How to apply for net metering in Pakistan in 2026 (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, K-Electric)
Net metering became net billing in February 2026 under NEPRA's Prosumer Regulations. Here is who qualifies, what it costs, which inverters pass, and the step-by-step process with the working-day limits the DISCO must meet.
What changed in 2026
NEPRA notified the Prosumer Regulations on 10 February 2026, repealing the 2015 net-metering regulations. The new arrangement is net billing:
- Units you import are billed at your normal slab tariff (Rs 37–55 before taxes).
- Units you export are credited at the National Average Energy Purchase Price (NAEPP), about Rs 10–11 per unit, instead of one-for-one.
- Credits are settled monthly; a surplus rolls to the next bill or is paid quarterly.
- New agreements run 5 years, renewable.
- Existing agreements keep their term and are credited at the higher NAPPP (about Rs 25–26) until expiry, then renew on the new terms.
Self-consumption is now worth four to five times more than export, so size the system to your daytime load. The full rules, timelines and DISCO-by-DISCO details are on the net metering hub.
Eligibility
- Three-phase 400 V (or 11 kV) connection, domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or bulk. Single-phase houses must upgrade first.
- System 1 kW to 1 MW, and not above your sanctioned load.
- Your distribution transformer must have room: the DISCO must refuse once solar on it reaches 80% of its rating.
- Installer certified by AEDB/PPIB; single-line diagram signed by a PEC-registered engineer.
- Grid-tied or hybrid inverter with a UL 1741 / IEC 62116 anti-islanding certificate. Off-grid inverters never qualify, see the approved inverter list.
Documents
- CNIC copy of the consumer named on the bill
- Latest electricity bill (reference number and sanctioned load)
- Proof of ownership or tenancy with owner's NOC
- Installer's AEDB/PPIB certificate
- Inverter datasheet and anti-islanding / grid-code certificate
- Panel datasheets (IEC 61215)
- Single-line diagram and site photos
- Application on Schedule II of the regulations (the DISCO or installer supplies the form)
Steps and time limits
| # | Step | Who | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submit the application with documents | You | : |
| 2 | DISCO acknowledges and confirms completeness | DISCO | 5 working days |
| 3 | Supply anything missing | You | 3 working days |
| 4 | Technical review (feasibility, transformer loading) | DISCO | 15 working days |
| 5 | Sign the interconnection agreement | Both | 7 working days |
| 6 | DISCO issues the connection-charge estimate (bi-directional meter) | DISCO | 7 working days |
| 7 | Pay the estimate | You | 7 working days |
| 8 | Meter installed and system commissioned | DISCO | 15 working days |
| 9 | NEPRA concurrence (Rs 1,000/kW fee + affidavit) | NEPRA | 7 working days |
About 66 working days end to end if nothing is returned. Billing under net billing starts from NEPRA's concurrence. You must commission within six months of concurrence, and any later change to the system's technical parameters (more panels, bigger inverter) needs fresh concurrence.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NEPRA concurrence fee | Rs 1,000 per kW (Rs 5,000 for 5 kW) |
| DISCO meter and interconnection estimate | Rs 25,000–65,000 depending on DISCO |
| Affidavit | Rs 50 stamp paper |
| Three-phase upgrade if needed | Rs 25,000–60,000 |
| Installer processing (optional) | Rs 10,000–30,000 |
Where to apply
- LESCO, Net Metering Cell, 22-A Queens Road, Lahore, or through your sub-division.
- IESCO, Net Metering Section, Head Office, G-7/4 Islamabad, or the sub-division for Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal.
- MEPCO, Net Metering Cell, Khanewal Road, Multan, or the circle office.
- K-Electric, online through KE's net-metering portal / KE Live, or the Distributed Generation cell at KE House, DHA Karachi.
- Other DISCOs: the headquarters net-metering cell or circle office, addresses on the hub page.
If the DISCO stalls
Every step above has a working-day limit in regulations 3 and 4. Quote the regulation number in a written complaint to the DISCO's net-metering cell; if it is ignored, complain to NEPRA's Consumer Affairs Division (complaints portal on nepra.org.pk) citing regulation 17.
Is it still worth it?
Run your numbers in the Solar System Calculator with the export rate at Rs 11. For most homes using 60% or more of their generation directly, payback is still 3–4 years; for a system that mostly exports, it stretches to 6+ years.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does net metering approval take in 2026?
- The regulations allow about 66 working days across all steps; in practice LESCO and IESCO take one to three months, longer where bi-directional meters are short.
- Can I get net metering on a single-phase connection?
- No. The 2026 regulations define an applicant as a three-phase 400 V or 11 kV consumer. Apply for a three-phase upgrade first.
- What is the export rate under net billing?
- The National Average Energy Purchase Price, about Rs 10–11 per unit for new agreements. Existing agreements are credited at the National Average Power Purchase Price, about Rs 25–26, until they expire.
- Do I still get a bill?
- Yes. Import is billed at your tariff, export is credited at the NAEPP, and the difference plus fixed charges and taxes is your bill. A surplus rolls to the next month or is paid quarterly.
- Which inverter should I buy for net metering?
- A grid-tied or hybrid unit with a UL 1741 / IEC 62116 certificate: Huawei, Sungrow, Solis, GoodWe, Growatt, SMA and Fronius pass without query; Deye, Inverex Nitrox/Aerox, Ziewnic Xtreme and others pass with the certificate attached. Off-grid inverters are refused.
Sources
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