Filed Before Feb 8? How to Claim Pakistan's Old Net-Metering Deal in 2026

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

If you submitted a rooftop solar application before **8 February 2026**, there is good news. Pakistan's Federal Minister for Power, **Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari**, has ordered every distribution company — including **K-Electric** — to process your application under the old net-metering rules, not the new net-billing regime. This single decision protects thousands of households and businesses from a dramatically lower buyback rate.

But the grandfathered deal is not automatic in every case. Pending applicants still need to know what to check, what to chase, and what to insist on. This guide explains exactly how **pre-Feb 8 net-metering applications** qualify for the old retail-rate deal in 2026, and what to do if your DISCO or K-Electric drags its feet.

What the minister actually ordered

On **19 February 2026**, the power minister directed that *all net-metering applications submitted up to 8 February be processed under the previous regulations*. Authorities confirmed **5,165 pending applications** fall under this decision, together adding about **250.822 megawatts** of rooftop solar capacity to the national grid.

The order was explicit on two points that matter to ordinary consumers:

• **K-Electric and every DISCO** (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, GEPCO, FESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, PESCO, QESCO, TESCO and the rest) must provide the net-metering facility to these applicants.
• Implementation must be **immediate**, and the processing of requests must be **transparent**.

In plain terms: if your paperwork reached the utility on or before 8 February 2026, you are entitled to the legacy deal — even though your meter may not be installed yet.

Old net metering vs new net billing: why this is worth fighting for

To understand why the grandfathered terms matter, compare the money. Under the decade-old **net-metering** regime, you were credited for every unit you exported at the **same retail tariff you paid** to buy electricity. Export and import units effectively cancelled out — a one-to-one swap.

The new **NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026**, notified on **9 February 2026**, replaced that with **net billing**. Now your exported units and imported units are priced completely differently.

| Factor | Old net metering (pre-Feb 8) | New net billing (2026) | |---|---|---| | Export (buyback) rate | ~Rs 25.9/unit (retail-linked) | ~Rs 11/unit (market-linked) | | Import rate you pay | Full retail tariff | Full retail tariff (Rs 40–65) | | Unit treatment | 1:1 offset | Buy high, sell low | | Contract term | 7 years | 5 years |

The gap is stark. Where a legacy net-metering customer effectively valued exports at Rs 40 or more per unit, a new net-billing prosumer earns only around **Rs 11 per unit** for the same surplus while still buying grid power at **Rs 40–65 per unit**. For a typical 10kW home system that exports heavily at midday, that difference can stretch the payback period by **two to three years**.

That is precisely why there was public backlash — and why the minister's grandfathering order is so valuable to anyone who applied in time.

How pending applicants claim the grandfathered terms

If you are one of the 5,165 early applicants, here is a practical, step-by-step checklist to lock in the old deal in 2026:

1. **Confirm your submission date.** Dig out the acknowledgement, email timestamp, courier receipt, or online portal reference showing your application reached the DISCO or K-Electric on or before 8 February 2026. This is your single most important piece of evidence. 2. **Get your application tracking/reference number.** Every DISCO issues one. Without it, follow-ups stall. 3. **Contact the net-metering cell directly.** Each utility has a dedicated net-metering / distributed generation department. Reference the minister's 19 February directive and the previous regulations explicitly. 4. **Insist the agreement cites the old regime.** When your net-metering agreement is drafted, check that it references the **pre-2026 regulations and the retail-linked buyback**, not the Prosumer Regulations 2026. Read before you sign. 5. **Verify the meter and licence.** Ensure the bidirectional meter is installed and your generation licence/agreement is logged under legacy terms. 6. **Keep a paper trail.** Save every email and note every phone call with date, name, and designation. If processing is denied or delayed, escalate in writing to the Chief Executive of the DISCO and, if needed, file a complaint with NEPRA{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}.

New to the process? Our complete net-metering application walkthrough breaks down the forms and the single-line diagram step by step.

K-Electric customers: the same rights apply

Karachi consumers sometimes assume national directives skip the privately-run utility. They don't. The minister's order **named K-Electric specifically** and told it to provide the net-metering facility to pre-Feb 8 applicants just like every government DISCO.

This matters even more in Karachi, where residential retail slabs can sit between **Rs 55 and Rs 65 per unit**. A K-Electric prosumer stuck on the Rs 11 net-billing buyback loses far more than a consumer on a cheaper tariff elsewhere. If you applied to K-Electric before the cutoff, use the same checklist above — and reference the federal directive if staff claim the new rules apply to you.

What if you missed the 8 February deadline?

If your application landed on or after **9 February 2026**, you fall under net billing. That is not the end of solar economics — it simply changes the strategy:

• **Right-size your system** so you self-consume most of your generation instead of exporting cheap surplus.
• **Add battery storage** to shift midday solar into evening peak hours rather than selling at Rs 11.
• **Prioritise daytime loads** — run pumps, washing, and cooling when the sun is up.

For a deeper look at the numbers, see our guide on net billing vs net metering payback in 2026.

Even under net billing, Pakistan's high retail tariffs mean a well-designed system still pays back — the self-consumption value of avoiding a Rs 50+ unit remains compelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Do I automatically get the old net-metering rate if I applied before 8 February 2026?** You are entitled to it under the minister's directive, but it is not always applied automatically. Confirm your submission date, quote the directive, and verify that your signed agreement references the previous regulations — not the Prosumer Regulations 2026.

**What is the exact difference in buyback rate between old and new rules?** The legacy net-metering regime credited exports at roughly Rs 25.9 per unit (retail-linked), while the new net-billing system pays only around Rs 11 per unit for surplus — even as you keep buying grid power at the full Rs 40–65 retail rate.

**Does the grandfathering order cover K-Electric users in Karachi?** Yes. The directive explicitly instructed K-Electric, alongside all DISCOs, to process pre-8 February applications under the old rules and to implement this immediately.

**My application is still pending and the DISCO says new rules apply — what should I do?** Submit written proof of your pre-8 February submission date, cite the 19 February 2026 directive in writing, escalate to the DISCO's Chief Executive, and if unresolved, file a formal complaint with NEPRA.

The bottom line

The power minister's order is a genuine win for the **5,165 early applicants** representing over **250 MW** of clean capacity. If you filed before **8 February 2026**, you have a legal basis to claim the far more generous retail-rate deal — whether you are served by a government DISCO or by K-Electric. Act now: confirm your date, chase your reference number, and make sure your agreement locks in the old rules.

Not sure which regime your application falls under? Contact Best Solar Company PK and our team will review your submission date and help you secure the grandfathered terms before they slip away.

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.