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

If you have been waiting for the right moment to go solar, October 2026 has made the decision harder. The **solar buyback tariff** — the price the national grid pays you for surplus units you export — is now at the centre of a political and regulatory tug-of-war. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify the slashed **Rs8.13 per unit** buyback rate before the reforms are finalised.

So does a pending revision mean you should install now or hold off? Let's cut through the noise with verified figures and a practical recommendation for Pakistani households and businesses.

What exactly changed with the solar buyback tariff?

Earlier in 2026, NEPRA notified its new Prosumer Regulations, replacing traditional **net metering** with a **net billing** model for new solar connections. The headline change was brutal for payback maths:

  • The buyback rate for new consumers was cut to **Rs8.13 per unit**, down from roughly **Rs25–27 per unit** — a reduction of about Rs17.19.
  • The agreement term was shortened from **7 years to 5 years**.
  • Under net billing, a unit you export is no longer treated as equal to a unit you import. You sell low (Rs8.13) and buy back from the grid at full tariff, which can run as high as **Rs60 per unit** in peak slabs.

Crucially, existing net-metering users were protected. Those with valid seven-year agreements continue selling surplus power at their old rate (reported between **Rs22 and Rs25.32 per unit**) until their contracts expire. A later draft amendment even gave this protection retrospective cover from 9 February 2026.

The core issue is simple: new solar owners now sell cheap and buy expensive, stretching payback from 3–5 years to an estimated 10–12 years for export-heavy systems.

Why did PM Shehbaz order a review?

The Rs8.13 rate triggered sharp public backlash and industry protest. In response, the Prime Minister instructed the Power Division to take the matter back to NEPRA, asking the regulator to **re-verify the buyback tariff** and assess its wider system-wide implications before the reforms are locked in. The stated aim is to safeguard existing contracts and strike a fairer balance for new prosumers.

There is real fiscal tension behind this. Power Division projections warn that by FY2034, lost grid sales could reach **18.8 billion units**, with an estimated financial impact of **Rs545 billion** and a potential tariff increase of **Rs5–6 per unit** passed on to all consumers. The government wants rooftop solar to grow without shifting an unfair cost burden onto grid-dependent households. You can track the official process on the NEPRA website.

Old net metering vs new net billing: a quick comparison

| Factor | Net Metering (old / existing users) | Net Billing (new rule, 2026) | |---|---|---| | Export buyback rate | ~Rs22–25.32 / unit | Rs8.13 / unit | | Export vs import value | 1 unit out = 1 unit in | Sell low, buy high | | Agreement term | 7 years | 5 years | | Typical payback | 3–5 years | ~10–12 years (export-heavy) | | Status | Protected until expiry | Under PM-ordered review |

Does a pending revision mean you should wait?

This is the question every buyer is asking. Here is the honest, experience-based answer we give our own customers at Best Solar Company PK.

**Waiting for a better buyback tariff is a gamble — and probably the wrong one.** Three reasons:

1. **A revision is not guaranteed to help new buyers much.** The review may nudge Rs8.13 upward (a gross-metering figure of **Rs11.30 per unit** was floated at one stage), but no one credibly expects a return to the old Rs25+ net-metering regime. The policy direction is clearly away from generous one-to-one crediting.

2. **Your savings don't come mainly from exports anymore.** Under net billing, the smart move is to **self-consume** your solar production rather than export it. Every unit you use directly offsets a grid unit that may cost Rs40–60 — far more valuable than the Rs8.13 export rate. A well-sized system flips the economics back in your favour regardless of the buyback number.

3. **Electricity tariffs keep rising.** While you wait for policy clarity, you keep paying inflated bills. For a typical Lahore or Karachi household running a 10kW system, self-consumption alone can save **Rs40,000–70,000 per month**, depending on load.

The one scenario where a short wait makes sense

If you are an **existing net-metering user** thinking about expanding your system, pause and read the fine print. Recent amendments restrict benefits when you make material changes that increase your sanctioned output — such a modification can cost you your protected legacy rate. In that specific case, waiting for the final rules is prudent. For a first-time installer, waiting mostly means burning money on grid bills.

How to install smartly under the new rules

  • **Right-size for self-use, not export.** Match panel capacity to your daytime load so most generation is consumed on-site.
  • **Add storage if your load is evening-heavy.** A battery lets you bank cheap solar for night use instead of exporting at Rs8.13 and re-buying at Rs60.
  • **Lock your agreement early** while terms are still favourable relative to whatever comes next.
  • **Keep documentation clean** so your prosumer contract is airtight.

For a deeper breakdown of the mechanics, see our guides on the NEPRA net billing rules for 2026 and how to size a solar system in Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the current solar buyback tariff in Pakistan?** As of October 2026, new consumers fall under net billing with a buyback rate of **Rs8.13 per unit**. This figure is being re-verified on the Prime Minister's orders, so it could be revised, but existing net-metering users keep their older protected rate until their contracts expire.

**Should I install solar now or wait for the buyback review?** For most first-time buyers, install now. Your biggest savings come from self-consumption against Rs40–60 grid tariffs, not from the Rs8.13 export rate. Waiting simply means paying high bills while hoping for a policy change that may be modest at best.

**Will existing net-metering customers be affected by the new rate?** No. Existing agreements remain valid at their original buyback rate until expiry. However, materially upgrading your system to increase output can forfeit that protection — so review the rules before expanding.

**Could the Rs8.13 rate go back up?** Possibly, but don't bank on a large jump. A gross-metering figure of around Rs11.30 per unit was discussed, and the current review may adjust the number — yet the clear policy trend is away from the old high net-metering rates.

The bottom line

The PM-ordered review signals that Pakistan's solar framework is still being fine-tuned, but it does not justify indefinite waiting. The economics of rooftop solar in 2026 now rest on **self-consumption and rising grid tariffs**, not on the export buyback rate. Size your system correctly, prioritise daytime use, and you win regardless of where Rs8.13 finally lands.

Ready to run the numbers for your home or business? Get a free custom solar assessment from our team and we'll show you your exact payback under the current 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.