What changed on 9 February 2026
NEPRA issued the Prosumer Regulations 2026 under SRO 251(I)/2026. The old net metering scheme was replaced with net billing for all new applicants. Export rate dropped from PKR 25-27 to about PKR 8-11 per unit (National Average Energy Purchase Price). Contracts run 5 years now, down from 7. A PKR 1,000 per kW concurrence fee applies.
Anyone who submitted an application before 8 February 2026 was grandfathered into the older, more generous PKR 25/unit scheme. That covered roughly 5,165 applications totaling 250.822 MW.
Is net billing still worth applying for?
For a typical 10 kW residential system in Lahore, net billing now adds about PKR 60,000 to 120,000 of annual export credits, depending on consumption pattern. Smaller, but not nothing. For commercial and industrial customers with very large arrays and limited daytime self-consumption, the credit still adds up.
If self-consumption already covers most of the load (typical hybrid home with a battery), net billing matters less. A small surplus simply gets exported at the new rate. No harm, modest gain.
What the process looks like
- System install and inspection. The solar system goes live first.
- Application file. Single-line diagram, panel layout, equipment datasheets, customer documents.
- LESCO submission. Acknowledgement received.
- Site inspection. LESCO technical team visits.
- Feasibility approval. Demand notice for meter and fee.
- Bi-directional meter installation. Old meter replaced. Reading commences.
- Final agreement. Five-year contract.
Most files clear in 4 to 8 weeks. Delays usually trace to incomplete drawings or sanctioned-load mismatches. Both are caught and fixed in-house before the application leaves the office.
Costs involved
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Bi-directional meter | PKR 42,000 – 46,000 |
| Concurrence fee (PKR 1,000/kW) | e.g. PKR 10,000 for 10 kW |
| Application processing (in-house) | Included in install package |
| Drawings and feasibility | Included in install package |
Already have a solar system? File for net billing.
Send the system spec and bill on WhatsApp. The application can start the same week.
WhatsApp the teamCommon rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)
- Sanctioned load too low for the proposed system size. Fix: upgrade load first or reduce system size.
- Single-line diagram missing critical labels (sizes, ratings). Fix: redraw to LESCO format.
- Inverter not on the NEPRA approved list. Fix: pick from approved Inverex, Solis, Growatt, Huawei models.
- Earthing details absent. Fix: include earthing pit specification.