Time-of-Use Net Metering: Rs22 Night Export Could Flip Your Solar Battery Payback in Pakistan

• By Best Solar Company PK
• 21 Aug, 2026
• Net Metering
• 8 min read

Pakistan's rooftop solar boom just hit a wall. Since NEPRA switched new solar consumers from net metering to **net billing** on 9 February 2026, the price the grid pays for your exported daytime power collapsed — from the old Rs25–27 per unit to roughly Rs8–11 per unit for new installations. That single change stretched payback periods and left thousands of homeowners wondering whether solar still adds up.

Now the Power Division has floated an idea that could flip the maths back in your favour. Under a new **Time-of-Use (ToU) net metering** proposal aired in the first week of August 2026, solar-plus-battery owners would be paid **Rs18–22 per unit** to export *stored* power into the grid during the 5:00pm–10:00pm evening peak. For anyone weighing a battery, this changes everything.

What the Power Division actually proposed

The proposal came from Power Division Advisor Syed Faizan Ali, who suggested layering a Time-of-Use signal on top of the existing net billing framework. Instead of one flat buyback rate all day, exports would be priced by *when* they hit the grid.

The core mechanic is simple:

• **Daytime (solar hours):** exported surplus earns the low net-billing rate (~Rs8–11/unit).
• **Evening peak (5–10pm):** power discharged from your battery earns a premium **Rs18–22/unit**.

The logic is grid-driven, not generosity. Pakistan's evening peak demand has crossed **26,000 MW**, and system operators struggle every night when the sun sets but air-conditioners, lights and fans stay on. Rooftop batteries, discharged on cue at 6pm, become thousands of tiny "virtual power plants" that relieve that crunch — turning private storage into a public grid-support tool.

Why batteries suddenly matter more

This proposal did not appear in a vacuum. Battery adoption in Pakistan is already surging. Lithium-ion battery imports reached roughly **6 GWh — about Rs126 billion (US$455 million) — between January 2024 and June 2026**, with monthly volumes exploding more than **1,600%** over that window. Falling prices for LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) cells have put home storage within reach of middle-class households for the first time.

A ToU export premium gives all those imported batteries a second job. Today most owners size a battery just to survive load-shedding or to self-consume in the evening. Under ToU, that same battery earns money by exporting surplus stored units at Rs20 instead of wasting them or dumping them cheaply at midday.

How Rs22 flips the battery payback maths

Let's put real PKR figures on it. Consider a typical urban home with a 5 kW solar system adding a **5 kWh lithium battery** costing roughly **Rs350,000–450,000** installed in 2026.

There are two ways that battery now pays you back:

1. **Avoided evening import.** Grid electricity during the peak slab can run **Rs48–65 per unit** including surcharges. Self-supplying ~5 units nightly from your battery avoids that cost — worth around **Rs250–300 a day**. 2. **Premium export under ToU.** Surplus units you don't need at home can be pushed to the grid at Rs20 instead of the ~Rs8 daytime rate — an extra **Rs12 per unit**.

Here's the contrast that matters:

| Scenario | Export rate at 6–9pm | Value of 5 stored units/night | Rough annual benefit | |---|---|---|---| | Net billing only (current) | ~Rs8–11/unit | Rs40–55 | Rs15,000–20,000 | | ToU proposal (Rs20/unit) | Rs18–22/unit | Rs90–110 | Rs33,000–40,000 | | ToU + avoided peak import | Rs20 export + Rs55 avoided | Rs250–350 | Rs90,000–125,000 |

Stack the avoided peak import together with premium export, and a Rs400,000 battery that looked like an **8–10 year** payback under flat net billing can drop toward a **4–5 year** payback. For commercial users on higher peak tariffs, the case is even sharper because their evening consumption — and their peak-slab rates — are larger.

Winners, losers and the fine print

Be clear-eyed: **this is a proposal, not a notified regulation.** Nothing is guaranteed until NEPRA drafts the rules, holds hearings and issues a determination. Treat the numbers as directional.

Who stands to gain most:

• **New solar buyers** stung by the Rs8–11 net-billing rate — a battery restores the economics.
• **Businesses and factories** running past 5pm on expensive peak-slab power.
• **Homeowners in high-load-shedding areas** who already wanted storage for backup.

Who should wait and watch:

• **Existing net-metering consumers** still locked into the old Rs25+/unit agreements for the life of their contract. You already have a better daytime rate; ToU mainly matters if you add storage.
• **Solar-only households** with no battery — ToU rewards *stored* evening export, so panels alone won't capture the premium.

A few open questions remain: which battery chemistries and sizes will qualify, whether smart bidirectional meters will be mandated, and how DISCOs will meter and settle the two different time bands. If you're buying now, insist on a **ToU-ready hybrid inverter and a smart meter** so you can opt in the day the rules land.

What to do before the rules are finalised

• **Right-size storage for the 5–10pm window**, not just backup — aim to cover your actual evening load plus a small exportable surplus.
• **Choose LiFePO4 batteries** with 6,000+ cycle ratings; deeper daily cycling is exactly what ToU encourages.
• **Buy a hybrid inverter with grid-export and time-scheduling** so you can automate discharge at 6pm.
• **Keep documentation** of your install date — it determines which tariff regime governs you.
• Read our guide on net metering vs net billing in Pakistan and how to size a solar battery for load-shedding before committing.

For the official framework, see NEPRA's own distributed generation and net metering regulations and the Power Division's policy updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What is Time-of-Use net metering in Pakistan?** It is a proposed pricing model where the grid pays different rates for exported solar power depending on the time of day. Under the Power Division's August 2026 plan, power exported from batteries during the 5–10pm evening peak would earn Rs18–22 per unit, far above the daytime net-billing rate of about Rs8–11.

**How much can I earn exporting battery power in the evening?** If approved, exporting around 5 units nightly at ~Rs20 could add roughly Rs33,000–40,000 a year in export income alone. Combined with avoiding expensive peak-slab grid imports, total annual benefit can reach Rs90,000–125,000 for a typical home.

**Does this apply to existing net-metering consumers?** No. Consumers on existing net-metering agreements keep their contracted terms (around Rs25/unit) until those contracts expire. Time-of-Use would primarily benefit new net-billing consumers who add battery storage.

**Is the Rs18–22 rate confirmed?** Not yet. As of August 2026 it is a Power Division proposal in early stages. It still needs NEPRA regulatory approval, public hearings and a formal determination before any DISCO begins paying the premium.

**Do I need a special meter or inverter?** Almost certainly yes. Capturing ToU rates requires a smart bidirectional meter that records export by time band, plus a hybrid inverter capable of scheduling battery discharge into the evening peak. Ask your installer for ToU-ready equipment now.

If you're planning a solar-plus-battery system this year, the smart move is to build ToU-readiness in from day one. **Talk to Best Solar Company PK** for a battery sizing and payback assessment tailored to your evening load.

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.