PM Orders Re-Verify of Rs8.13 Net-Billing Buyback Rate: Should Solar Buyers Install Now or Wait?

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 24 Oct, 2026
• Solar Policy
• 8 min read

If you have been waiting for the dust to settle before going solar, this week gave you a reason to pay close attention. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify the slashed **Rs8.13/unit net-billing buyback rate** — the single number that decides how much you earn for every surplus solar unit you push back to the grid. For anyone deciding whether to install now or wait, this re-verification could change the maths significantly.

At a meeting on October 22, the PM directed the Power Division and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to review the buyback tariff and assess its wider, system-wide implications before the reforms are finalised. In plain terms: the government is no longer treating Rs8.13 as settled.

What exactly changed with net billing in 2026?

In February 2026, NEPRA repealed the old Net Metering Regulations 2015 and replaced them with the **Prosumer Regulations 2026**, moving new rooftop solar owners from *net metering* to *net billing*.

The difference matters a lot:

• **Net metering (old):** one exported unit offset one imported unit. Your export was effectively valued at your retail tariff — around Rs25–27 per unit.
• **Net billing (new):** export and import are decoupled. You *buy* grid power at the full slab tariff (which can climb toward Rs60/unit in peak slabs), but you *sell* your surplus at a fixed, much lower buyback rate.

That fixed export rate was set at **Rs8.13 per unit** for new consumers — a cut of roughly Rs17 per unit, or less than a third of the old value. The agreement term was also trimmed from seven years to five, and a Rs1,000/kW fee was later introduced for new setups.

Why did the PM step in to re-verify Rs8.13?

The Rs8.13 figure proved politically and economically contentious. Pakistan already has more than 466,000 registered net-metering owners, and rooftop solar has been one of the few genuine wins for ordinary households fighting high bills.

The re-verification order reflects three pressures:

1. **The number may be too low to be fair.** Critics argue Rs8.13 under-values clean power that DISCOs then resell at far higher slab rates. 2. **System-wide impact is unclear.** The PM specifically asked for the broader grid and consumer implications to be assessed — not just the headline rate. 3. **Protecting confidence in solar.** A rate seen as punitive risks stalling rooftop adoption, which the government does not actually want.

Separately, NEPRA has floated a **gross-metering buyback tariff of around Rs11.30 per unit** for new connections, which hints the final number could land higher than Rs8.13. Nothing is confirmed until NEPRA formally re-notifies it.

Current vs possible revised buyback rate

Here is how the key figures compare as of October 2026:

| Scenario | Export buyback rate | Agreement term | Who it applies to | |---|---|---|---| | Old net metering | ~Rs25.32/unit | 7 years | Existing users (before 9 Feb 2026) | | Net billing (notified) | Rs8.13/unit | 5 years | New users after 9 Feb 2026 | | Possible gross-metering proposal | ~Rs11.30/unit | 5 years | Under consideration | | Grid import cost (peak slab) | up to ~Rs60/unit | — | Everyone |

Note the gap between what you *earn* (Rs8.13) and what you *pay* (up to Rs60). That gap is exactly why self-consumption now drives your return.

Install now or wait? An honest breakdown

This is the question every buyer is asking Best Solar Company PK right now. The practical answer is: **in most cases, do not wait — but size your system differently.**

**Why installing now usually still wins:**

• The payback on a modern system in Pakistan today is driven mostly by the expensive grid units you *avoid buying*, not by export income. With tariffs near Rs60/unit in top slabs, every self-consumed solar unit is worth far more than the Rs8.13 export rate.
• Prices for panels and inverters are at historic lows, so the capital side of your equation is favourable right now.
• A higher revised buyback rate would only *improve* your return — it will not make installing today a mistake. You simply benefit later if the rate rises, since the re-verification targets the tariff, not a ban on solar.

**When waiting might make sense:**

• If your roof load is small and you were counting purely on export income (an export-heavy, oversized system), a few weeks of patience to see the re-verified rate could sharpen your sizing.
• If you expect to sign in the next billing cycle anyway, confirm the final notified rate with your DISCO first.

For the full rulebook behind these numbers, see our explainer on the NEPRA net billing rules for 2026, and compare the two systems directly in our net metering vs net billing guide.

A practical tip most installers won't mention

Design for **load-shifting**, not export. Run high-draw appliances — water pumps, washing machines, irons, EV charging — during peak sun hours (roughly 10am–4pm). This converts solar units into direct bill savings at your slab rate instead of selling them for Rs8.13. Pairing this with a modest battery for evening use often beats chasing export income under net billing entirely.

Also, get your application in cleanly. Agreements signed before any rule change are generally honoured on their existing terms — which is precisely why 466,000+ existing users still enjoy the old Rs25.32 rate. Timing and paperwork matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the current net-billing buyback rate in Pakistan?** For new solar consumers after 9 February 2026, NEPRA notified a net-billing buyback rate of Rs8.13 per unit. Some reporting cites an effective Rs10–11 range, and a gross-metering proposal near Rs11.30 is under discussion. Existing net-metering users remain on roughly Rs25.32/unit until their agreement expires.

**Will the PM's re-verification raise the Rs8.13 rate?** Possibly. The PM ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify the rate and assess system-wide impact. A revision — likely upward — is on the table, but no new figure is official until NEPRA formally re-notifies it. Treat any number before that as a proposal.

**Should I wait for the revised rate before installing solar?** For most households and businesses, no. Your return now comes mainly from avoiding expensive grid units (up to ~Rs60/unit), not from export income. Installing today captures those savings immediately, and a higher revised buyback rate would only improve your returns.

**Does net billing make rooftop solar unprofitable?** No. It changes the strategy. Oversized, export-heavy systems are less attractive, but a correctly sized system focused on daytime self-consumption still delivers a strong payback — commonly 3–4 years in 2026 conditions.

**Are existing solar owners affected by the Rs8.13 rate?** No. If you had a valid, signed net-metering agreement before 9 February 2026, you keep your old terms and the older buyback rate for the remaining duration of that agreement.

The bottom line

The re-verification order is good news: it signals the government knows Rs8.13 may be too low and is willing to reconsider. But it does not change the core reality for buyers in 2026 — solar's value today lives in the units you *stop buying* from the grid, not the ones you sell back.

If your bills are high and your roof is usable, the smart move is to install now with a self-consumption-first design, and welcome any upward revision to the buyback rate as a bonus. Talk to our team at Best Solar Company PK for a free, honest sizing assessment based on your actual load — not on export promises.

*Authoritative sources: NEPRA official site and reporting via Business Recorder.*

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.