ISLAMABAD – The federal government is set to implement a series of new rules for solar energy users in 2026, which could have significant impacts on both individual users and businesses that rely on solar power.
These upcoming changes include stricter regulations, cut in buyback rate, agreement duration and others.
Reports said the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to overhaul its net metering policy for solar users, introducing a new set of rules under the “NEPRA Solar User Regulations 2025.”
The Ministry of Energy approved these changes after consulting with relevant stakeholders.
The most significant shift is the replacement of the net metering system with a net billing framework.
No Additional Surcharges
Under the new policy, solar users will no longer receive additional surcharges, but instead will be compensated with a per-unit exchange rate.
Solar Buyback Per Unit Rate
The new unit price for solar energy under this net billing system is set at approximately 11 Pakistani rupees per unit.
Solar Contract Duration
Another important change is the reduction of solar contract duration from seven years to five years.
NEPRA License
Additionally, all users with loads under 25 kilowatts will now be required to obtain a license from NEPRA.
This marks the end of the previous exemption, which allowed domestic, industrial, and commercial users to avoid this requirement for loads up to 25 kilowatts.
