Solar net billing in 2026: how a new consumer applies, what it costs and how long it takes
Step-by-step guide to new rooftop solar under NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026: eligibility, documents, the DISCO timeline, one-off costs, sizing and payback.
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Since 9 February 2026, new rooftop solar goes on net billing under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026. We have already explained the difference from net metering, the buyback rate and the battery question in net metering vs net billing. This guide is about the next step: what to check before you buy panels, which documents you need, how long your distribution company (DISCO) gets for each stage, and when the system pays back once one-off costs are included.
Five rules that decide whether you qualify
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Only 3-phase 400 V or 11 kV consumers | A single-phase home must change its connection first. |
| System no bigger than your sanctioned load | Check the sanctioned load on your bill; raise it first if it is too low. |
| Solar on your transformer capped at 80% of its rating | Past that, the company will not accept new applications; ask your SDO before you buy. |
| 25 kW or less: approved by your DISCO, no fee | Above 25 kW needs NEPRA’s concurrence and Rs 1,000 per kW, for example Rs 30,000 for 30 kW. |
| 250 kW or more | A load flow study by the DISCO or a consultant registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council is required. |
Before you buy panels
- Name on the bill: apply in the name on the electricity bill. MEPCO’s checklist says that if the names differ, get the bill corrected at the SDO office first.
- Installer: DISCOs have required installers approved by the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) for net metering; MEPCO’s 2025 checklist does. The new regulations do not say this, so ask your company what it accepts now.
- Inverter: a grid-connected inverter must meet the UL 1741 standard and have automatic protection that stops it reconnecting until grid voltage and frequency are stable. MEPCO’s checklist asks for grid-tied inverters with anti-islanding.
- Disconnect switch: you must fit a manual switch with a visible break. If the company asks, it must be within reach of its staff and lockable in the open position.
- Insurance: clause 5.1 of the agreement requires the prosumer to keep suitable third-party injury and general liability insurance.
Documents you need
The standard application form in the regulations (Schedule II) and DISCO checklists ask for:
- a copy of the applicant’s CNIC (or CUIN for a company), and the CNICs of two witnesses for the agreement;
- the last paid electricity bill;
- the site address and map coordinates, and the expected yearly consumption and solar production in units;
- technical data for the inverter and panels: make, model, serial number and nameplate rating (kW and kVA);
- a single-line diagram of the system and a site plan showing the disconnect switch;
- the installer’s name, contact details and signature;
- the interconnection agreement with the DISCO (Schedule I).
For a system above 25 kW, the file sent to NEPRA also includes the concurrence application (Schedule III), proof of the fee, and an affidavit on Rs 50 non-judicial stamp paper attested by an oath commissioner (Schedule V).
Where to apply
- LESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO and HAZECO: PITC’s ENC portal has “Net Metering” and “Net Metering By Consumer” options, and you can track the application there.
- IESCO and FESCO: the portal tells their consumers to use iesco.enc.com.pk and fesco.enc.com.pk.
- MEPCO: the portal sends MEPCO consumers to MEPCO’s apps or a customer facilitation centre. MEPCO’s checklist says the installer uploads the application online and a hard copy goes to the MEPCO net metering cell or the relevant office.
- K-Electric: in Karachi you apply to K-Electric directly; we have not checked its process separately.
The regulations require the company to give you its approved forms and information free within two working days of asking.
The timeline, step by step
| Step | Who | Working days |
|---|---|---|
| Give forms and information | DISCO | 2 |
| Acknowledge the application and list anything missing | DISCO | 5 |
| Supply missing documents | You | 3 |
| Initial review (if not feasible, returned with reasons within 3 days) | DISCO | 15 |
| Sign the agreement | Both | 7 |
| Connection charge estimate (demand notice) | DISCO | 7 |
| Pay the estimate | You | 7 |
| Install the meter and connect | DISCO | 15 |
| NEPRA concurrence (only above 25 kW) | NEPRA | 7 |
So even when everyone meets the deadlines, it takes about 58 working days. Under the agreement you must tell the company in writing that installation is complete at least 15 working days before connecting, and the company has 10 working days to test the system. Net billing starts once the approval or concurrence is granted, and if the system is not running within six months of it, you need a fresh approval.
One-off costs to budget for
- Connection charges: you pay for all work up to the interconnection point, including metering, through the company’s estimate. That can be one two-way meter or two separate meters.
- Three-phase connection: a separate cost if you are on single phase.
- NEPRA fee: only above 25 kW, at Rs 1,000 per kW.
