• By Best Solar Company PK
  • 21 Jul, 2026
  • Energy Savings
  • 8 min read

If you were about to go solar in Pakistan, the ground just shifted under your feet. On **9 February 2026**, NEPRA replaced the old net-metering system with **net billing** for all new rooftop solar consumers. The change doesn't affect whether solar saves you money — it still does — but it completely rewrites *how* those savings come, and where your fastest returns hide.

Here's the short version: exporting surplus power to the grid used to be almost as good as using it yourself. Now it isn't. The winners under net billing are the households and businesses that consume their own solar power during the day instead of banking it with the DISCO. Let's break down exactly what changed and how to keep your payback period short.

What actually changed: net metering vs net billing

Under the old **net-metering** rules (the 2015 regulations), your meter ran both ways. Every unit you exported offset a unit you later imported, almost 1-for-1. If your import tariff was around Rs 60/unit, then every exported unit was effectively worth about Rs 60 too. That's why old systems paid back so quickly.

**Net billing** breaks that link. Imports and exports are now billed **separately**:

  • **Units you import** from the grid are charged at the normal peak/off-peak tariff, including all taxes and surcharges — roughly **Rs 45–65 per unit** for most residential slabs.
  • **Units you export** are bought by the DISCO at a fixed, much lower **buyback rate — around Rs 10 per unit** for new consumers (the ECC cut it from about Rs 27, and NEPRA's notified national reference figure has been cited near Rs 8–11).

The contract term for new consumers has also been shortened from 7 years to **5 years**, after which the rate can be reviewed.

The core shift: a unit you *use yourself* is now worth 5–6 times more than a unit you *sell to the grid*.

**Important:** if you already have a valid net-metering agreement signed before 9 February 2026, you are **grandfathered**. Existing consumers keep selling at their agreed rate (widely reported around Rs 25.32/unit) until their current agreement expires. This article is mainly for anyone installing *now*.

How the numbers change your payback

Let's use a realistic example. A quality **10 kW on-grid system** in 2026 costs roughly **Rs 950,000–1,200,000** installed with net metering (about Rs 34–45 per watt fully installed). Say it generates around **1,300–1,500 units per month** in good sun.

**Old net-metering world (illustrative):** Export ≈ import value ≈ Rs 60/unit. Whether you used the power or sold it barely mattered. A 10 kW system offsetting ~1,400 units/month saved around Rs 84,000/month, giving a payback of roughly **12–15 months** in the best cases.

**New net-billing world:** Now it depends entirely on your **self-consumption ratio** — the share of solar you use directly instead of exporting.

  • If you **self-consume 70%** (≈980 units) at Rs 60 saved = Rs 58,800, plus **30% exported** (≈420 units) at Rs 10 = Rs 4,200. Total ≈ **Rs 63,000/month** → payback around **16–19 months**.
  • If you **self-consume only 30%** and dump 70% to the grid, your monthly benefit falls to roughly **Rs 25,000–35,000**, stretching payback past **30–40 months**.

Same hardware, same sunshine — but the payback nearly doubles depending on *when* you use your power. That is the whole game now.

How to recover your cost fast: maximise self-use

The strategy under net billing is simple to state and very rewarding to execute: **use your solar power while the sun is shining, and export as little as possible.**

  • **Right-size the system, don't oversize it.** Under old rules, a bigger system meant more valuable exports. Now, panels that mostly feed the grid earn you only Rs 10/unit. Size the array closer to your **daytime load** rather than your total monthly units.
  • **Shift heavy loads to daylight hours.** Run the washing machine, dishwasher, water pump, iron, and pool/booster motors between roughly 9 am and 4 pm. Every unit you move into sunlight hours is worth the full Rs 45–65 you'd otherwise pay.
  • **Pre-cool and pre-heat during the day.** Air conditioning is the biggest lever in Pakistani summers. Run ACs harder at midday on solar, and consider inverter ACs that hold the temperature efficiently into the evening.
  • **Add a battery if your evening load is high.** A hybrid system with a lithium battery (total around **Rs 1.1M–1.8M+ for 10 kW**) lets you store midday surplus and use it at night at the full tariff value — far better than selling it for Rs 10 and rebuying it at Rs 60. Batteries also cover load-shedding.
  • **Automate it.** Timers, smart plugs, and hybrid inverters with scheduling let you push loads into solar hours without thinking about it daily.
  • **Use a heat-pump or solar geyser** to soak up daytime generation instead of exporting it.

The mindset flip: under net billing, **the grid is no longer your free battery**. Your own consumption timing — and optionally a real battery — is where the returns live.

Is solar still worth it in Pakistan?

Yes — arguably more than ever, because grid tariffs remain high and volatile. What's changed is that solar rewards *smart* users over passive ones. A well-designed, self-consumption-focused system still pays back in roughly **2–3 years** and then delivers 20+ years of cheap power. A system designed the old way — oversized and export-heavy — will disappoint under the new rules. Design for how you actually live, and the economics stay excellent.

For a deeper look at sizing, see our guide on choosing the right solar system size.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Does net billing apply to my existing net-metering connection?** No. If your agreement was valid before 9 February 2026, you are grandfathered and keep your existing export rate (reported around Rs 25.32/unit) until that agreement expires. Net billing applies to new applicants.

**What is the new export (buyback) rate?** For new consumers it has been cut dramatically — the ECC approved a reduction to about Rs 10 per unit, down from roughly Rs 27, with NEPRA's notified national figure cited in the Rs 8–11 range. Confirm the exact current rate with your DISCO at the time of application, as it is periodically reviewed.

**Should I get a battery now instead of net metering?** If a large part of your consumption happens in the evening or during load-shedding, a battery often makes more financial sense than exporting surplus for Rs 10 and buying it back at Rs 45–65. Households with mostly daytime loads may still do well with a simple on-grid system.

**Will my payback really be under three years?** It can be — if you keep self-consumption high (roughly 60–80%). A correctly sized, self-use-focused 10 kW system typically pays back in about 16–30 months. Export-heavy, oversized systems take much longer under the new rules.

**Should I still apply for net billing at all?** Usually yes. Even at Rs 10/unit, occasional surplus still earns something rather than being wasted, and being a registered prosumer keeps you compliant. The key is to design the system so exports are the exception, not the goal.

*Rates and rules change frequently — always verify the current buyback rate, tariff slabs, and contract terms with NEPRA and your local DISCO before signing.*

Sources: Profit by Pakistan Today, The Express Tribune, The Nation, PID Press Release No. 85, Solar-Price.pk 10kW guide

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.