- Confirm eligibility before buying hardware: three-phase connection, sanctioned load, inverter type, and DISCO feasibility matter.
- Ask for every submitted form and drawing; the file is in your name, not only the installer's.
- NEPRA's 2026 process includes DISCO acknowledgement, review, agreement, demand notice, commissioning, and concurrence steps.
- For 25 kW or less, the current NEPRA concurrence-fee notification lists nil fee; above 25 kW it lists Rs. 1,000/kW.
Quick answer
A green meter is the common market name for a bidirectional or approved import/export metering setup. It records electricity coming from the grid and surplus electricity going to the grid. Under the 2026 prosumer framework, that metering feeds the net billing calculation.
Do not treat the green meter as an accessory that can be added after the solar system is already running. Your system design, inverter choice, sanctioned load, protection gear, drawings, DISCO approval, and meter commissioning all connect to the same file.
Eligibility checks before you pay an advance
The practical eligibility screen starts with your electricity connection. Ministry guidance for net metering has long emphasized a three-phase connection and a bidirectional meter. NEPRA's 2026 regulations define eligible applicants as certain 3-phase 400V or 11kV consumers and cap the proposed distributed generation facility at the sanctioned load of the premises, unless later revised by notification.
Also ask the installer to check local transformer capacity and DISCO constraints. NEPRA's 2026 regulations say the licensee should not entertain an application where distributed generation capacity connected to a particular distribution transformer has reached 80% of its rated capacity.
- Name on bill and CNIC/company record match or name-change path is clear.
- Connection is three-phase or the upgrade cost and timeline are known.
- Sanctioned load supports the proposed solar capacity.
- Inverter model is acceptable for the filing route and system type.
- Local transformer and feeder constraints are checked before quote finalization.
Documents to keep ready
Exact file requirements vary by DISCO, city, consumer category, and current portal/process. Still, the same document families appear repeatedly in NEPRA schedules and DISCO checklists: consumer identity, electricity bill, application forms, agreement, technical data, drawings, site plan, affidavit, and payment evidence where applicable.
Ask your installer for a PDF copy or scanned copy of the final submitted file. If there is a future billing dispute, capacity change, inverter replacement, property sale, or complaint, those documents matter.
| Document group | Examples to request |
|---|---|
| Consumer identity | CNIC/NTN/company documents, contact details, ownership or occupancy proof if required |
| Billing record | Latest paid electricity bill, reference number, sanctioned load, tariff category |
| Technical file | Panel and inverter datasheets, capacity, serials, single-line diagram, protection details |
| Site details | Address, roof/site plan, disconnect switch location, earthing/protection placement |
| Regulatory forms | Application, interconnection agreement, concurrence/licence documents, affidavit where required |
| Payment evidence | Demand notice, meter/interconnection charges, applicable fee receipts |
Application flow under the 2026 framework
NEPRA's 2026 regulations set a staged process. The applicant submits the application and documents to the licensee. The licensee acknowledges receipt and flags missing information. After a complete file, the licensee conducts initial review and technical feasibility checks. If accepted, the licensee and applicant sign the agreement, charges are estimated and paid, and interconnection/metering is installed and commissioned before the billing arrangement begins with concurrence.
In the real world, follow-up still matters. Keep dates, challans, demand notice, inspection notes, and meter details. When the first post-commissioning bill arrives, compare import/export registers with meter readings and inverter monitoring.
- File submission to DISCO/licensee.
- Acknowledgement and missing-document correction.
- Initial technical review and feasibility check.
- Agreement signing and copy sent for authority concurrence.
- Demand notice/payment for interconnection and meter work.
- Installation, testing, commissioning, and billing start.
- First bill verification against meter registers.
Fees and charges to clarify
NEPRA's April 2026 fee notification states that an application for concurrence is accompanied by nil fee for a DG facility of 25 kW or less, and Rs. 1,000 per kW above 25 kW as a one-time fee in favor of NEPRA. This is separate from real-world interconnection, metering, wiring, testing, service cable, and DISCO demand-notice costs.
A quote that says green meter included should still explain what is included: meter cost, testing, application service, drawings, visit charges, demand notice, service cable, protection gear, and any correction work required by the DISCO.
Post-approval handover checklist
The project is not complete when panels are mounted. It is complete when the system is safely commissioned, monitoring works, documents are handed over, and the bill shows the correct import/export treatment.
- Signed agreement, concurrence/licence/approval copy, and demand notice receipts.
- Panel serial list, inverter serial, warranties, datasheets, and monitoring login.
- Single-line diagram, protection layout, earthing details, and breaker labels.
- Meter number, import/export register photos, commissioning date, and first-bill check.
- Written process for inverter fault, panel replacement, capacity expansion, and complaint escalation.
FAQ
Is a green meter the same as net billing?
No. Green meter is the common name for the metering setup. Net billing is the billing mechanism that values imported and exported electricity under the applicable rules.
Can I apply with a single-phase connection?
Power Division guidance says a three-phase connection is mandatory for net metering. If your home is single-phase, price and time the three-phase upgrade before finalizing the solar package.
Who should submit the DISCO application?
Usually the installer/EPC prepares and submits it, but it is your consumer reference and your agreement. You should keep copies and understand what is submitted.