relief order is a genuine, time-sensitive win — but it protects only those who prove their eligibility and hold their DISCO to the old 1:1 terms. Verify your submission date, check nmverification.pitc.com.pk, and get the regime confirmed in writing before you sign anything.

**Not sure which regime your file falls under? Contact Best Solar Company PK for a free review of your net metering status and a system design matched to the 2026 rules.**

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.