• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 05 Oct, 2026
  • Net Metering
  • 8 min read

Pakistan's rooftop solar boom just hit its most confusing moment yet. After NEPRA cut the solar **net billing buyback rate** to just Rs8.13 per unit in 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the regulator and the Power Division to re-verify how that number was calculated. For anyone sitting on a quotation, the question is urgent: do you lock in a system now, or wait to see if a reversal brings back a better rate?

This guide breaks down exactly what changed, what the PM's order could mean, and how to decide — with real PKR figures for 2026.

What the Rs8.13 net billing buyback rate actually means

Until early 2026, Pakistan ran a **net metering** system (in place since 2015). Every unit you exported to the grid offset a unit you imported — effectively a one-for-one swap worth roughly Rs25–27 per unit.

That is gone for new applicants. Under NEPRA's Prosumer Regulations 2026, new rooftop solar users moved to **net billing**, where:

  • The grid buys your exported solar units at a fixed Rs8.13 per unit — a cut of about Rs17.19 from the earlier ~Rs25.9 rate (less than one-third of the old value).
  • You still buy grid electricity at the full slab-based tariff, which can exceed Rs40–65 per unit on higher slabs.
  • The buyback contract period was shortened from 7 years to 5 years.
  • A separate Rs1,000 per kW setup fee was introduced in April 2026.

In short: your exported units became cheap, your imported units stayed expensive, and the one-for-one magic of old net metering disappeared.

Importantly, **existing solar consumers are protected** — they continue at roughly Rs25.32 per unit until their original 7-year agreements expire. The pain falls only on new connections.

Why PM Shehbaz ordered a re-verification

NEPRA justified the cut by arguing that net metering shifted costs onto non-solar grid users — roughly a Rs2 per unit burden — and blamed rapid solar growth for about 3.2 billion units in lost grid sales and some Rs101 billion in revenue losses for distribution companies (DISCOs) in FY2024.

Critics, solar associations and many lawmakers pushed back hard, calling Rs8.13 punitive and warning it would kill the rooftop market and discourage documentation of new installs. Responding to that pressure, the PM first directed the Power Division in October 2025 to review the proposed reduction, and has now ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to **re-verify the Rs8.13 figure** and the methodology behind it.

The government's stated position is that the broader net billing policy will stay, but the rate and the treatment of consumers must be fair and legally sound. NEPRA has already floated draft amendments to shield existing users and even proposed alternative models — including a gross-metering structure at around Rs11.30 per unit with 5-year contracts.

You can track the official rules and notifications directly on the <a href="https://www.nepra.org.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEPRA website</a> and the <a href="https://power.gov.pk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Power Division</a> portal.

What a possible reversal could look like

A "reversal" almost certainly does not mean a return to full 2015-style net metering. More realistically, the re-verification could produce one of these outcomes:

  • A higher revised buyback rate (somewhere between Rs11 and the old ~Rs22–25 band).
  • A longer contract term restored closer to 7 years.
  • Grandfathering guarantees so your rate can't be slashed mid-contract.
  • Or — in the worst case — confirmation of Rs8.13 with only minor tweaks.

Because the final figure is genuinely uncertain, the smart move is to model your payback under the *current* Rs8.13 rate. If the numbers still work today, any upward revision is simply a bonus.

Install now or wait? Run the real numbers

Here is the practical insight most sales pitches skip: **net billing rewards self-consumption, not export.** The old system let you treat the grid like a free battery. The new system makes every unit you use yourself — instead of exporting — worth Rs40–65 (your avoided tariff), while exports are worth only Rs8.13.

So a well-sized system that you consume during the day still pays back fast. Over-sizing purely to export is what the new rate punishes.

| Factor | Net Metering (old / existing users) | Net Billing (new users, 2026) | |---|---|---| | Export value per unit | ~Rs25–27 | Rs8.13 | | Import (grid) cost | Offset 1:1 | Full slab tariff (Rs40–65+) | | Contract length | 7 years | 5 years | | Setup fee | None | Rs1,000 per kW | | Best strategy | Export freely | Maximise daytime self-use |

Typical 2026 PKR figures for a 10kW on-grid system:

  • System cost: roughly **PKR 1,000,000–1,200,000** (hybrid with lithium battery up to ~PKR 1,800,000).
  • Generation: about **1,200–1,500 units per month**.
  • Bill savings: commonly **Rs50,000–90,000 per month** when you consume most output yourself.
  • Payback: around 3–5 years under net billing if self-consumption is high (faster for commercial users with daytime loads).

For a home or business with heavy daytime usage — offices, shops, factories, households with AC running all afternoon — waiting rarely makes sense. Every month you delay is a month of Rs50,000+ bills you could have cut. For a household that exports most of its generation (empty home during the day), the economics are tighter, and a battery or load-shifting plan matters more than the buyback rate.

For a deeper walkthrough, see our guides on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan and how to size a solar system for your bill, plus the latest solar panel prices in 2026.

Our expert take

From installing hundreds of systems across Punjab and beyond, our honest view in late 2026: **don't wait for a policy that may never improve.** The re-verification could nudge the rate up, but it could also confirm Rs8.13. Meanwhile, grid tariffs keep climbing, so the value of the electricity you *avoid buying* keeps rising — and that, not the buyback rate, is where modern solar makes its money.

If a reversal does raise the buyback rate, new contracts signed afterward typically benefit automatically, and a trustworthy installer will structure your agreement accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the Rs8.13 net billing buyback rate final?** Not entirely. It is the current approved rate for new users, but PM Shehbaz has ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify it in 2026, so a revised figure is possible. Model your decision on Rs8.13 to stay safe.

**Will existing solar users lose their old rate?** No. Existing net metering consumers keep roughly Rs25.32 per unit until their original 7-year agreements expire. The Rs8.13 rate and net billing apply to new applicants only.

**Should I install solar now or wait for a reversal?** If you have high daytime electricity use, install now — your savings come mainly from avoiding Rs40–65 grid tariffs, not from exporting. Waiting mostly costs you money while a reversal remains uncertain.

**How is net billing different from net metering?** Net metering offset exported units against imported units one-for-one. Net billing pays a low fixed rate (Rs8.13) for exports while charging full tariff for imports, so self-consumption matters far more.

The bottom line

The PM's order to re-verify the Rs8.13 buyback rate is good news for transparency — but it is not a reason to freeze your plans. Under net billing, a correctly sized system focused on daytime self-consumption still delivers a 3–5 year payback at 2026 prices. Lock in the right size for your load, choose an installer who guarantees compliant paperwork, and you benefit no matter which way the rate finally lands.

Ready to find out exactly what you'd save at today's rates? Get a free solar quote and net billing assessment from our team.

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.