One of the biggest misconceptions about going solar is that any electricity you don’t use during the day is simply wasted. In Punjab, that’s not the case, thanks to net metering, a policy that lets solar system owners feed unused electricity back into the grid and get credited for it on their WAPDA/LESCO bill. Here’s exactly how it works, and what you need in place to qualify.

What Net Metering Actually Means

A net metering connection uses a bidirectional meter that tracks electricity flowing both ways, from the grid to your property, and from your solar panels back to the grid when you’re generating more than you’re using. At the end of each billing cycle, you’re only billed for the net difference between what you drew from the grid and what you exported to it. During sunny daytime hours when your panels are producing more than your building needs, especially common for offices and factories that use most of their power at night or on weekends, that surplus effectively reduces your bill.

Who Can Apply

Net metering is available to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers connected to LESCO or other DISCOs across Punjab, provided the solar system is professionally installed and meets NEPRA’s technical standards. The process is regulated but well-established at this point, thousands of net metering connections have already been approved across the province.

The Net Metering Process, Step by Step

1. System design and installation: Your solar system must be sized and installed according to NEPRA-approved standards, with components (inverter especially) that support bidirectional metering.
2. Application submission: An application is submitted to your local DISCO (LESCO in most of Lahore) along with required technical documentation.
3. Site inspection: LESCO inspects the installation to confirm it meets safety and technical requirements.
4. Bidirectional meter installation: Once approved, your existing meter is replaced with a net meter that tracks import and export separately.
5. Billing begins: From this point, your monthly bill reflects the net of what you drew from and exported to the grid.

Why Professional Installation Matters for Net Metering Specifically

Net metering applications are commonly delayed or rejected because of documentation errors or a system that doesn’t meet technical specifications, not because of the policy itself. An experienced installer handles the correct system sizing, inverter selection, and paperwork so the application goes through cleanly the first time, rather than bouncing back and forth with LESCO over avoidable technical issues.

What This Means for Your Long-Term Savings

Without net metering, any solar power you generate but don’t immediately use is simply lost. With it, that surplus keeps working for you, offsetting future consumption instead of going to waste. For businesses with predictable daytime usage patterns and factories running solar alongside grid power, this materially changes the economics of going solar, which is why getting the net metering setup right from day one matters as much as the panels themselves.

Israintech provides free engineer site surveys and handles the full net metering process with LESCO/WAPDA as part of every commercial and industrial solar installation. Learn more about our solar solutions or get in touch for a free consultation.