NEPRA revises solar rules for existing users

NEPRA has amended its Solar Regulations 2026 to protect existing net metering approvals and agreements. The regulator said earlier billing terms will continue until current agreements expire, but major system modifications will not retain the same benefits.

Islamabad: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has amended its Solar Regulations 2026, stating that approvals, licences, concurrences and agreements issued under the previous framework will remain protected for existing net metering consumers.

According to the notification, nothing in the revised rules will disturb arrangements already granted under the repealed regulations. It states that nothing shall affect approvals granted, licences or concurrences issued, and agreements executed under the repealed regulations. The change provides assurance to consumers whose solar systems had already been approved under the earlier regime.

NEPRA also said distributed generators operating under valid agreements will continue to be billed under the earlier structure until those agreements expire. The notification says such consumers shall be billed in accordance with the rate and mechanism provided in the repealed regulations till the expiry of the term of such agreement.

The amendment, however, places limits on changes to existing systems. NEPRA said the financial benefits available under earlier arrangements will not continue where there is a material modification of distributed generation facility resulting in change to the maximum electrical output. This means consumers seeking to expand or otherwise significantly alter their systems will not retain the same advantages attached to the previous framework.

The regulator further said the amended provision shall be deemed to have taken effect on 9th February, 2026. The notification therefore gives retrospective effect to the revised provision from that date.

Policy shift on solar billing

The latest clarification comes after NEPRA had earlier decided to end the unit-for-unit net metering regime and move toward a net billing system for new as well as existing solar users. That earlier decision had raised concerns among consumers and stakeholders in the solar industry.

With the latest amendment, the regulator has maintained protections for those already operating under existing agreements, while drawing a clear distinction for cases involving expansion or other major modifications to solar installations.

The move comes amid broader changes in the power sector as Pakistan faces rising electricity costs and an increasing shift toward distributed renewable energy generation. In this context, the revised regulations seek to preserve continuity for current users while tightening the framework governing future changes to installed systems.