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

The **solar buyback rate** is suddenly the most-watched number in Pakistan's energy sector. In October 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered NEPRA and the Power Division to re-verify the slashed Rs8.13 per unit net-billing buyback rate before the reforms are locked in for good. For anyone sitting on a solar quote right now, the question is unavoidable: do you install today, or wait to see if the rate climbs back up?

This guide breaks down exactly what changed, what a possible upward revision could look like, and whether holding off actually makes financial sense for Pakistani homeowners and businesses.

What Actually Happened to the Buyback Rate

NEPRA replaced the old one-for-one **net metering** system with a **net billing** model for all new rooftop solar applicants. The headline change is brutal: the export rate for surplus units sold to the grid was cut to **Rs8.13 per unit**, down roughly Rs17.19 from the Rs25.32 that existing users still receive — less than a third of the old value.

Under net billing, an exported unit is no longer treated as equal to an imported one. You now pay the full slab-based tariff on every unit you pull from the grid, while the units you push back earn only the reduced buyback rate. New agreements have also been shortened to a five-year term.

The real shift isn't the lower rate — it's that export and import are now valued separately. That single change rewrites how you should size a system.

Crucially, these terms apply only to **new consumers** who applied after 9 February 2026. The roughly 466,506 existing solar owners with valid agreements as of that date are grandfathered on their old Rs25.32 rate until their contracts expire.

Why PM Shehbaz Ordered a Re-Verification

At a high-level meeting, the Prime Minister directed the Power Division and NEPRA to **review and verify the buyback tariff** and assess its system-wide implications before finalising the reforms. The government also moved to file a review appeal to protect existing net-metering contracts.

The pressure is coming from two directions. Industry groups argue that Rs8.13 is so low it will stall Pakistan's rooftop solar boom — net-metering generation more than doubled year-on-year in late 2025. Meanwhile, distribution companies claim the old rates shifted billions in costs onto non-solar consumers. The re-verification is the government trying to find a defensible middle number.

For deeper background on the mechanics, see our explainer on the NEPRA net billing rules for 2026.

Could the Rate Be Revised Upward?

A revision is genuinely possible — but manage your expectations. Earlier drafts floated figures around **Rs11 per unit**, and the Power Division itself had once proposed roughly Rs11.30. A realistic upward correction likely lands somewhere between **Rs8.13 and Rs11–13**, not back to Rs25.

Here is the original insight most dealers won't tell you: **the buyback rate barely matters for a well-designed system.** The money in solar today is in *self-consumption* — avoiding the grid tariff you'd otherwise pay — not in export. Compare the numbers:

| What you do with a solar unit | Value in 2026 (approx.) | |---|---| | Use it yourself (offsets 201–300 slab) | ~Rs33 per unit saved | | Use it yourself (offsets 601–700 slab) | ~Rs42 per unit saved | | Use it yourself (above 700 units) | ~Rs47 per unit saved | | Export it to the grid (new net billing) | Rs8.13 per unit |

Self-consumption is worth **four to six times more** than export. Whether the buyback settles at Rs8 or Rs13 changes your payback by only a few months — provided you size the system to match your daytime load rather than to sell a surplus.

Wait or Install Now? An Honest Breakdown

**Reasons to install now:**

  • Grid tariffs for unprotected residential users already run from Rs28.91 (101–200 units) up to Rs47.20 (above 700 units). Every month you wait, you keep paying these rates.
  • A 10kW on-grid system costs roughly **PKR 1.45–1.8 million**, with panels at Rs35–85 per watt — prices that have already fallen sharply and may firm up if demand rebounds after a rate revision.
  • Payback on self-consumption is typically 3–4 years regardless of the buyback rate.

**Reasons to wait:**

  • You export a large share of your generation (e.g. a daytime-empty home or a weekend-closed business).
  • You want certainty on the final export rate and five-year contract terms before signing.

**The practical verdict:** if your household or business uses most of its power during daylight, install now and size for self-consumption — the re-verification is almost irrelevant to your returns. Only heavy net *exporters* have a real reason to wait for the final number. For a tailored sizing plan, our team covers this in the guide to choosing the right solar system size.

How to Protect Yourself Either Way

  • **Size to your daytime load**, not to maximise export. Add a battery if your usage is heavily evening-based.
  • **Get the agreement in writing**, including the applicable buyback rate and term, before paying.
  • **Keep your DISCO application documents** — if a revised rate is notified, your effective date can matter.
  • Verify current figures directly on the regulator's site, NEPRA{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}, and track official incentives via the Alternative Energy Development Board{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Will the solar buyback rate go back up to Rs25.32?** Almost certainly not for new consumers. The Rs25.32 rate is protected only for existing owners. Any upward revision from the re-verification is expected to land in the Rs8.13–13 range, not the old level.

**I already have net metering — does this affect me?** No. If your agreement was valid as of 9 February 2026, you remain on your old terms and the Rs25.32 rate until your contract expires. The new net billing model applies only to fresh applicants.

**Is solar still worth it at Rs8.13 per unit?** Yes, for most users. The savings come from self-consumption — offsetting grid tariffs of Rs29–47 per unit — not from selling surplus. A properly sized system still pays back in roughly 3–4 years.

**Should a business wait for the re-verified rate?** Only if it exports a large surplus. Businesses that consume power during working hours benefit far more from self-use than from export, so there's little reason to delay.

The Bottom Line

PM Shehbaz's order to re-verify the **solar buyback rate** is welcome news, and a modest upward revision is plausible. But don't let a possible few extra rupees on export keep you tied to the grid at Rs40-plus per unit. For the vast majority of Pakistani homes and businesses in 2026, the smartest move is to install a right-sized system now for self-consumption — and treat any future buyback bump as a small bonus. Talk to a certified installer, insist on written terms, and lock in your savings before the next tariff hike.

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**Sources:** Profit by Pakistan Today · Business Recorder · ProPakistani · The Nation

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.