Net metering to net billing: Pakistan's 2026 solar policy shift explained

In 2026, Pakistan replaced the decade-old net metering regime with a new net billing framework under NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations. Exported solar units are now valued at around PKR 11 per unit — much lower than before — while existing net metering consumers keep their earlier arrangements. The practical result: solar is still very much worth it, but the smart strategy has shifted from exporting surplus power to consuming it during the day.

What changed?

• Net metering → net billing. Under the old net metering, exported units offset imports almost one-for-one. Under net billing, exports are paid at a lower fixed rate (around PKR 11/unit) while imports are charged at the full tariff.
• Existing users protected. NEPRA confirmed that consumers already on net metering keep their current billing arrangements; system expansions, however, lose the earlier tariff advantage.
• Rapid growth continues. Pakistan crossed ~6 GW of cumulative net-metered capacity with hundreds of thousands of connections — 5 kW and 10 kW residential systems are the most common, driven by households offsetting large monthly bills.

Why system design now matters more

Because exports are worth less, the systems that pay back fastest are sized for maximum daytime self-consumption, not for exporting surplus to the grid. A well-sized system running ACs, water pumps and daytime loads can still reach payback in a few years.

Key design levers:

1. Right-size to your daytime load, not your peak bill.
2. Shift heavy loads to daylight hours where possible.
3. Consider storage only where the economics justify it.
4. Get the electrical infrastructure right — proper cabling, protection, earthing and metering are what keep a system safe and compliant.

The infrastructure side of solar

Panels are only half the picture. Reliable solar and energy projects depend on solid civil and electrical infrastructure — foundations and mounting, HT/LT connections, distribution, earthing, and testing and commissioning. This is exactly the electrical and external electrification work that a PEC-certified contractor delivers, whether for a single facility or a whole township.

For housing societies and developers

For planned communities, the same shift applies to shared infrastructure — solar-ready electrical networks and efficient street lighting reduce running costs across the scheme. Getting the underground MV/LV network and lighting design right at the development stage is far cheaper than retrofitting later.

FAQ

Is solar still worth it in Pakistan after the 2026 policy change? Yes — especially systems sized for daytime self-consumption. Payback is longer than under old net metering but still attractive against high grid tariffs.

What is the new export rate under net billing? Exported units are valued at around PKR 11 per unit under NEPRA’s 2026 framework, lower than the previous net metering value.

Do existing net metering users lose their agreement? No — existing consumers retain their current arrangements; only system expansions move to the new terms.

Planning solar or energy infrastructure for a facility or society? Talk to us about the civil and electrical works.