The green meter in Pakistan is a system through which consumers of solar energy can send the excess energy generated by their systems back to the national grid. This export of energy is exchanged for either monetary benefits, electricity bill adjustments, or credits. This is an amazing system to save both the consumers’ electricity costs and the country’s resources. On this page you will find all the information about green meters, from how they work to how to adopt and read them.
Everything You Need to Know About Green Meter Bills in Pakistan
The units exported and imported are recorded in real time and appear in the green meter bill. Consumers can have the following benefits from this system:
- Earn credits for exporting more units than they consume.
- Credits can be converted into cash if saved long enough.
- Get a discount in next month’s electricity bill equal to the price of extra exported units.
- Monetary benefit is also possible, equal to the rate of difference of imported and exported units.
Green Meter Price in Pakistan
The green meter price in Pakistan varies depending on many factors, including the solar system brand and size, installation requirements, installer, region, and NEPRA’s updated policies. To estimate an average, these things make up the total cost of a green meter: A single-phase meter from popular brands like KBK and Transfopower may cost Rs. 38,500–Rs. 42,000, while a three-phase meter costs Rs. 42,000–Rs. 45,000.
Other than that, there might be around Rs. 30,000–35,000 in AEDB file processing charges, installer service charges, and around Rs. 10,000 in three-phase cabling & wiring costs. All of this makes up approx. Rs. 120,000 and above total cost for a complete net metering setup.
Green Meter Reading
Green meter reading can be done by following its instruction manual. Upon starting, you will find a total of 32 options in the green meter. But the initial 8 basic functions are necessary for regular green meter users:
- Date
- Time
- Total electricity unit import in kw/h
- Total electricity unit export in kw/h
- Electricity unit import during peak hours
- Electricity unit export during peak hours (None because no solar energy is produced in the dark hours)
- Electricity unit import during off-peak hours
- Electricity unit export during off-peak hours
Green Meter Bill Calculator
A green meter bill calculator is an online tool that helps users to estimate their monthly green meter bill by taking these factors into account:
- Imported electricity units
- Exported electricity units back to the grid
- Per-unit price
- Peak and off-peak hours consumption and export
Green Meter Unit Price
Under net metering in Pakistan, the unit price is the compensation rate for electricity exported to the grid. NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) standardizes the green meter unit price. According to current NEPRA standards, the rate at which a unit is sold through the green meter is Rs. 19.32 per kWh (kilowatt-hour). This rate applies to K-Electric and all other DISCOs (WAPDA-affiliated distribution companies). The unit price directly affects your electricity bill savings and credits earned.
Green Meter Peak Hours
Peak hours refer to the duration in a day, usually 4-5 hours, when the per-unit electricity consumption prices spike due to high demand. This is why understanding green meter peak hours is important because it can highly impact your electricity bill due to TOU (time-of-use) tariffs and differences in per-unit charges depending on when you use electricity.
The normal peak hours (Sep–May) are from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and summer peak hours (June–August) are from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Understanding them also helps in mindful consumption of electricity when the load on the national grid is already high. So, even if you are consuming the usual units of energy during off-peak hours, try to avoid heavy electricity usage during peak hours. Your pocket will thank you later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check the green meter reading?
Green meter readings can be checked by observing the meter display, which shows the time, date, and units imported and exported during peak and off-peak hours. For more instructions, you can refer to the manual or electricity provider.
How to apply for a green meter online?
Install 3kW or above solar panels and an inverter, choose an AEDB-approved installer, visit your distribution company’s website (e.g., LESCO, MEPCO, IESCO), download the online application form, attach required documents and undertaking along with the demand notice payment, allow site inspection, and get your green meter installed and activated.
How to check export units in the green meter?
The units you have exported back to the grid can be seen on the green meter display, which shows the real-time information of both peak and off-peak hours. For assistance, you can also refer to the manual or electricity provider.