Solar savings in Pakistan now come mostly from the electricity you avoid buying, not from what you sell. That single fact, introduced with net billing in February 2026, decides how much you save and how big your system should be. This page shows the real arithmetic at SNM’s published prices.
The two numbers that matter
- A unit you use yourself saves Rs 55 to 65, the full retail tariff you would otherwise pay.
- A unit you export earns about Rs 11, the rate set under net billing since 9 February 2026.
Self-consumption is worth roughly five times as much as export. Everything else follows from that.
What a system generates
Expect about four units per kW per day averaged across the year in Punjab. Summer runs higher; December and January smog days run lower.
| System | Per day | Per month | On-grid price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | 20 units | 600 units | Rs 350,000 |
| 10 kW | 40 units | 1,200 units | Rs 700,000 |
| 15 kW | 60 units | 1,800 units | Rs 1,050,000 |
| 20 kW | 80 units | 2,400 units | Rs 1,400,000 |
Work out your own number
- Take your monthly units from your bill.
- Estimate the share you use during daylight. A family home with someone in during the day is often 50 to 60 percent; an empty house is much less.
- Multiply the daytime share by about Rs 60. That is your main saving.
- Multiply the surplus you would export by about Rs 11 and add it.
Worked example. A home using 1,200 units a month installs 10 kW, which generates about 1,200 units. If 700 of those are consumed as they are produced, that is roughly Rs 42,000 saved. If 500 are exported, that adds about Rs 5,500. Night-time consumption still comes from the grid unless a battery covers it.
Why oversizing no longer pays
Under the old net metering rules, extra panels exported at close to retail value, so bigger was better. Now surplus earns Rs 11. Beyond your daytime need, extra capacity returns very little, and your system cannot exceed your sanctioned load in any case. The better investment past that point is storage.
Payback
At SNM’s published rates of Rs 70,000 per kW on-grid and Rs 150,000 per kW hybrid, a correctly sized system returns its cost in roughly 2 to 3 years at current tariffs. We exclude the battery from that calculation because it is bought for backup as much as for savings.
What solar will not do
It will not make your bill zero. Meter rent, taxes and fixed charges remain, and night-time use comes from the grid unless you store. Anyone promising a zero bill is describing the old net metering regime, not the rules in force today.
Frequently asked questions
How much can solar save on a Pakistani electricity bill?
It depends on how much of your generation you consume yourself. Under 2026 net billing, each self-used unit saves roughly Rs 55 to 65 while exported units earn about Rs 11. A correctly sized system covering most daytime load typically removes the largest part of a bill and pays for itself in about 2 to 3 years.
How do I calculate my own solar savings?
Take your monthly units from your bill, estimate what share you use in daylight, and multiply that by roughly Rs 55 to 65. Then estimate your likely export and multiply by about Rs 11. The two added together is your monthly benefit. SNM will run this from your actual bill for free.
Will solar make my bill zero?
Rarely, and be sceptical of anyone promising it. Meter rent, taxes and fixed charges remain, and night-time consumption still comes from the grid unless you have storage. A well-sized system removes most of the variable cost, which is where the money is.
How many units does a solar system produce in Pakistan?
About four units per kW per day averaged across the year. So 10 kW gives roughly 40 units a day, 1,200 a month. Summer is higher, and winter smog days in Lahore are lower.
Is the payback still 2 to 3 years after net billing?
Yes, for a system sized to daytime consumption at current tariffs. Oversized systems that export heavily now take considerably longer, which is exactly why sizing matters more than it used to.
Want your real number, not an estimate?
Send your latest electricity bill to 0321 878 3630. SNM Solutions will calculate your actual saving from your own usage and send an itemised quote, free.