With rising electricity bills, net metering has become a blessing for solar system owners in Pakistan. It allows you to sell excess electricity generated by your solar panels back to the national grid (WAPDA), significantly reducing or even eliminating your electricity bills. However, many people find the legal process complex.
If you are confused about how to apply for Net Metering in Pakistan, you are in the right place. In this 2026 expert guide, we will break down the entire process from application submission to green meter installation into easy steps.
Eligibility Criteria for Net Metering
Before starting the application, you must meet NEPRA’s basic requirements:
- You must have a 3-phase electricity connection (Residential, Commercial, or Industrial). Single-phase connections are not eligible.
- Your solar system capacity must be between 1kW and 1MW.
- The distributed generator (solar inverter) must be approved by NEPRA.
- You must not be a defaulter of your local DISCO (like LESCO, K-Electric, PESCO, etc.).
Step-by-Step Application Process
Here is the practical How to Apply for Net Metering in Pakistan process, which generally takes 1 to 2 months, depending on your local DISCO.
Step 1: Application Preparation and Submission
You need to visit your local DISCO’s subdivision office (e.g., LESCO SDO office) and ask for the Net Metering application form (often called “Schedule-I”). Fill the form with your details, including CNIC, current electricity bill, and details of your solar installation.
Step 2: DISCO Site Survey and Feasibility
After you submit the application and pay the standard processing fee, DISCO will send an engineering team to inspect your site. They check if your location and existing infrastructure can handle the bidirectional electricity flow. They will issue a feasibility report.
Step 3: Agreement Signing (Three-Way Agreement)
If the feasibility is positive, a three-way agreement is signed between you (the consumer), the DISCO, and sometimes NEPRA. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions for the sale and purchase of electricity. This agreement is a mandatory legal requirement for How to Apply for Net Metering in Pakistan. At this stage, you will pay the actual connection and meter costs.
Step 4: NEPRA Generation License Issuance
After the agreement, your DISCO forwards the case to NEPRA for the final Generation License. NEPRA typically takes 10-20 days to process and issue this license, allowing you to legally generate electricity from your Solar Panels.
Step 5: Green Meter Installation and System Energization
This is the final step in How to Apply for Net Metering in Pakistan. Your local DISCO team will visit your premises, remove your old unidirectional meter, and install the new bidirectional meter (also known as the Green Meter). Congratulations! You are now officially exporting electricity.
Required Documents for Application
To complete the process of How to Apply for Net Metering in Pakistan, make sure you have at least 3 sets of these documents ready:
- Copy of the owner’s CNIC.
- Copy of recent paid electricity bill (must be 3-phase and in the applicant’s name).
- Photographs of the installed solar system (panels and inverter).
- Technical data sheets and test certificates for the inverter and solar panels.
- Schematic drawing of the system installation.
- An affidavit (stamp paper) stating compliance with NEPRA rules.
Estimated Net Metering Cost in 2026
While the application form itself is free, there are official costs involved in applying for Net Metering in Pakistan.
- Application & Processing Fee: Usually between 500 and 1500 PKR.
- Feasibility and Site Survey Fee: Around 5,000 PKR to 10,000 PKR.
- Green Meter and Installation Charges: This varies, but expect to pay between 25,000 PKR and 40,000 PKR for the meter and DISCO charges.
- Solar Vendor Consultancy: If you hire your solar installation company to handle the paperwork, they might charge an extra 20,000 to 30,000 PKR. For a completely maintenance-free experience, this is often recommended.
Final Verdict
Learning how to apply for Net Metering in Pakistan might seem lengthy, but the long-term benefits are immense. A proper net metering setup can reduce your payback period from 5 years to less than 3 years. We advise you to hire a professional NEPRA-certified solar vendor who handles this process as part of their installation package. Stay patient, and enjoy selling electricity to the grid!