If you’ve sized your solar system on the Solar Designerand you’re ready to install, net metering is the next-most-important step. Done right, it cuts the payback period of a typical residential system by 18–24 months. Done wrong, your application is rejected and you wait another 6 weeks.
This guide is specifically for LESCO consumers in 2026, but 90% of the steps are identical for MEPCO, IESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, and the other DISCOs. We’ll flag the few places they differ.
1. Confirm you’re eligible before you spend money
Three rules trip up most first-time applicants:
- System size limit: Residential systems can’t exceed your sanctioned loadtimes 1.0. If your bill says “sanctioned load: 5 kW,” you can install up to a 5 kW solar system. Bigger needs a load enhancement application first.
- Three-phase rule: Anything above 12 kW must be three-phase. Many homes apply for 15 kW solar on a single-phase meter and get rejected.
- Bill must be in your name.If the bill says someone else’s name (parent, landlord, deceased relative), you must transfer the connection or get a notarized NOC. There is no shortcut here.
2. Documents to gather (the actual list, not the official one)
LESCO’s official document list looks short. The list of things they’ll actually ask for is longer. Bring all of these from day one:
- CNIC of the bill payer (front + back, scanned at 300 dpi minimum)
- Last 3 months of paid LESCO bills (not just the latest one)
- NEPRA Generation License application form (LESCO provides a template)
- Single Line Diagram (SLD) — your installer prepares this
- Equipment specs: panel datasheet, inverter datasheet, IEC certificates
- Site photographs: roof, meter board, proposed inverter location, earthing
- Property ownership document or tenancy agreement + NOC if rented
- Stamp paper Rs 100 affidavit declaring system specs and grid-tie commitment
- Application fee challan (current rate ~Rs 5,000, bank-deposited at NBP)
Pro tip: scan everything to PDF before you visit the LESCO XEN office. They will ask for digital copies for the upload portal even if they take physical copies.
3. The application workflow (8 steps, realistic timeline)
- Pre-application (Day 0):Get your installer’s SLD, BOM, and equipment specs. Use the Solar Designer to verify the system size matches your sanctioned load.
- Submit at LESCO XEN office (Day 1): Forms, documents, fee challan. They issue a letter of receipt — keep this.
- Site inspection by LESCO (Day 5–15): Engineer visits, checks meter board, earthing, inverter compatibility. They sometimes fail the inspection on minor issues like cable size — make sure your installer is on-site.
- NEPRA Generation License (Day 15–30): LESCO forwards your file to AEDB. AEDB issues the license. You get a copy by email.
- Energy Purchase Agreement (Day 30–35): You sign the EPA with LESCO. This is a 7-year contract setting your buyback rate.
- Bidirectional meter installation (Day 35–50):LESCO installs the new meter. You pay the meter cost (around Rs 12,000–25,000) at this stage.
- System energization (Day 45–55):LESCO commissions the system, issues the “OK to export” certificate. Your installer can now switch on the inverter.
- First net metering bill (Day 60–90): You receive a bill showing imported units, exported units, and net amount payable.
4. The 2026 buyback rate question
This is the biggest 2026 change and where most consumers get confused.
Until February 2026, all net metering consumers received Rs 25.32/unit for exported energy under the old policy. NEPRA replaced this with the new NAEPP (Net Metering Aggregation and Equalization Policy) in early 2026. New prosumers — anyone applying after Feb 2026 — receive Rs 11/unit for exported energy.
That’s a 56% reductionin export rate. It does not affect imported energy savings (you still save the full ~Rs 45–48/unit on imports). But for systems sized to export significant surplus, payback moves from ~3 years to ~4–5 years.
Use our Net Billing vs Net Metering Calculator to model your specific case. Plug in your monthly consumption and proposed system size, and the tool shows the difference in rupees.
5. Common rejection reasons (and how to avoid each)
| Reason | How to fix |
|---|---|
| Sanctioned load mismatch | Apply for load enhancement before the net metering application |
| Inverter not on AEDB-approved list | Verify your inverter model on AEDB.gov.pk before purchase |
| Earthing not to standard | Use 25mm copper conductor, two earth pits, ground resistance <5Ω |
| SLD missing protections (MCB, SPD) | Make sure your installer’s SLD shows MCB, SPD, ELCB, and isolator |
| Outstanding LESCO dues | Clear all dues — even small amounts trigger automatic rejection |
6. After approval — what to actually monitor
Once your meter is energized, your bill will look different. You’ll see two new line items:
- Units imported: energy you drew from the grid (charged at your tariff)
- Units exported: energy you fed to the grid (credited at the buyback rate)
Pakistani DISCOs occasionally make mistakes here — wrong export units, wrong rate applied, billing days outside the standard 30. Run every bill through the AI Bill Analyzer for the first three months to catch errors while you’re still sharp on the numbers.
FAQ
How long does approval take?
Realistic timeline is 4–8 weeks. The slowest steps are the AEDB inspection (1–3 weeks) and bidirectional meter installation (1–2 weeks after license issue).
How much does it cost?
Application processing is Rs 5,000–10,000. The bidirectional meter (installed by LESCO) is Rs 12,000–25,000. Total out-of-pocket: Rs 17,000–35,000, separate from your installation.
What is the 2026 buyback rate?
Under NEPRA’s NAEPP, new prosumers receive Rs 11/unit. Existing net metering consumers (pre-Feb 2026) continue at Rs 25.32/unit.
Can I apply on rented property?
Yes, with a notarized No-Objection Certificate from the property owner. The agreement must be in the bill payer’s name.
Next steps
Before applying, sanity-check your system size against your roof and sanctioned load using the Solar Designer, and model the new vs old buyback rates with the Net Billing Calculator. If your bill shows you’re overpaying today, the AI Bill Analyzer will flag exactly which charges are wrong before you commit to a multi-lakh installation.