Net metering is the single biggest reason a solar system pays for itself in 3–5 years in Pakistan instead of 7–10. Without it, every unit your panels produce while you’re at work is effectively wasted. With it, those units offset your evening usage at full retail rate (or at the new 2026 buyback rate, depending on how NEPRA’s gross-billing reform applies to you).
This guide walks through the 2026 application process for every Pakistani distribution company — LESCO, MEPCO, IESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, PESCO, HESCO, QESCO and K-Electric — with eligibility, document checklist, real timelines, and the four rejection reasons that delay roughly 1 in 3 applications.
The NEPRA policy in 2026, in plain English
Net metering in Pakistan is regulated by NEPRA under the Alternative & Renewable Energy Distributed Generation and Net Metering Regulations, 2015, amended several times since, most recently in late 2025. The core rules in 2026:
- Capacity:1 kW to 1 MW. Residential is usually 5–15 kW; commercial and industrial go higher.
- Connection type: three-phase only. Single-phase domestic customers must upgrade before applying.
- Solar capacity ceiling: cannot exceed the sanctioned load of the premises. A house with 7 kW sanctioned load cannot install a 12 kW system under net metering.
- Inverter: must be on the AEDB approved-inverter list with anti-islanding protection and a valid IEC 62116 certificate.
- Licence:a NEPRA Distributed Generation Licence is granted to the consumer (not the installer); the DISCO processes it on NEPRA’s behalf.
- Settlement model:from 2025, the 1:1 net metering credit was replaced with a gross-billing-style mechanism — exports priced at the national average power purchase price (around Rs 11/unit in May 2026), imports billed at your full retail slab rate.
The economic implication of the 2025 reform is straightforward: oversizing a solar system to run the meter backwards no longer pays. The optimal 2026 system is the one that maximises self-consumption during daylight, with a small export tail.
Eligibility checklist
Before you submit anything, confirm all of the following:
- Three-phase connection. Check your bill — tariff codes A-1(c), A-2, A-3 are three-phase. A-1(a) and A-1(b) are usually single-phase.
- Sanctioned load ≥ proposed solar kW. Your bill lists the sanctioned load in kW.
- Premises ownership/lease document. Property card, allotment letter, or lease agreement registered with the relevant authority.
- CNIC of the connection holder. The applicant must be the same person as the bill.
- No outstanding dues. Any pending DISCO bill will freeze the application.
Documents you will need (every DISCO)
The base document set is largely standardised across DISCOs in 2026:
- Application form (DISCO-specific, downloaded from the DISCO portal)
- Copy of latest paid electricity bill
- CNIC copy of consumer
- Proof of property ownership or lease
- Site location map and Google Maps pin
- Single-line diagram (SLD) signed by a PEC-registered electrical engineer
- Inverter datasheet with AEDB approval number
- Panel datasheet
- Bidirectional meter request form (some DISCOs include this in the main application)
- Installer’s AEDB certification copy (if the installer is AEDB-listed)
- NTN (commercial and industrial only)
The generic 8-step application process
- Pre-application check. Confirm three-phase, sanctioned load, and that no dues are pending.
- Install the system. Many DISCOs allow installation before formal approval, but the system must remain electrically isolated from the grid until commissioning.
- Apply online via DISCO portal. All Punjab DISCOs and IESCO now use a unified IRIS-style portal. KE uses its own portal.
- Document review (7–15 days). The DISCO reviews paperwork and either accepts, asks for clarifications, or rejects.
- Site inspection (10–30 days). A DISCO sub-engineer visits to verify the installation matches the SLD and that safety equipment (SPD, DC isolator, AC disconnect, earthing) is in place.
- NEPRA licence issuance (15–30 days). The DISCO submits to NEPRA on your behalf; NEPRA issues a Distributed Generation Licence.
- Bidirectional meter installation (7–20 days). The DISCO meter team replaces your unidirectional meter with a bidirectional meter (no cost to consumer for residential).
- Commissioning. The DC isolator is closed, the inverter is energised, and your system begins exporting. The first net-billed cycle starts at your next reading.
DISCO-by-DISCO process notes
LESCO (Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Okara, Nankana)
Highest application volume in the country — LESCO processed over 60,000 net-metering applications by end of 2025. Apply through the LESCO IRIS portal at iris.lesco.gov.pk. Typical timeline in 2026: 45–75 days. The Mughalpura, Township and Defence sub-divisions are the fastest. Application fee: Rs 5,000 (refundable security deposit waived for residential).
MEPCO (Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Vehari, Sahiwal)
Largest DISCO by geography but slower processing. Apply through the MEPCO portal at mepco.com.pk/netmetering. Realistic timeline: 75–120 days. The most common bottleneck is the bidirectional meter — MEPCO stock is regularly out, particularly outside Multan. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
IESCO (Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock)
Cleanest digital process of the NEPRA DISCOs. Apply at iesco.com.pk via the e-net-metering portal. Timeline: 45–70 days in 2026. F-sectors and Bahria Town inspections are fast; Murree and outlying sub-divisions slower. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
GEPCO (Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Narowal)
Apply via gepco.com.pk. Timeline: 60–90 days. Sialkot industrial cluster has heavy commercial application volume; expect longer inspection scheduling there. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
FESCO (Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Sargodha)
Apply via fesco.com.pk. Timeline: 70–100 days. The Faisalabad industrial textile cluster accounts for the bulk of large commercial applications. Residential timelines are faster, but bidirectional meter installation is the recurring delay point. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
PESCO (Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra)
Apply via pesco.gov.pk. Timeline: 90–130 days — the slowest of the mainland DISCOs in 2026, mainly because of inspection scheduling in mountainous sub-divisions. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
HESCO (Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta)
Apply via hesco.gov.pk. Timeline: 90–130 days. Net-metering volume is still low here and many smaller sub-divisions process their first applications each year, so expect manual follow-up. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
QESCO (entire Balochistan)
Lowest application volume in Pakistan. Apply via qesco.com.pk. Timeline: 100–150 days due to limited engineering staff outside Quetta. For sites in Gwadar, Khuzdar or Sibi, expect to physically follow up with the area sub-division. Application fee: Rs 5,000.
