QESCO Net Metering Application Guide

Key Takeaways

• The core net metering procedure and billing rules are set nationally by NEPRA, not QESCO.
• The NEPRA concurrence fee is Nil for systems 25 kW or less, and Rs. 1,000 per kW for larger systems.
• Your system's capacity cannot exceed your sanctioned load, and QESCO will not approve connections if the local distribution transformer is at 80% capacity.
• We read NEPRA's S.R.O. 709 dated 28 April 2026, and the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026 (S.R.O. 251(I)/2026) and its amendment S.R.O. 1330(I)-2026, effective 9 February 2026 and 6 August 2026 respectively.

Your Net Metering Application with QESCO

Applying for net metering with Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) involves following procedures set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). These procedures are outlined in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, which came into force on February 9, 2026. This guide details the process for consumers within QESCO's service territory.

What Net Metering Is in Pakistan

Net metering in Pakistan operates under a "net billing arrangement," as defined by the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations, 2026. This means you, as a "prosumer," generate electricity, primarily from solar, for your own consumption and can export any excess to the grid.

The regulations define a "distributed generation facility” or “DG facility” as "a facility set up by a prosumer using solar, wind or biogas energy resource for generation of electricity up to 1 MW." A "prosumer” is "an applicant who has entered into an agreement with licensee for distributed generation."

Under this arrangement, electricity you draw from QESCO is billed at your applicable tariff. Electricity you supply to QESCO is billed at the national average energy purchase price. If the amount you are owed for exports exceeds your bill for imports, the net amount is credited against your next billing cycle or paid quarterly by QESCO. For a detailed explanation of the shift from net metering to net billing, refer to our guide on Net Metering vs. Net Billing Pakistan: What Changed Feb 2026.

Eligibility for Net Metering in QESCO Territory

To be eligible for net metering with QESCO, you must meet the criteria set by NEPRA.

1. Consumer Type: You must be "a 3 phase 400V or 11kV domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, general services consumer or a single point bulk supply consumer of a licensee." QESCO publishes its Schedule of Electricity Tariffs, including S.R.O 1039 (I)/2024, effective July 2024, for various categories like Residential (A-1), Commercial (A-2), Industrial (B), and Agricultural (D) on its website. Understanding your tariff category is important for calculating your potential savings; you can learn more in our guide on Electricity Slab Tariffs Explained.
2. Capacity Limit: "The capacity of a proposed distributed generation facility shall not exceed the sanctioned load of the applicant’s premises." NEPRA retains the right to "revise the capacity of proposed distributed generation facility at any time through a notification."
3. Distribution Transformer Capacity: QESCO, like other DISCOs, "shall not entertain any application if the distributed generation capacity connected to a particular distribution transformer has reached 80% of its rated capacity."
4. Load Flow Study: If your proposed DG facility has an "installed capacity of 250 kW or above," you are "obligated to conduct and submit a load flow study carried out through the licensee or any reputable consultant registered with Pakistan Engineering Council."

The QESCO Net Metering Application Process

The application process for net metering in QESCO territory largely follows the national procedure established by NEPRA. QESCO provides links to its Net Metering SOP, Flow Chart of Interconnection Process, and a Checklist for Filing Net Metering Applications on its website.

1. Application Submission: You submit an application to QESCO. The NEPRA Prosumer Regulations, 2026, specify that "within five working days of receiving an application, the licensee shall acknowledge its receipt and inform the applicant whether the application is complete in all respect." If there is "any missing information or documents, the applicant shall provide the same to licensee within three working days of being informed by licensee."
2. Initial Review: QESCO completes an "initial review" of your application "within fifteen working days."
3. Feasibility Check: If the "initial review reveals that the proposed facility is not technically feasible, the licensee shall return the application and communicate the reasons to the applicant within three working days after the completion of initial review."
4. Agreement Signing: If feasible, "the licensee and the applicant shall enter into an agreement within seven working days" after you fulfill all requirements. QESCO "shall send a copy of the agreement to the Authority within seven working days of the signing of the agreement." The initial term of this agreement is "five years with effect from date of commissioning of distributed generation facility," and it "may be renewed between the prosumer and the licensee for another term of five years and so on with mutual consent."
5. Concurrence:

• • For DG facilities "of 25 kW or below capacity," you "shall not be required to seek concurrence from the Authority and the concerned licensee shall accord its approval." This exemption is effective from August 6, 2026, as per S.R.O. 1330(I)-2026.
  • For facilities above 25 kW, you "shall seek concurrence of the Authority." NEPRA "may... accord concurrence to the prosumer within seven working days after receipt of requisite documents."
  • If you "fails to commence distributed generation within six months of grant of concurrence, it shall be required to obtain fresh concurrence."

