The NEPRA Solar Licence requirement does not apply to off-grid solar consumers in Pakistan, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority clarified on Saturday. The regulator said users who are not connected to the national grid do not need a licence, while grid-connected solar consumers under net metering or net billing remain covered by NEPRA rules.
Off-grid solar users do not need a NEPRA licence. Pending net metering applications submitted by February 8, 2026, are being processed under earlier rules, while new grid-connected solar users fall under the net billing framework and must follow NEPRA approval requirements.
NEPRA officials said the regulator’s rules cannot be applied to solar users who operate independently of the national grid. That means a house, farm, shop or small business using standalone solar power does not need NEPRA approval simply for generating its own electricity.
The important test is the grid connection. If a consumer exports electricity to a Disco network or adjusts electricity bills through a formal arrangement, the system comes under net metering or net billing rules.
Read: Net Metering Policy Not Changed For Existing Solar Consumers
The clarification is significant because rooftop solar has expanded quickly across Pakistan, and policy changes often create confusion for new buyers. For consumers, the first question is no longer just system size; it is whether the system is off-grid or linked to the national grid.
What Changed For Grid-Connected Solar Consumers?
Under the earlier process, solar users with systems up to 25 kilowatts received approvals from their respective distribution companies, commonly known as Discos, and no NEPRA fee applied within that capacity range. NEPRA issued licences mainly for solar systems above 25kW.
The revised rules expand NEPRA licensing to smaller grid-connected systems as well. Officials said licences for systems of 25kW or less will now be issued by the regulator, with a fee of Rs 1,000 per kilowatt.
That means a 10kW on-grid rooftop solar system would face a Rs10,000 licence fee, while a 20kW system would face a Rs20,000 licence fee. The charge is especially relevant for households, schools, shops and small commercial users planning fresh solar installations.
