Solar net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. In Pakistan, NEPRA regulates net metering, allowing residential and commercial consumers to offset their electricity bills by exporting excess solar energy to their local DISCO (like LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, etc.).
How Net Metering Works in Pakistan
- Generation: Your solar panels generate DC electricity, which is converted to AC by a grid-tied solar inverter.
- Self-Consumption: Your home uses the solar energy first.
- Export: Excess electricity is sent to the national grid through a bidirectional green meter.
- Billing Credit: Your DISCO records both imported units (from grid) and exported units (to grid). You are billed only for the “net” consumption. If you export more than you import, the credit is carried forward to the next month or paid out quarterly based on NEPRA’s off-peak tariff.
Requirements for Net Metering
- A three-phase electricity connection.
- A solar system capacity between 1 kW and 1 MW.
- An inverter approved by AEDB (Alternative Energy Development Board).
Steps to Apply
- Feasibility Study: Hire an AEDB-certified solar company to conduct a site assessment.
- Application Submission: Submit the net metering application (Form-I) to your local DISCO office along with layout diagrams and inverter specs.
- Inspection & Approval: The DISCO team inspects your installation for safety and grid compatibility.
- Agreement: Sign a three-party net metering agreement with the DISCO.
- Green Meter Installation: Pay the connection fee, and the DISCO will install the bidirectional meter.