• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 31 Aug, 2026
  • Solar Policy
  • 7 min read @@METATITLE@@ NEPRA Net Metering Appeal: Your Rs25.32 Rate Explained @@METADESC@@ PM ordered NEPRA to appeal the Prosumer Regulations 2026. See how existing solar users keep the grandfathered Rs25.32/unit net metering rate in 2026.

If you already run rooftop solar, the biggest question in 2026 is simple: **is my NEPRA net metering rate safe?** After the regulator abolished the old unit-for-unit system in February, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stepped in and ordered NEPRA to appeal its own Prosumer Regulations 2026. The result is a genuine regulatory tug-of-war — and for the roughly 466,000 households and businesses already on net metering, it decides whether you keep the grandfathered **Rs25.32 per unit** buyback or fall to the new, far lower rate.

Here's a plain-English breakdown of what changed, why the PM intervened, and the practical steps to protect your rate right now.

What Actually Changed on 9 February 2026

Through **SRO 251(I)/2026**, NEPRA notified the new Prosumer Regulations 20262026)%2009-02-26.PDF), replacing "net metering" with a **"net billing"** model. The difference is fundamental:

  • **Old net metering:** every unit you exported offset a unit you imported, one-to-one. Money never really changed hands — you traded kilowatt-hours.
  • **New net billing:** you *sell* your exported units at a low buyback price and *buy* grid electricity separately at the full consumer tariff (currently around **Rs40–Rs50 per unit**).

For new applicants, the buyback rate was slashed to the national average power-purchase price — reported between **Rs10 and Rs11.30 per unit** — while they still pay Rs40+ to draw from the grid. That gap roughly doubles a new solar system's payback period.

By ending one-to-one exchange, net billing quietly moved the goalposts: you now sell cheap and buy dear on the very same rooftop.

Why the PM Ordered NEPRA to Appeal Its Own Rules

The backlash was immediate. Politicians, former power-sector officials and energy experts argued the change punished early adopters who invested in good faith. Within days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice and directed the Power Division to file a **review appeal** against NEPRA's own regulation — an unusual step of the government asking the regulator to reconsider a decision it had just made.

The government's stated worry, per The Express Tribune, was balance: it did not want the cost benefit enjoyed by ~466,000 solar consumers to be shifted onto more than 37.6 million grid-only consumers — but it also refused to retroactively penalise people who had already signed valid agreements.

On **16 February 2026**, NEPRA responded by floating a **draft amendment** granting a protection window and rolling back the changes for existing users. The message: your contract is your shield.

Are You Grandfathered? The Rs25.32/Unit Rule

Here is the good news for current owners. If you held a **valid net-metering licence or agreement on or before 9 February 2026**, the draft amendment protects you. In practice that means:

  • You keep **one-to-one unit exchange**, not net billing.
  • Your surplus is valued at the **grandfathered rate (around Rs25.32/unit)** you signed for, not the new Rs10–11.
  • Protection runs **until your existing agreement expires** — typically the **seven-year term**, so many contracts stay safe well into 2027–2032 depending on your start date.

New applicants after the cut-off date get the new net-billing framework, five-year terms and the lower buyback. The dividing line is your agreement date — nothing else.

| Feature | Existing users (grandfathered) | New applicants (net billing) | |---|---|---| | Mechanism | One-to-one net metering | Net billing (sell + buy separately) | | Export value | ~Rs25.32/unit | ~Rs10–11.30/unit | | Import tariff | Standard slab | Rs40–50/unit | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years | | Protected until | Agreement expiry (2027–2032) | N/A |

The "Material Modification" Trap That Can Void Your Rate

This is the part most homeowners miss — and it is where the clawback bites. Your protection is tied to your *existing* agreement. If you make a **material modification**, you can be pushed onto the new net-billing terms early.

The clearest trigger in the draft rules: **upgrading your system capacity**. NEPRA has proposed limiting installed solar to your **sanctioned load**, and reports confirm that increasing capacity beyond your approved limit **voids the old rate** and re-registers you under the current regulations. A related restriction blocks new connections on a transformer once distributed generation hits **80% of its rated capacity**.

Practical implications for grandfathered owners:

  • **Adding panels or a bigger inverter** to your registered system may re-trigger the agreement — potentially at Rs10–11/unit instead of Rs25.32.
  • **Transferring the connection** (e.g. selling the property) can require a fresh agreement under new terms.
  • **Changing meter/tariff category** may be treated as a new application.

The safe play: keep your protected system exactly as licensed, and treat any expansion as a separate financial decision — because it likely won't enjoy the old rate.

What Existing Solar Owners Should Do Right Now

Until the appeal and draft amendment are finalised, act on documentation, not rumours:

1. **Locate your net-metering agreement** and confirm the licence date is on or before 9 February 2026. 2. **Note your expiry date** — that is how long your Rs25.32/unit rate is protected. 3. **Do not "upgrade" impulsively.** Model the payback before adding capacity, since new panels may bill at the lower rate. 4. **Prioritise self-consumption.** With the gap between buyback and import tariffs, using your own generation (and considering batteries) beats exporting cheap. 5. **Watch NEPRA's final notification.** Draft amendments can change before they are gazetted.

For a deeper comparison, see our guide on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan, and if you're sizing a new system, check current solar panel prices in Pakistan for 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Will my existing net metering rate change in 2026?** No — not if you had a valid agreement on or before 9 February 2026. The PM-ordered appeal and NEPRA's 16 February draft amendment protect existing users, keeping one-to-one exchange and the grandfathered ~Rs25.32/unit rate until your agreement expires.

**What is the difference between net metering and net billing?** Net metering exchanges your exported units for imported units one-to-one. Net billing sells your surplus at a low buyback price (~Rs10–11/unit) while you buy grid power separately at Rs40–50/unit — a much weaker deal for new applicants.

**Can I lose my grandfathered rate?** Yes. A "material modification" — chiefly upgrading system capacity beyond your sanctioned load, or changing the connection — can void the old rate and move you onto current net-billing terms. Keep your protected system as-is.

**Is net metering still worth it in Pakistan?** Absolutely, especially for existing users. Even at the new buyback rates, self-consumption savings against Rs40–50/unit grid tariffs make rooftop solar one of the fastest-payback investments available.

The Bottom Line

The NEPRA net metering appeal has, for now, held the line for early adopters: your grandfathered **Rs25.32/unit** rate stands until your agreement expires — provided you don't trigger a material modification. The rules for *new* systems are harsher, but self-consumption keeps solar firmly worth it.

Not sure where your agreement stands, or planning a new installation under the 2026 framework? **Talk to Best Solar Company PK** for a free, no-pressure assessment tailored to the latest NEPRA rules.

*Sources: NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026 (SRO 251(I)/2026)2026)%2009-02-26.PDF) · The Express Tribune.*

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.