- Other: stamp paper, attestation, insurance, and a load flow study at 250 kW or more.
There is no official price list for these; take the figures from your company’s demand notice and your installer’s written quote.
How big a system to install
Under net billing, power you export sells cheaply, so a system bigger than you need adds little. From our solar calculator (120 units per kW a month, 60% used at home):
| Units a month | System | Cost | Monthly saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2.5 kW | Rs 275,000 | Rs 9,960 | 2.3 years |
| 500 | 4.5 kW | Rs 495,000 | Rs 16,920 | 2.4 years |
| 800 | 7 kW | Rs 770,000 | Rs 26,880 | 2.4 years |
If your sanctioned load is below the suggested size, either install a smaller system or get the load raised first. Remember that a sanctioned load of 5 kW or more moves you to the peak and off-peak tariff, as our earlier guide explains.
Worked example: payback with one-off costs
A home using 500 units a month installs 4.5 kW for Rs 495,000 and saves about Rs 16,920 a month, so it pays back in 2.4 years. Now suppose the meter, connection work and change to three-phase add Rs 60,000 (an example only). Payback becomes (495,000 + 60,000) ÷ (16,920 × 12) = 2.7 years.
We have not found a clear NEPRA notification of the buyback rate, and NEPRA can change it during the agreement. If the buyback were Rs 11 instead of Rs 8, the monthly saving would be Rs 17,640 and payback 2.3 years. The difference is small: most of the saving comes from power you use at home.
After you are connected
- Check that your first bill shows units taken from the grid and units exported separately: imports at the full tariff, exports at the national average energy purchase price. Our electricity bill checker helps with the rest of the bill.
- If your exports are worth more than your bill, the difference is credited to the next bill or paid to you quarterly.
- The agreement runs five years. You can end it with 30 days’ written notice; the company can end it only with NEPRA’s prior approval.
- You must let company staff inspect the system at reasonable times. If you are weighing a battery, use the solar battery calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a net billing connection take?
If every deadline in the regulations is met, about 58 working days (roughly three months) from asking for the forms to the meter being installed, plus your own time to fix missing documents and pay. Billing for exports starts only after your company’s approval (25 kW or less) or NEPRA’s concurrence (above 25 kW).
Can my solar system be bigger than my sanctioned load?
No. Regulation 3(2) says the system’s capacity cannot exceed the sanctioned load of the premises. If you want a bigger system, apply to your company to raise the sanctioned load first. Older DISCO checklists allowed up to 1.5 times the load, but that was under the repealed 2015 rules.
Who pays for the meter?
You do. The prosumer pays all costs up to the interconnection point, including the metering installation, through the connection charge estimate. If the company has no meter in stock, you may buy one yourself, and the company tests it before installing it.
Can I add panels later?
Only with permission. The agreement asks for at least 40 working days’ notice and a revised application before any change to the system’s maximum output or interconnection equipment, and you must not install the change until it is approved again.
What can I do if my DISCO delays or refuses?
The regulations say approval must not be unreasonably withheld, and set working-day limits for each step. Any dispute between a prosumer and the company goes to NEPRA for decision under regulation 17. Keep copies and dates of everything you submit.
Calculators for this guide
- Solar size & paybackFind the kW solar system you need from your monthly units, its cost, monthly savings and payback period under net billing.
- Solar battery & inverter sizeFind the inverter size (kW and kVA) and lithium or lead-acid battery capacity (kWh and Ah at 12, 24 or 48 V) to run your appliances through load-shedding.
- Electricity bill checkerCheck your LESCO, IESCO, K-Electric or other bill against the 2026 NEPRA tariff: units, fixed charges, FPA, QTA, GST and income tax, and what to do if wrong.
Sources
- NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026, 9 February 2026: regulations 3 to 14 and Schedules I to V
- S.R.O. 1330(I)/2026, 6 August 2026: DISCO approval for systems of 25 kW or less
- S.R.O. 709(I)/2026, 28 April 2026: concurrence fee (nil up to 25 kW, Rs 1,000 per kW above)
- PITC Electricity New Connection (ENC) portal: net metering applications for LESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO and HAZECO
- MEPCO: checklist for filing net metering applications (October 2025, issued under the 2015 rules)
- Solar yield (120 units per kW a month), Rs 110,000 per kW, Rs 50 tariff and Rs 8 buyback are PakHisaab calculator defaults; the Rs 60,000 one-off cost is an illustration, not a quoted price
This guide explains the rules for general information. It is not official, legal or tax advice. Rules change, so check the official source or a qualified professional before acting. See how we check our information.