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

Pakistan's rooftop solar boom has hit a policy crossroads. In October 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify the slashed **net-billing buyback rate** of Rs8.13 per unit — and signalled that an upward revision is firmly on the table. For any homeowner or business owner holding a quotation right now, this single directive changes the maths. Should you install today and lock in current terms, or wait for a possible reversal that pays you more for every exported unit?

This guide breaks down what actually changed, what the PM's review could mean in rupee terms, and how to make the install-now-or-wait decision with your eyes open.

What the net-billing buyback rate review actually is

In February 2026, NEPRA ended classic net metering for **new** solar consumers and moved them to a "net billing" model. The headline shock was the export price. The buyback rate for surplus solar electricity was cut to **Rs8.13 per unit** — down from the Rs25.32 per unit that existing net-metered users still enjoy. That is a reduction of **Rs17.19 per unit**, or roughly two-thirds of the old value.

Under net billing, an exported unit is no longer treated as equal to an imported one. You still **buy** grid electricity at the full tariff (peak and off-peak rates plus taxes, surcharges and fuel adjustments), but the grid **buys back** your surplus at the flat Rs8.13 figure. NEPRA also trimmed the agreement validity for new consumers from seven years to five.

The backlash was immediate. In October 2026, the PM directed the Power Division and NEPRA to review and verify the buyback tariff and assess its system-wide impact before finalising any further reforms — with existing contracts to be shielded.

The review does not scrap net billing. It asks one question: is Rs8.13 the right number, or was it cut too far, too fast?

Why the government is reconsidering Rs8.13

The original cut was justified as protecting non-solar consumers. Officials argued that generous buyback rates shift a cross-subsidy burden onto grid-dependent households — estimated at around Rs2.87 per unit. Power Minister Awais Leghari has maintained the new policy will stay for new consumers.

But the reversal pressure is real for three reasons:

  • **Investor confidence:** A rate this low stretches payback periods and chills the rooftop market that government itself encouraged.
  • **Legal exposure:** The Power Division was asked to examine whether altering rates breaches contracts under the 2015 Net Metering Rules.
  • **Benchmark mismatch:** Draft prosumer regulations floated gross-metering buyback figures nearer **Rs11.30 per unit**, and the National Average Energy Purchase Price sits around **Rs11–13 per unit** — well above Rs8.13.

That gap is exactly why an upward revision is plausible. A move from Rs8.13 toward the Rs10–11.30 band would lift export earnings by 25–40% without restoring full net metering.

Install now or wait: the rupee maths

Here is the practical tension. If you install today, you are a "new consumer" locked into net billing at Rs8.13. If you wait and the rate is revised upward, every future exported unit earns more. But waiting also means months of paying full grid tariffs — often **Rs50+ per unit** in higher slabs — while your roof sits empty.

Consider a typical 10kW residential system in Punjab costing roughly **Rs1.3–1.6 million** in 2026:

| Scenario | Buyback rate | Monthly export (~600 units) value | Primary benefit | |---|---|---|---| | Install now (net billing) | Rs8.13/unit | ~Rs4,878 | Self-consumption savings start immediately | | Wait for revision | Rs10–11.30/unit | ~Rs6,000–6,780 | Higher export income, delayed start | | Existing net-metered user | Rs25.32/unit | ~Rs15,192 | Legacy rate (closed to new entrants) |

The decisive insight: for most Pakistani households, **the buyback rate is the smaller half of the return**. The bigger win is avoiding expensive grid units through self-consumption. A well-sized system that you consume during daylight — running ACs, pumps and appliances when the sun is up — pays back on **offset tariff**, not on export price. Under net billing, oversizing purely to export is no longer smart; right-sizing to your daytime load is.

A practical rule for 2026 buyers

  • If your daytime consumption is high (business, work-from-home, heavy cooling), **install now**. Your savings come from self-use, and the buyback rate barely moves your payback.
  • If you planned a large export-heavy system, **right-size it down** and consider adding battery storage to shift solar into evening use rather than dumping cheap units to the grid.
  • Track the review, but don't park your decision indefinitely. A pending revision is not a guarantee, and every month without panels is a full-tariff month.

For a deeper breakdown of the mechanism, see our explainer on the NEPRA net billing rules for 2026, and if you already have a legacy connection, read how existing net-metering contracts are being protected.

Our own installation teams across Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are seeing the same pattern on-site: clients who size to daytime load are still clearing payback in **3–4 years**, buyback cut or not. The rate review matters at the margin — it does not make solar uneconomic in a country with Rs50+ grid tariffs and 8–9 sun hours a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the current net-billing buyback rate in Pakistan?** For new solar consumers, NEPRA set the net-billing buyback rate at Rs8.13 per unit from February 2026, down from the Rs25.32 per unit that existing net-metered users retain. The PM's October 2026 review may revise this upward.

**Will the Rs8.13 buyback rate actually increase?** It is under formal review, not confirmed. The PM directed NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify it, and benchmarks like the Rs11.30/unit draft gross-metering rate and the ~Rs11–13 average purchase price suggest room for an upward move. Treat any increase as possible, not certain.

**Should I wait for the revised rate before installing solar?** For most homeowners, no. The larger return comes from self-consuming solar and avoiding Rs50+ grid units, not from export income. Right-size your system to daytime load and install — a modest buyback improvement rarely justifies months of full grid bills.

**Are existing net-metering consumers affected?** No. The government has repeatedly stated that valid agreements under the 2015 Net Metering Rules are protected at their contracted Rs25.32 per unit until expiry. The changes apply to new net-billing connections.

The bottom line

PM Shehbaz's order to re-verify the Rs8.13 net-billing buyback rate is good news — it opens the door to a fairer export price. But it should not freeze your decision. In 2026, Pakistani solar still pays back fast because grid electricity is expensive and sunlight is abundant. Size your system to your own daytime demand, consider storage for evening load, and treat any buyback increase as a bonus rather than the deciding factor. Want a free, right-sized quote built around the current rules? Talk to Best Solar Company PK and get numbers tailored to your actual bill.

**Sources:**

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.