Net Metering Payback Period Calculator
Thinking about a net metered solar system? Enter your system cost, import and export units and current tariffs to estimate your monthly savings, payback period and 10-year net savings for Pakistan.
Your system and usage
Units your meter sends back to the grid each month.
Units you still buy from the grid, mostly at night.
Check your latest DISCO bill for the current rate.
Results
Enter your values and press Calculate payback to see the results.
Monthly savings
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Yearly savings
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Payback period
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10-year net savings
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Monthly bill breakdown
| Item | Amount (Rs) |
|---|---|
| Bill before solar | — |
| Import cost (units × import tariff) | — |
| Export credit (units × export rate) | — |
| New monthly bill after net metering | — |
Payback progress (10-year horizon)
How net metering works in Pakistan
- Install a grid-tied system. A NEPRA-registered installer fits solar panels with an on-grid inverter.
- Apply to your DISCO. Submit a net metering application to your distribution company (LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, FESCO, MEPCO, etc.) with your CNIC, latest bill and system documents.
- Get a bi-directional meter. After inspection the DISCO installs a meter that records both imported and exported units.
- Exported units earn credit. Daytime extra units go to the grid and are credited at the NEPRA export rate, reducing your monthly bill. If exports exceed imports over the billing period, the surplus can be carried forward or adjusted as per current rules.
The export rate is revised by NEPRA from time to time. Always use the rate printed on your most recent DISCO bill when estimating payback, because older rates shown online may be outdated.
Panel maintenance tips that protect your payback
- Clean panels every 2 to 4 weeks in dusty cities. A thin dust layer can cut generation by 10 to 25 percent.
- Wash with clean water early morning or late evening. Avoid hot midday cleaning, which can stress the glass.
- Trim overhanging branches so no panel stays shaded for long; even partial shading cuts string output sharply.
- Check the inverter display weekly for error codes and confirm generation matches the season.
- Ask your installer for a yearly inspection: wiring, mounting bolts, earthing and inverter fan cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
A grid-tied solar system with a bi-directional meter sends extra daytime units back to the grid. Your DISCO credits exported units against imported units in the monthly bill under NEPRA net metering rules.
Exported units are credited at a rate set by NEPRA which changes from time to time. Enter the current rate from your latest DISCO bill into the calculator for an accurate estimate.
Payback period equals the total installed system cost divided by the monthly savings. Monthly savings equal your old electricity bill minus the new bill after net metering credits are applied.
In dusty cities clean panels every 2 to 4 weeks. Dust and bird droppings can reduce generation by 10 to 25 percent, so regular cleaning directly protects your payback period.