What is Net metering (Pakistan)?
Net metering in Pakistan is the NEPRA-regulated arrangement where solar-equipped homes and businesses export excess electricity back to the grid and receive credit against their consumption — effectively allowing the utility meter to run backwards when solar production exceeds household use.
Net metering in Pakistan is the regulatory framework — administered by NEPRA (the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) since 2017 — that lets owners of solar PV systems (typically 1 kW to 1 MW capacity) export excess electricity back to the national grid and receive a credit against their consumption on the same meter. The net of "energy you imported" minus "energy you exported" is what you pay (or get credited for) each billing cycle.
In practice, for a residential solar system in a Pakistani city in 2026:
- The customer installs a solar PV array (panels + inverter + bi-directional meter)
- The system produces electricity during the day; the household uses some, exports the rest to the grid
- At night the household imports electricity from the grid as normal
- The bi-directional meter tracks both directions; the bill nets them out
- If exports exceed imports in a billing cycle, the credit carries forward (settlement rules vary by DISCO)
The application process is handled by the local DISCO (Distribution Company) — K-Electric in Karachi; LESCO in Lahore; IESCO in Islamabad / Rawalpindi; MEPCO in Multan / South Punjab; FESCO in Faisalabad; HESCO in Hyderabad; PESCO in Peshawar; SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO in other regions. Each DISCO follows the NEPRA framework but has its own application portal, inspection process, and approval timeline (typically 4–12 weeks from application to commissioning).
Net metering in Pakistan boomed after 2022–2024 grid instability and tariff hikes made the payback period drop to 3–5 years on residential systems and 2–4 years on commercial systems. The category has spawned a wave of solar installers — many of whom now run their websites and customer chat on WoBooks. See solar installer websites for category-specific tooling.
Common questions
How long does net metering approval take?
Typically 4–12 weeks from application submission to commissioning, varying by DISCO. K-Electric and LESCO are typically faster (4–8 weeks); some smaller DISCOs run longer. Delays are usually at the inspection or meter-installation step. Some installers handle the entire application process on the customer's behalf as part of installation.
What size systems qualify for net metering in Pakistan?
NEPRA's framework covers systems from 1 kW to 1 MW. Residential installations typically range 3–10 kW; commercial systems 10–100 kW; industrial systems 100 kW+. Systems above 1 MW require a different regulatory path (typically a power-purchase agreement, not net metering).