K-Electric (Karachi, Hub, Dhabeji, Bela)
Not a NEPRA DISCO — KE is a vertically integrated utility, so the application is filed via ke.com.pk/net-metering, not the NEPRA portal. KE’s timeline is the fastest in Pakistan: 30–60 days in 2026, driven by a dedicated solar-PV cell at their KCAD office. KE allows single-phase residential connections to upgrade as part of the same application, which is a meaningful convenience advantage over Punjab DISCOs. Application fee: Rs 10,000 (slightly higher than NEPRA DISCOs).
The four common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)
Roughly one in three applications across LESCO, MEPCO and FESCO is initially rejected or returned for clarification. The reasons cluster tightly:
- Sanctioned load mismatch. Proposing 12 kW solar against an 8 kW sanctioned load. Fix: apply for a load enhancement before the net-metering application, not alongside it.
- Single-phase connection.Especially in older Lahore areas, Karachi apartments and pre-1990 colonies. Fix: get the three-phase upgrade done (Rs 80,000–180,000 depending on DISCO and distance to transformer) and obtain the revised meter copy before applying.
- Inverter not on the AEDB list. The grey-market inverter market is large in Pakistan, and many units physically work fine but lack AEDB certification. Fix: only buy inverters from official importers (Growatt via NES, Huawei via Future Solutions, Deye via Premier Energy, Solis via Ginlong PK) and request the AEDB approval copy.
- Incomplete or unsigned SLD.The single-line diagram must show panel strings, combiner, DC isolator, inverter, AC disconnect, bidirectional meter, AC bus, earthing scheme, SPDs — signed by a PEC-registered electrical engineer. Fix: insist your installer pays a PEC engineer to sign off; do not accept an SLD that just has the company stamp.
Fees, deposits and what you really pay
Real out-of-pocket cost for a residential net-metering application in 2026, excluding the solar system itself:
- Application fee: Rs 5,000 (NEPRA DISCOs) or Rs 10,000 (K-Electric)
- NEPRA licence fee: Rs 5,000 (single licence valid for the life of the system)
- PEC engineer SLD stamping: Rs 5,000–15,000 depending on system size
- Three-phase upgrade (if needed): Rs 80,000–180,000
- Bidirectional meter: free for residential under most DISCOs in 2026
- AEDB-certified installer fee (optional but recommended): bundled into installation cost
How much you will actually save
Under the 2026 gross-billing-style mechanism, savings depend heavily on how much of your solar generation you consume during daylight versus export. Three rules of thumb:
- If you can self-consume 70%+ of generation (work-from-home, daytime AC, evening loads only), payback is 3–4 years.
- If you self-consume 40–60% (typical household with daytime exports), payback is 4–6 years.
- If you export more than 60% (no battery, empty house in daytime), payback stretches to 6–8 years — consider adding a small battery.
Run your exact numbers with the Net Billing Calculator— it applies the 2026 export rate and your specific tariff slab.
Cross-references
- LESCO Net Metering Step-by-Step — deeper detail on the LESCO IRIS portal.
- Solar System Designer — size the system before applying.
- Net Billing Calculator — check the new buyback economics.
- Solar Panel Buying Guide 2026
- Best Solar Inverters in Pakistan 2026
FAQ
Can I apply for net metering with a single-phase connection?
No. NEPRA requires a three-phase connection for net metering across all DISCOs and K-Electric. Most residential single-phase connections can be upgraded to three-phase for Rs 80,000–180,000 depending on transformer distance.
Do I need an AEDB-certified installer?
Not strictly required for residential under 25 kW, but most DISCOs accept applications faster when an AEDB-certified installer files the paperwork and the SLD carries the certifier’s endorsement.
How long is the NEPRA distributed generation licence valid?
Seven years initially, renewable. The licence is non-transferable — if you sell the property, the new owner must apply for a fresh licence.
Can I oversize my solar relative to my home load?
Not under the 2026 framework. Your installed solar capacity cannot exceed the sanctioned load on your meter. If you have 10 kW sanctioned, you can install up to 10 kW of solar — not more.
What happens if my panels generate more than I export in a month?
Surplus credit carries forward for up to 12 billing cycles. If you still have credit at the end of the financial year, most DISCOs settle it in cash at the applicable buyback rate — though in practice, the amounts are small once self-consumption is accounted for.
Is K-Electric’s buyback rate different from Punjab DISCOs?
KE uses the same NEPRA-determined export rate (~Rs 11/unit in May 2026), but the import side is billed at KE’s own retail tariff which differs from LESCO/MEPCO. Net effect for most Karachi residential consumers is broadly similar.
Can I add more panels after my net-metering licence is issued?
Only by filing a capacity-enhancement amendment with the DISCO and NEPRA. Adding panels without amendment will fail the next inspection and risk disconnection.
Last updated: 17 May 2026 · Written by the MyEnergyHub Solar Team.
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