PESCO Net Metering: How to Apply in Peshawar and KPK
Net metering lets you export surplus solar electricity to the grid and receive bill credit. For the national overview, see our Pakistan net metering guide. This page covers the specific process for PESCO, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company.
PESCO Service Area
PESCO serves the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province including Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Bannu, and the merged tribal districts. KPK receives 4.5-5.3 peak sun hours daily depending on elevation and district. Peshawar and southern KPK districts like DI Khan and Bannu receive the highest irradiance. Northern areas like Abbottabad and Swat receive slightly less but still produce strong returns.
PESCO faces significant load shedding, especially in rural areas and merged districts. Solar adoption in KPK has accelerated rapidly since 2024.
Eligibility
• Connection type: Residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural consumers with an active PESCO connection.
• System capacity: Minimum 1 kW. Maximum up to sanctioned load.
• Meter: Bidirectional net meter supplied and installed by PESCO at the applicant’s cost.
• Inverter: Grid-tied with anti-islanding protection. IEC 62109 certification required.
• Installer: PEC-registered solar contractor with a valid licence.
Step-by-Step Application Process
1. Submit Your Application
PESCO accepts applications at its divisional and sub-divisional offices. The head office is at Wapda House, Peshawar. For Mardan, Abbottabad, Swat, DI Khan, and other districts, submit at the respective divisional offices. In-person submission is the standard route.
2. Required Documents
• Applicant’s CNIC copy (front and back)
• Latest PESCO electricity bill
• Single-line diagram (SLD) signed by a PEC-registered engineer
• System specifications: panel model, wattage, quantity, inverter model and capacity
• PEC licence copy of the installing contractor
• Inverter datasheet with anti-islanding compliance
• Panel IEC compliance certificates
• Prescribed PESCO/NEPRA application form
• Indemnity bond on stamp paper
3. Application Fee
PESCO charges a processing fee of approximately PKR 15,000-20,000 for residential systems up to 10 kW. The bidirectional meter cost is additional, typically PKR 8,000-15,000 depending on phase configuration. Fees are payable at the time of application.
4. Technical Review and Site Inspection
PESCO reviews documents and schedules a site inspection. The team verifies system capacity, inverter configuration, wiring, earthing, and protection devices. Inspection scheduling in Peshawar city takes 20-35 days. Remote districts in tribal areas may take 40-60 days.
5. Agreement and Meter Installation
After passing inspection, PESCO executes the net metering agreement and installs the bidirectional meter. Timeline: 45-90 days. Peshawar city processes faster than outlying districts. Peak season (March-June) adds 2-4 weeks to processing times.
Net Metering vs Net Billing Under NEPRA 2026 Rules
Under NEPRA’s 2026 prosumer regulations, new PESCO connections operate under net billing. Surplus electricity exported to the grid earns approximately Rs. 11 per unit. Imported electricity is charged at PESCO’s residential tariff of Rs. 48-58 per unit depending on consumption slab.
Self-consumed solar still saves you the full retail rate. System sizing to match your daytime load is critical for maximising savings. SOL AI tracks your generation and self-consumption ratio in real time.
How to Check Application Status
Contact your PESCO sub-division office with your application reference number. The PESCO helpline is 118. For Peshawar city, Wapda House handles escalations. For other districts, contact the divisional office directly. In-person follow-up yields the best results in PESCO territory.
Common Issues and How to Avoid Them
• Grid instability in merged districts: The former tribal areas have unreliable grid supply. PESCO inspectors test anti-islanding rigorously. Ensure your inverter’s protection settings are correctly configured before the inspection.
• Winter shading at elevation: Properties in Abbottabad, Swat, and northern areas may have mountain shading during winter months. Provide a shade analysis with your application if your site has terrain obstructions.
• Transformer capacity in rural areas: Small distribution transformers in villages may limit net metering approvals. Check with your local PESCO lineman before designing a large system.
• Seasonal weather delays: Northern KPK districts experience heavy winter snowfall. PESCO inspections in Swat, Dir, and Chitral may be delayed from December through February.
• Document language: All technical documents should be in English. SLDs and specifications in Urdu may face additional scrutiny or rejection.
Solar Citizen Handles the Entire Process
Every solar system we install in PESCO territory includes the complete net metering application at no additional cost. We prepare all documentation, submit the application at the relevant PESCO office, coordinate the inspection, and follow through until your bidirectional meter is active.
KPK’s growing solar adoption reflects simple economics. High electricity bills plus strong irradiance equals fast payback. We handle the PESCO process so you start saving sooner.