Solar Consumers to Get Green Meters Faster
Pakistan’s Power Division has ordered electricity distribution companies and the Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC) to speed up the clearance of pending green (net) meter cases. The directive, issued on August 25, 2026, is the government’s latest move to reduce the long delays that solar consumers have faced in getting their bidirectional meters installed and activated.
If you have applied for a green meter and your case has been stuck for months, here is everything you need to know about this update, who qualifies, and what to expect next.
What Did the Power Division Announce?
According to the official directive, the Power Division has instructed all power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric, along with PITC, to carry out a comprehensive review of pending net metering applications and resolve genuine cases without further delay.
The review specifically targets consumers who:
- Paid their demand notice before February 9, 2026
- Obtained their net metering licence
- Completed meter replacement or reprogramming
- Finished their Meter Change Order (MCO) formalities
PITC has been tasked with checking these pending cases and updating its billing systems and software so that eligible connections can be added without delay. DISCOs have also been directed to verify payment records to separate genuine pending cases from incomplete ones, so that only eligible applications move forward.
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Why February 9, 2026 Is the Key Date
February 9, 2026 is not an arbitrary cutoff. On that date, NEPRA notified the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026 through SRO 251(I)/2026, replacing the older Net Metering Regulations of 2015 with a new net billing framework for future applicants.
The shift caused significant public concern, since the new system pays solar consumers at the lower National Average Energy Purchase Price for exported units, instead of the earlier one-to-one unit adjustment. Following criticism and a directive from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Power Division approached NEPRA to protect consumers who had already completed the net metering process before the new rules took effect.
As a result, NEPRA issued a series of amendments through the year, including notifications on February 17, April 3, April 28, and August 6, 2026, confirming that consumers holding valid net metering licences or completed applications as of February 9, 2026 would continue to receive the old net metering benefits until their agreements expire. New applicants, however, fall under the Prosumer Regulations, 2026 and the net billing mechanism.
This is why the August 25 directive focuses so precisely on the February 9 cutoff. It is meant to identify consumers who genuinely qualify for protection under the old rules but whose cases are still stuck somewhere in the system.
This Is Not the First Push to Clear the Backlog
This is actually the second major intervention this year. Back in May 2026, the Power Division had already ordered DISCOs to clear 1,355 pending solar net metering applications within 10 days, after taking notice that some cases had been delayed for more than six months. That directive also came with consequences for officials, including the withholding of performance bonuses for staff responsible for unnecessary delays, and disciplinary action against underperforming engineers.
The August 25 order builds on that earlier push, suggesting that despite the May deadline, a meaningful number of cases were still unresolved, particularly those tied to the February 9 cutoff and requiring further verification.
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Old Net Metering vs New Net Billing: What Changed
| Feature | Net Metering (2015 Rules) | Net Billing (Prosumer Regulations, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Consumers who completed formalities before Feb 9, 2026 | New applicants from Feb 9, 2026 onward |
| Exported unit rate | Offset at retail rate (roughly Rs 22 to 27/unit) | Paid at National Average Energy Purchase Price (lower rate) |
| Billing mechanism | One-to-one unit adjustment against imported units | Separate billing for exported and imported units |
| Payment for surplus | Adjusted directly in the bill | Paid to consumer periodically |
| Agreement duration | Continues until existing contract expiry | Fixed term under new regulations |
If you already completed your paperwork before February 9, 2026, you remain under the older, more favourable net metering terms. If you are applying fresh after that date, your connection falls under net billing.
Who Handles What: DISCOs, K-Electric, and PITC
The directive spreads responsibility across three players:
- Distribution companies and K-Electric are responsible for verifying consumer payment records and identifying which pending applications are genuinely eligible.
- PITC, which manages the billing software used by DISCOs, is responsible for updating its systems so that verified, eligible connections can be reflected and billed correctly without further delay.
- NEPRA, as the regulator, continues to oversee compliance and has already directed PITC and the DISCOs to act on the backlog.
The government has stated that the goal of this verification is not to create more hurdles, but to make sure genuine cases are cleared quickly while preventing ineligible applications from slipping through.
How to Check If Your Green Meter Case Qualifies
If you applied for net metering before February 9, 2026, here is what to check:
- Confirm that your demand notice was paid before February 9, 2026
- Confirm you received your net metering licence
- Confirm your meter was physically replaced or reprogrammed
- Confirm your Meter Change Order (MCO) was completed, where applicable
If all four are done and your connection still has not been added to the billing system, your case falls under the category this new directive is meant to resolve. You can follow up directly with your local DISCO office, since verification and system updates are being carried out at the DISCO and PITC level.
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What This Means for Solar Consumers in Pakistan
For households and businesses that installed solar systems and applied for a green meter before the regulatory change, this directive is a positive sign that the backlog is being taken seriously again. It does not create new rights or change the rules; it is essentially an enforcement push to make sure DISCOs and PITC actually implement the protections that NEPRA and the Power Division had already promised earlier in the year.
For anyone applying for net metering now, it is worth remembering that new applications are processed under the net billing framework, which pays a lower rate for exported electricity compared to the older system.
Given how often the net metering rules have been amended in 2026, it is a good idea to keep your demand notice payment receipt, net metering licence, and MCO documents safe, since these are exactly the records DISCOs will use to verify your eligibility.