Net metering, as originally implemented, worked brilliantly when penetration was low. But with solar now mainstream in urban Pakistan, the rules were bound to change.
Selling Solar Energy Back to WAPDA — Now Through Net Billing
The future model is no longer classic net metering. It is net billing / gross metering.
I’ve explained this in detail here:
👉 Sell Solar Energy Back to WAPDA – Gross / Net Billing Explained
What Changes Under Net Billing?
- Solar energy exported to the grid is credited at a lower, market-linked rate
- Imported electricity is billed at the full retail tariff
- Self-consumption becomes more valuable than export
This flips the old mindset. Solar is no longer about “sending units to WAPDA.” It’s about using every possible unit yourself.
Good News: Existing On-Grid Systems Are NOT Dead
One of the biggest myths I hear daily:
“If net metering ends, my on-grid system becomes useless.”
That is simply incorrect.
With the right engineering approach, existing grid-tied systems can be converted into high-productivity assets—even without exporting a single unit.
No-Export Operation: Maximum Productivity, Zero Policy Risk
The most immediate and compliant solution is deploying No-Export Devices.
How No-Export Works
- Solar generation is dynamically limited to match on-site load
- Zero power flows back to the grid
- DISCO permissions are not required for export
In multiple commercial retrofits I’ve executed, no-export control preserved 80–90% of daytime solar utilization while eliminating regulatory exposure.