6. Connection Charge Estimate: "Within seven working days of execution of the agreement, the licensee shall issue the connection charge estimate to the prosumer."
7. Payment: You "shall make the payment of connection charge estimate within seven working days of its issuance."
8. Installation and Commissioning: QESCO "shall install and commission the proposed interconnection facility within fifteen working days of the payment of demand notice by the prosumer."
9. Metering: The "equipment installed for metering shall be capable of accurately measuring the flow of electricity in two directions." If "two separate meters are installed, the energy metering calculation shall yield the same result as when a single meter is used."
10. Protection Requirements: Your system's "protection and control diagrams... shall be in accordance with the provisions of the applicable documents and approved by the licensee prior to commissioning." Grid-connected inverters and generators "shall comply with Underwriter Laboratories UL 1741 standard... in accordance with all applicable international standards as may be notified by the Authority from time to time." You are responsible for installing a "manual disconnect device that has a visual break to isolate the distributed generation facility from the distribution facilities."

Fees and Costs for Net Metering

The primary fee for net metering is set nationally by NEPRA, while other costs are related to the physical installation and interconnection.

What is Set Nationally and What is Specific to QESCO

The framework for net metering in Pakistan is primarily established by NEPRA, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. This means that the fundamental procedures, eligibility criteria, billing mechanisms, and fees apply uniformly across all Distribution Companies (DISCOs), including QESCO.

National Rules (Set by NEPRA):

• Regulations: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, govern the entire process. You can read a plain English and Urdu explanation in our guide on the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026.
• Fees: The concurrence fees (Nil for 25 kW or less, Rs. 1000/- per kW above 25 kW) are set by NEPRA's S.R.O. 709.
• Billing Mechanism: The "net billing arrangement," where exports are valued at the national average energy purchase price and imports at the applicable tariff, is a national rule.
• Capacity Limits: The rule that system capacity cannot exceed sanctioned load, and the 80% distribution transformer capacity limit, are national.
• Timelines: The processing timelines for applications, agreements, and installations are mandated by NEPRA.

QESCO-Specific Details:

• Territory: QESCO serves the Quetta region.
• Tariffs: QESCO publishes its specific "SCHEDULE OF ELECTRICITY TARIFFS FOR QUETTA ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY (QESCO) S.R.O 1039 (I)/2024 July, 2024" on its website, which dictates the rates for electricity you import.
• Local Documentation: QESCO provides its own "Net Metering SOP, Single Line Diagram of Solar Rooftop Net Metering System, Flow Chart of Interconnection Process, Checklist for Filing Net Metering Applications," and lists of "QESCO Feeders" and "Feeder-wise detail for installation of Net Metering" on its website.
• New Connection Procedures: QESCO has a simplified "procedure for installation of new connections specially for general consumers of Domestic and Commercial Tariff," with application forms available in Urdu.
• Granted Concurrences: NEPRA records specific net metering concurrences granted within QESCO's territory, such as "Sana Ullah, QESCO: Concurrence No. PC/2451/2026 Prosumer, dated 18-08-2026."
• Sibling DISCOs: Other DISCOs, like MEPCO, follow the same national regulations but have their own specific tariff structures and local implementation details. You can find more information on other DISCOs in guides such as the MEPCO Net Metering Application Guide.

What the Published Rules Do Not Tell You

While the NEPRA regulations and QESCO's published information provide a clear framework, some details are not explicitly stated or readily available:

• National Average Energy Purchase Price: The exact value of the "national average energy purchase price" at which QESCO buys your exported electricity is not provided in the regulations or QESCO's net metering pages. This value is crucial for calculating the financial returns of your system.
• Other Costs: Beyond the NEPRA concurrence fee and QESCO's connection charge estimate, the documents do not provide a comprehensive list of all potential costs a prosumer might incur, such as specific meter costs, inspection fees, or internal wiring modifications.
• QESCO Application Form Contents: QESCO provides a link to a "NEPRA Net Metering Regulations & Application Form" PDF on its website. However, this PDF does not have a readable text layer, preventing us from detailing its specific contents or requirements.
• Real-world Timelines: While NEPRA sets specific working day limits for each step of the application process, actual processing times can vary. The published rules do not account for potential delays due to high application volumes or other operational factors.