Net metering has been replaced by net billing for new solar users in Pakistan. Since 9 February 2026, NEPRA's Prosumer Regulations pay a lower buyback rate for the surplus units your rooftop solar sends to the grid, so a solar system no longer wipes out your electricity bill the way it used to. If you already had a net metering agreement before that date, news reports say your old rate and one-to-one unit exchange continue until your contract expires. This guide explains what changed, how it shows up on your bill, who is protected, and how to check your latest bill online in seconds.
Net metering vs net billing: the simple difference
Under the old net metering system, every unit your panels exported to the grid was swapped one-for-one against a unit you later imported. Export 100 units and import 100 units, and the two cancelled out. Your surplus was effectively credited at the same retail rate you pay to buy electricity.
Under the new net billing system, the two flows are priced separately. You still buy grid electricity at the normal retail tariff, but the units you export are bought back from you at a much lower rate. In short: import stays expensive, export becomes cheap.
That single change is why solar payback periods have got longer in 2026, and why the topic is trending among rooftop solar owners.
What actually changed on 9 February 2026
NEPRA notified the Prosumer Regulations 2026 on 9 February 2026, replacing the net metering framework that had run since 2015. News outlets including Dawn and Business Recorder reported the key points:
- New applicants move onto net billing instead of net metering.
- The export (buyback) rate was cut sharply. News reports describe the new rate at roughly Rs 11 per unit, linked to the national average energy purchase price, compared with the earlier figure of around Rs 26 to 27 per unit.
- One-to-one unit exchange ends for new users. Your exports no longer offset your imports directly; they are paid at the lower buyback rate.
Rates and formulas are set by the regulator and can be revised, so treat any per-unit figure you read online as indicative and confirm the current numbers on your own bill or via NEPRA.
Are existing solar users protected?
If you signed a net metering agreement with your DISCO before 9 February 2026, reports say you keep your existing terms. NEPRA issued a notification confirming that solar consumers with valid agreements dated before the cut-off continue at their old rates and one-to-one unit exchange until their agreement naturally expires. Most of those contracts run for seven years, so many existing users stay protected well into the late 2020s.
One important warning from the coverage: if you are an existing net metering user and you apply to extend your sanctioned load (for example, upgrading from 5kW to 10kW), your system may be re-classified as new and moved onto net billing. If protection matters to you, think carefully before changing your load.
How net billing shows up on your electricity bill
Whether you are a solar user or not, your bill still carries the same core charges. Solar simply adjusts the units and any export credit. The line items to watch are:
- Units consumed (import): grid units you used, charged at your slab tariff.
- Units exported: surplus sent to the grid. Under net billing these are valued at the buyback rate, not your retail rate.
- Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) and taxes: added on imported units as usual.
If the difference between slabs, FPA and taxes confuses you, our guide on unit slabs, fuel price adjustment and taxes breaks each line down in plain language.
What this means for your savings
The practical takeaway is that self-consumption now beats export. Every unit your household uses directly while the sun is out saves you the full retail tariff. Every unit you push to the grid earns only the lower buyback rate.
To get the most from solar under net billing, shift heavy loads such as air conditioners, washing machines and water pumps to daylight hours, so more of your generation is used at home instead of exported cheaply. This is also one of the most effective ways to keep summer bills down, a problem we cover in why your bill is high this summer.
How to check your electricity bill online
You do not need solar knowledge or an account to read your bill. You only need your 14-digit reference number, printed on any past bill.
- Open the eBill Pakistan homepage.
- Choose your distribution company, for example LESCO or IESCO.
- Enter your 14-digit reference number.
- View the amount payable, due date and units, then download or print the bill.
It is free, there is no sign-up, and the site does not process payments. If you think the amount is wrong, first compare your units month to month, and if it still looks off you can raise it with your DISCO on the national complaint helpline 118.
Roman Urdu: khulasa
9 February 2026 se naye solar users ke liye net metering khatam ho gayi hai, ab net billing lagti hai. Matlab: aap grid se bijli poore retail rate par khareedte hain, lekin apni extra units grid ko bhejte hain to unka rate bohat kam (news reports ke mutabiq taqreeban Rs 11 per unit) milta hai. Purani one-to-one unit exchange naye users ke liye khatam.
Agar aap ka net metering agreement 9 February 2026 se pehle ka hai, to aap ke purane rates agreement khatam hone tak chalte rahenge. Lekin agar aap load barhwate hain (5kW se 10kW), to system naya ganat kar net billing par ja sakta hai.
Bachat ka behtareen tareeqa: din ke waqt AC, washing machine aur pump chala kar apni bijli khud istemaal karein, grid ko sasti export karne se behtar hai. Apna bill check karne ke liye homepage par jaayein, apni company chunein, 14-digit reference number daalein aur bill dekh ya download karein — bilkul muft.
Check your bill now
Rules and rates change, but reading your bill stays simple. Enter your reference number on the eBill Pakistan homepage or go straight to your DISCO page such as MEPCO or FESCO to view, print or download your latest bill in seconds.