How to Read Your WAPDA Green Meter Bill in 2026: Complete Line-by-Line Guide

By PSI Editorial • June 8, 2026

Atomic Summary: Your green meter (bi-directional meter) bill has three key reading types: Imported Peak units (grid power consumed during evening hours at higher rates), Imported Off-Peak units (grid power during daytime/night at lower rates), and Exported units (solar surplus sent to the grid credited at the buyback rate of approximately PKR 10/unit). Your net bill equals the cost of imported units minus the credit from exported units.

You finally got your solar system installed, the green meter is up and running, and then your first bill arrives. It looks nothing like the old WAPDA bill. There are new columns, cryptic abbreviations, and the total does not match what your installer promised. You are not alone. This is the single most confusing moment in every solar owner's journey.

This guide will walk you through every line item on your green meter bill, explain the 2026 policy changes that affect your credits, and help you verify whether your DISCO is calculating your bill correctly.

What Changed: The Old Bill vs the Green Meter Bill

Your traditional WAPDA bill had a straightforward format: units consumed multiplied by the applicable tariff slab rate, plus taxes and surcharges. The green meter bill introduces an entirely new dimension because electricity now flows in two directions.

The 5 Key Readings on Your Green Meter Bill

1. Imported Peak Units (kWh)

These are the units you consumed from the grid during peak hours. For most DISCOs (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, GEPCO, etc.), peak hours are typically defined as 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM during summer and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM during winter. These hours are when your solar panels produce zero energy, so every watt comes from the grid at the highest tariff rate.

Alert: Peak units are billed at the highest slab rate and cannot be offset by exported units in most DISCOs. This is why running heavy loads like air conditioners during evening hours will always result in a significant bill even with solar.

2. Imported Off-Peak Units (kWh)

These are units consumed from the grid during off-peak hours, which is everything outside peak hours. This includes nighttime consumption (fans, fridge, lights running from 10 PM to 6 AM) and any daytime deficit when your solar output is less than your consumption (for example, on cloudy days or when running multiple ACs simultaneously).

3. Exported Units (kWh)

This is the surplus solar electricity your system pushed back to the grid. This happens during sunny daytime hours when your panels generate more than your home consumes. These units generate a credit on your bill.

4. Net Units

Under the original net metering policy, net units were simply: Imported Off-Peak minus Exported. If you exported more than you imported, the excess was carried forward as a credit to the next billing cycle.

Under the 2025/2026 net billing policy, the calculation has changed significantly. Imported and exported units are now valued separately (see the section below on policy changes).

5. Fixed Charges and Surcharges

These appear on every bill regardless of your solar production:

• Monthly Fixed Charges: Rs. 75 for single-phase, Rs. 150 for three-phase connections (varies by DISCO and sanctioned load).
• TV Fee: Rs. 35/month.
• GST (General Sales Tax): Applied on the total bill amount.
• FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment): Monthly variable charge based on fuel costs. Currently around Rs. 1.19/unit (June 2026).
• QTA (Quarterly Tariff Adjustment): Quarterly revision. A Rs. 1.99/unit reduction is effective June to August 2026.
• Electricity Duty and other provincial taxes.

Critical 2026 Policy Change: Net Metering vs Net Billing

This is the most important section of this guide. The rules have changed, and many solar owners are getting bills they do not expect.

How the Old Policy Worked (Pre-2025)

Under the original NEPRA net metering regulations, your exported units were credited at the same retail rate as your imported units. If you exported 300 units and imported 200 units during off-peak hours, you paid for zero off-peak units and carried forward 100 units of credit.

How the New Policy Works (2025/2026 Onwards)

Under the new net billing framework:

• Imported units are charged at the full retail slab rate (Rs. 28 to 47/unit depending on your consumption).
• Exported units are credited at a fixed buyback rate of approximately Rs. 10/unit.
• The credit for your exports is significantly less than the cost of your imports.

Here is a practical example:

Alert: The shift from net metering to net billing means that self-consumption is now far more valuable than exporting. Run your heavy loads (washing machine, water pump, iron, air conditioner) during peak solar hours (10 AM to 3 PM) to maximize savings.

How to Verify Your Bill Is Correct

Many solar owners suspect billing errors. Here is how to check:

1. Read your bi-directional meter directly. Most green meters display imported and exported readings separately. Press the button to cycle through screens. Write down the readings on the 1st of each month.
2. Compare with your inverter app. Your Solis Cloud, Growatt ShinePhone, or Huawei FusionSolar app tracks daily, monthly, and total generation. Compare the app's "Grid Export" figure with the meter reading.
3. Calculate manually. Multiply imported off-peak units by your slab rate, imported peak units by the peak rate, and subtract exported units multiplied by the buyback rate.
4. Check for minimum charges. Even with zero net consumption, you will still pay minimum fixed charges (Rs. 75 to 150), TV fee, and applicable taxes.
5. If you find discrepancies, file a complaint with your DISCO (LESCO, IESCO, etc.) and request a meter reading audit. You have the right to a manual meter test.

Maximizing Savings Under the New Policy

Since exported units are now worth far less than self-consumed units, the optimal strategy has shifted:

• Shift heavy loads to daytime: Run your washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, and iron between 10 AM and 3 PM.
• Cool your home before sunset: Set your AC to a lower temperature at 3 PM so the house is pre-cooled by the time solar production drops at 5 PM.
• Consider battery storage: With the buyback rate at Rs. 10/unit, storing excess solar in a lithium battery and using it at night is now more profitable than exporting. A 5kWh battery pays for itself faster under the new policy.
• Monitor daily: Use your inverter app to track how many units you are exporting. If exports are high, you have room to increase daytime consumption.

For a detailed analysis of whether net metering still makes financial sense for your specific system size, use our net metering savings calculator.

Understanding Your Tariff Slab (June 2026)

Your imported units are charged based on the NEPRA residential tariff slabs. Here are the current base variable charges:

These base rates are further adjusted with FCA, QTA, GST, and other surcharges, so the effective rate is typically Rs. 5 to 10 higher than the base.

Conclusion

Reading your green meter bill is not as complicated as it first appears. The key is understanding the three core readings (imported peak, imported off-peak, and exported), knowing the current buyback rate for your exports, and shifting your consumption habits to maximize self-consumption under the 2026 net billing framework.

If your bill seems higher than expected after going solar, do not panic. Check your meter readings, compare with your inverter app data, and remember that the game has changed from "export everything" to "consume everything you generate." For more strategies on reducing your electricity costs, see our guides on calculating your home solar load and understanding whether your bill increased after solar installation.

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