DailyPakistan.Online

Introduction: Why this matters now

Pakistan has cut the buy-back rates for grid-exported solar power. That changes the math for rooftop systems.

Bills that once looked optimistic now need a second look. Sound familiar?

Why does this matter? Lower credits for exported energy can slow payback and change which systems make sense. If you're interested, I also wrote a guide on Stay Informed: Latest Updates on Pakistan Elections 2026 - Timeline, Stakes, How to Follow.

Quick hook: reduced buy-back rates change the math

Short answer: here is a straight take on whether solar still pays for a typical Pakistani household. No fluff. If you're interested, I also wrote a guide on Pakistan's IT Exports Hit Record $437 Million in December 2025: What This Means for the Economy.

Real ROI math using the new rates and clear usage scenarios appears below.

• What changed: reduced buy-back rates for exported energy mean less money credited for excess solar generation.
• What you get here: clear payback examples, simple ROI numbers, and scenarios that match common Pakistani bills.
• Limit: I cannot pull live tariff updates inside this chat. I will use the recently announced buy-back rates. If you want exact math for your home, paste your latest bill and I will run it.

What changed in 2026: new net-metering buy-back rates

The headline: how buy-back rates were cut and what that means

Short version: in 2026 regulators lowered the price utilities pay you for solar power you send back to the grid. That price is called the buy-back rate.

Lower buy-back rates mean less cash or bill credit when your system exports electricity.

What "cut" means in practice: your rooftop solar still saves you money when you use the power yourself during the day.

But the value of extra daytime power you export to the grid dropped. Households receive smaller credits for exported kWh.

Where to find the official rates and which province or utility rules matter

• NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority): official tariff orders and net-metering decisions. Check the tariff determinations and any net-metering circulars. Official site: https://www.nepra.org.pk
• Your local Distribution Company (DISCO) or utility: net-metering buy-back is set or applied at the DISCO level in line with NEPRA guidance. Examples include K-Electric for Karachi and provincial DISCOs elsewhere.
• Provincial energy or power departments: for any provincial rules or updates that affect implementation.
• Recent tariff orders: often titled "Tariff Determination" or "Net-Metering Order". These list the official buy-back rates and any conditions.

Tip: the buy-back rate you actually get depends on your DISCO and sometimes your customer category. Cite the latest NEPRA order and your DISCO notice for the exact number.

How lower export prices affect monthly bills and savings

Basic effect: lower export prices reduce the cash or credit you get for exported kWh. That cuts the monthly offset your exports provide.

Your own daytime use still saves you at retail rates, so self-consumption remains valuable.

• Homes that consume most of their solar on-site lose little. Their savings stay mostly intact.
• Homes that export a lot get smaller credits. Monthly bills fall by less and payback time lengthens.
• Storage and load timing matter more now. Batteries or shifting uses to daytime restore value compared with relying on exports.

Simple example using a sample buy-back rate for illustration only. I do not have live access to updated DISCO rates here, so check the official links above for the exact number. I've covered a similar topic in Decoding Your Electricity Bill: A Simple Guide to the Taxes and Surcharges in 2026.

Scenario	Buy-back rate (example)	Exported energy	Revenue / Credit
Old rate (example)	Rs. 15 / kWh	100 kWh	100 × 15 = Rs. 1,500
New rate (example)	Rs. 8 / kWh	100 kWh	100 × 8 = Rs. 800

Result: with these example numbers you would get Rs. 700 less credit per month for the same exported energy. That adds up over a year and pushes out simple payback.

Here's the kicker: many sites report the rate cut, but few actually recalculate ROI with the new buy-back numbers. We will use the current official rates from NEPRA and your DISCO to rework payback and savings in the next section.

Honesty about limits: I cannot fetch live rates from utility sites right now. Use the NEPRA link and your DISCO’s official notice to get the exact 2026 buy-back number before you run your final ROI.

How net-metering actually works for your home now

This is a plain step-by-step look at how net-metering works for a house in Pakistan right now.

I will walk you through the daily flow, how the utility records energy, and what the words "netting" and "buy-back" mean for your bill. Sound familiar?

Netting vs. true buy-back, in simple terms

Netting means your exported energy cancels out the energy you used from the grid in the same billing period. You pay only for the net import.

True buy-back means the utility actually buys your exported energy, usually at a set rate. That price is often lower than the retail rate you pay when you import energy.

• Netting: You get credited in kWh against what you use. If you export more than you import in the month you may carry forward kWh credit.
• Buy-back: You get cash or monetary credit for exported kWh, at a price set by the utility or regulator, which can be lower than your retail tariff.
• Reality check: Policies differ by DISCO and change. Some DISCOs credit exported kWh at full retail up to a size limit. Others credit at a lower rate.

Billing mechanics: gross generation, export, import, and monthly settlement

Three numbers matter: how much your panels produced, how much you pulled from the grid, and how much you pushed back to the grid.

• Gross generation: total energy your solar system produced in the month. Some setups log this separately. Some DISCOs require a generation meter for larger systems.
• Export: energy that flows from your house to the grid when panels make more than you use. The meter records this as exported kWh.
• Import: energy the grid supplies when your panels do not meet your load. This is imported kWh.
• Monthly settlement: most bills do a monthly net. If imports exceed exports you pay for the difference. If exports exceed imports you usually carry kWh credit to the next month or get credited at a rate set by the utility.

Common misunderstanding: exported kWh are not always worth the same as imported kWh. You might expect a 1 to 1 credit. Sometimes you get less. Check your DISCO rules.

Meter types and what installation looks like

Bi-directional meter is the most common requirement. It counts energy going in and out separately. That is the core of net-metering.

Some systems also need a generation meter to record gross output. This is more common for larger systems or for programs that require it. If you're interested, I also wrote a guide on Pakistan Cricket Player Rankings Updated 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to the Latest Standings.

• Typical install steps: site visit, inverter and panel install, protective devices and earthing, meter change or addition, final inspection.
• Safety checks and commissioning: protective devices tested, earthing verified, inverter settings configured, and commissioning performed.
• Final inspection: DISCO or installer signs off before commercial operation.

Another thing to consider: meter type and DISCO rules affect how you are billed and what credits you receive. Why does this matter? The wrong setup can reduce your expected savings. For more context, read: Punjab Solar Panel Scheme Phase 2: How to Get Your Free Solar System in 2026.

"""