Electricity buyback rate slashed by Rs17.19 per unit: New prices for solar users

2026-02-10 - 05:26

ISLAMABAD – The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has announced a massive cut in the rates at which solar power can be sold to the national grid. The new regulations, which were notified on 9th February 2026, will affect both new and existing solar users in the country. Under the new rules, existing solar consumers will continue to sell their electricity to the national grid at the old rate of Rs25.32 per unit. Electricity Buyback Rate for New Solar Users However, new consumers will face a substantial reduction, as the rate for selling electricity to the grid will now be just Rs 8.13 per unit, a whooping decrease of Rs 17.19 per unit from the previous rate. The new regulations also introduce a revised system of net billing. This means that the units consumed from the national grid will no longer be priced at the same rate as the electricity sold back. The cost of electricity drawn from the grid will now be determined according to the government’s tariff and slab system. Net Metering Agreement NEPRA capped net metering agreements at five years, with an option for renewal for another five-year term. This marks a major policy shift, as the Net Metering Regulations 2015 are now officially suspended and replaced. Solar Consumers in Pakistan According to the Power Planning and Monitoring Company, the country currently has 7,000 MW of installed net metering solar capacity, with an additional 13,000 to 14,000 MW being produced by off-grid consumers. The total number of solar net metering consumers in Pakistan stands at approximately 466,000, with 82% of them located in major cities. The majority of solar users are concentrated in cities like Lahore (24%), Multan (11%), Rawalpindi (9%), Karachi (7%), and Faisalabad (6%).