PM Orders Review of Rs8.13 Net-Billing Buyback Rate: Should You Buy Solar Now or Wait?

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

If you have been waiting to go solar, the last few weeks have been confusing. The **net-billing buyback rate** was slashed to just **Rs8.13 per unit** for new rooftop solar consumers — and now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stepped in and ordered a fresh review. So the question every homeowner and business owner is asking in 2026 is simple: should you lock in a system now, or wait for the ruling?

This guide breaks down exactly what the PM's directive means, how the revised **net-billing buyback rate** changes your payback period, and a practical framework for deciding when to invest.

What the PM Actually Ordered

At a high-level energy meeting on **22 October**, PM Shehbaz directed NEPRA and the Power Division to **re-verify the buyback tariff** and assess its broader system-wide implications before the reforms are finalised. In plain terms, the government is no longer treating the Rs8.13 figure as settled — it wants the number and its knock-on effects checked again.

Three things are now on the table:

• **Re-verification of the Rs8.13/unit rate.** The Power Division had earlier floated a gross-metering buyback figure closer to **Rs11.30 per unit**, so the final number is genuinely in flux.
• **Protection for existing users.** The government is reviewing whether current contracts can even be revised without breaching signed agreements. Existing net-metering consumers continue to sell surplus at their locked rate of about **Rs25.32 per unit**.
• **A move to net billing for new consumers.** Under net billing, your exported unit is no longer swapped one-for-one with an imported unit — a critical shift we explain below.

Net Metering vs Net Billing: Why the Rate Matters So Much

Under the old **net metering** model, one unit you exported to the grid offset one unit you imported. Export and import were treated as equal, so you were effectively "banking" electricity at the full retail tariff.

Under the new **net billing** model, that equality is gone:

• Electricity you **draw from the grid** is billed at the full government slab tariff (often Rs40–65+ per unit in higher slabs).
• Electricity you **export** is bought back at the fixed buyback rate — the Rs8.13 figure now under review.

That gap is the whole story. When you buy at Rs50 and sell at Rs8, every exported unit is worth far less than it used to be. This is why **self-consumption** — using your own solar power during the day rather than exporting it — becomes the key to a fast payback.

How the Buyback Rate Changes Your Payback

Here is a realistic comparison for a typical **5kW residential system** in Pakistan, showing why the revision matters.

| Scenario | Buyback rate | Approx. payback period | |---|---|---| | Old net metering (pre-2026) | ~Rs25.9/unit | Under 3 years | | New net billing @ Rs8.13/unit | Rs8.13/unit | ~4.7 years | | If revised upward @ ~Rs11.30/unit | Rs11.30/unit | ~4–4.3 years | | Well-designed, high self-use system | Any | 3.5–4.5 years |

The takeaway: even at the slashed Rs8.13 rate, a correctly sized system in Pakistan still pays for itself in roughly **four to five years** on a 20–25 year panel lifespan — because the bigger saving comes from **avoiding** expensive grid units, not from selling surplus. A revision back toward Rs11.30 would simply shorten that further.

Also note two newer cost factors: NEPRA has introduced a **Rs1,000 per kW** application fee, and the net-billing contract term has been cut from **7 years to 5 years**.

Should You Buy Now or Wait for the Ruling?

This is the real decision. Here is an honest framework.

**Reasons to buy now:**

• **System prices are low.** Panel and inverter prices in PKR have fallen sharply over the past two years — waiting risks price increases that dwarf any buyback gain.
• **The biggest saving is self-consumption, not export.** If your household or business uses most of its solar output during daylight (ACs, pumps, machinery, offices), the buyback rate barely affects your return.
• **Grid tariffs keep rising.** Every rupee the per-unit tariff climbs makes your own generation more valuable — independent of the buyback debate.
• **Uncertainty cuts both ways.** There is no guarantee a future ruling will be more generous; it could also confirm Rs8.13 permanently.

**Reasons to wait:**

• You export a **large share** of your generation (e.g. a daytime-empty home) and your return genuinely hinges on the buyback rate.
• You are comfortable risking higher equipment prices and a few more months of high electricity bills in exchange for rate clarity.

**Our practical recommendation:** for most Pakistani homeowners and commercial users whose load is concentrated in daylight hours, the smart move is to **size the system for self-consumption and proceed now**, rather than gamble on a buyback revision. Design the system so you lean on your own power first and treat any export payment as a bonus. For a full breakdown of the current rules, see our guide on the NEPRA net-billing rules for 2026.

Protect Yourself Whichever Way the Ruling Goes

A few concrete, first-hand tips our installation teams give every client in 2026:

• **Right-size, don't over-size.** Match capacity to your daytime load so fewer units are exported at the low rate.
• **Consider a battery** if you have significant evening load — storing cheap daytime power beats selling it at Rs8.13.
• **Get your meter and documentation in order early.** Application queues lengthen every time the policy makes headlines.
• **Insist on a written performance and warranty contract** from a reputable installer, so a policy change never leaves you stranded.

According to NEPRA and reporting by Dawn, the government is simultaneously drafting new standard contracts to align with the net-billing framework — so the fine print you sign this year matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the current net-billing buyback rate in Pakistan?** For new rooftop solar consumers, NEPRA set the buyback rate at Rs8.13 per unit, down from roughly Rs25.9 earlier. Following the PM's 22 October directive, this figure is being re-verified and could be revised, with figures near Rs11.30 per unit discussed.

**Does the review affect my existing net-metering agreement?** No. Existing consumers continue to sell surplus electricity at their previously locked rate of about Rs25.32 per unit. The government is specifically examining whether existing contracts can legally be changed at all.

**Will my solar still be worth it at Rs8.13 per unit?** Yes, for most users. The largest saving comes from using your own solar power instead of buying grid units at Rs40–65+ per unit. A right-sized 5kW system still pays back in roughly 4–5 years even at the Rs8.13 rate.

**Should I wait for the final ruling before installing?** Only if you export a large share of your generation. If your load is mostly in daylight hours, falling equipment prices and rising grid tariffs make waiting riskier than proceeding now.

The Bottom Line

The PM's order to re-verify the **Rs8.13 net-billing buyback rate** is good news — it keeps a better number on the table. But do not let the headline paralyse you. For most Pakistani homes and businesses, solar economics in 2026 are driven by self-consumption and rising tariffs, not by the export rate. Size your system correctly, choose a trusted installer, and the payback case holds up whichever way NEPRA rules.

Ready to run the numbers for your own roof? Get a free custom solar assessment and we'll model your payback at both the current and the revised buyback rate.

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.