Pakistan's solar market has grown quickly, and so has the number of installers. Some are engineering-led EPC firms. Others are shop-front traders who assemble whatever is cheapest that week. The panels may look identical on the roof, but a badly designed system can underperform, trip in summer heat or void its warranties within a year.
This guide gives homeowners, businesses and industrial buyers a practical checklist, with the questions to ask at each step.
Why the right solar company matters more in 2026
Two changes have raised the stakes:
Net billing replaced net metering for new applicants on 9 February 2026. Exported units now earn only the NEPRA buyback rate (reported at roughly Rs 8–11/unit), so an oversized or poorly designed system wastes money. See net metering vs gross metering in Pakistan for the full picture.
Storage is now central to good design. A good installer should be able to show the numbers for battery vs export for your load profile. A weak one will simply add more panels.
The 10 checks before you buy solar
Check 1: Certifications, registrations and legal standing
Ask for documents, not verbal assurances:
AEDB certification for solar installers or vendors, where required. Many DISCOs expect prosumer applications to be filed through certified installers.
NTN / sales-tax registration, so you get proper invoices for warranty claims and, for businesses, tax records.
A physical office and a verifiable company history.
Red flag: "We'll use someone else's certificate for your file."
Check 2: A real site survey and load analysis
A serious company visits before quoting. The survey should record:
Roof type, orientation, tilt and shading throughout the day (water tanks, neighbouring buildings, trees)
Your past 12 months of electricity bills (summer and winter consumption)
Sanctioned load, phase (single or three), and meter type
The daytime vs night-time load split, which is critical under net billing
Critical loads that need backup during load-shedding
Red flag: a quote for "a 10 kW system" given over WhatsApp without seeing your bills.
Check 3: Named, certified equipment and datasheets
The quote should name the exact make and model of every major component, with datasheets:
Solar equipment component verification checklist
Component
What to verify
Solar panels
Tier-1 manufacturer, N-type TOPCon or better, IEC 61215/61730 certificates, 30-year linear performance warranty
Inverter
Model number, grid-code compliance, IEC 62109 safety certification, MPPT count and voltage window, local warranty support
Batteries
LiFePO4 chemistry, rated cycles at stated DoD, BMS communication compatibility with the inverter, IEC 62619 / UN38.3
Structure
Hot-dip galvanised steel or anodised aluminium, wind-load design
Cables and protection
Solar-rated DC cable (TUV/EN 50618), DC/AC breakers, SPDs, earthing
For Luminey equipment, installers can download full datasheets and compatibility lists from our support and downloads page. For example, the Monawall battery and Atrix battery list 6,000 cycles, 100% DoD and a 6+1-year warranty on their product pages.
Red flag: "A-grade panels" or "Chinese inverter, very good" with no model number.
Check 4: Correct system sizing for net billing
Under net billing, a good company sizes for self-consumption first:
Homes: match daytime load, then add storage for the evening peak rather than extra export capacity.
Offices and shops: size on-grid capacity to weekday daytime demand.
Factories: match production shifts, and consider peak shaving with storage.
Ask the installer to show expected monthly generation, self-consumed units, exported units and payback, with the buyback rate stated. Price guides such as our 5kW solar system price in Pakistan and 3kW solar system price help you see whether a quote is realistic.
How many AC can 10kW run?
This is one of the most common questions on site visits, and it is a good test of an installer's honesty. A 10 kW solar system produces around 7–8 kW at midday in real Pakistani conditions, after heat, dust and wiring losses. A 1.5-ton inverter AC draws roughly 1.2–1.6 kW at full compressor speed and less once the room cools. In practice, a 10 kW system can run:
3 × 1.5-ton inverter ACs comfortably, alongside fans, lights, a fridge and a water pump, in good sunlight
4–5 × 1.5-ton inverter ACs around midday if other loads are light
Fewer non-inverter ACs, because of higher running and startup current
The inverter rating also matters. A 10 kW inverter should not be run continuously at 100%. After sunset, AC runtime depends entirely on battery capacity.
What gauge and coating is the structure? (Hot-dip galvanised is the standard to insist on.)
How is it anchored: chemical anchors, ballast or through-bolts? How will waterproofing be protected?
What is the tilt angle? (About 15–30° for most of Pakistan, depending on latitude and priority.)
Is there walking space for panel cleaning?
For industrial sheds, ask for a structural assessment of the roof's load-bearing capacity.
Check 6: Electrical protection, earthing and safety
This is where cheap installations cut corners, and where fires start:
DC isolators and DC-rated breakers between panels and inverter
Surge protection devices (SPDs) on both the DC and AC sides
Proper earthing pits with measured resistance, recorded in the handover file
Correct cable sizing to keep voltage drop low (about 1–2% or less on DC runs)
MC4 connectors of the same brand crimped with the right tool; mixed brands are a common cause of hot-spots
Neat, UV-protected conduit routing
Check 7: Warranties in writing (product, performance and workmanship)
"25-year warranty" can mean very different things. Get each warranty in writing:
Solar warranty types, typical expectations and who honours them
Warranty type
Typical expectation
Who honours it
Panel product warranty
12–15 years
Manufacturer, through the local distributor
Panel performance warranty
25–30 years (linear degradation)
Manufacturer
Inverter warranty
5–10 years
Manufacturer or brand
Battery warranty
e.g. 6+1 years (Luminey Monawall and Atrix)
Manufacturer or brand
Workmanship / installation
1–5 years
The installer, so check this carefully
Ask: "If the inverter fails in year 3, who removes it, who ships it, and how long am I without power?"
Check 8: DISCO and NEPRA paperwork handling
Under the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, your installer should manage the full application: documents, single-line diagrams, test reports, DISCO inspection, bidirectional meter installation and the prosumer agreement. For systems above 25 kW, NEPRA concurrence is needed. Larger commercial and industrial systems may need a load-flow study.
Our detailed guide to net metering in Pakistan explains each stage, so you can check whether a company knows the process.
Check 9: After-sales service, monitoring and local support
The day of installation is the start of a 25-year relationship. Look for:
Remote monitoring through an inverter app, with the installer given access
An annual maintenance plan (cleaning, torque checks, earthing tests, firmware updates)
A service response time in writing
Brand support within Pakistan. Luminey runs customer care centres across Pakistan, reachable on UAN 0311 1777055.
Check 10: A transparent, itemised quotation and fair payment terms
A trustworthy quote lists:
Each component with brand, model and quantity
Structure, cabling and protection devices
Civil work, transport and installation
Net billing paperwork (if included)
Taxes
Milestone-based payment (for example, advance → delivery → commissioning), never 100% upfront
Mistakes to avoid when selecting a solar energy company
Choosing on price per watt alone. The cheapest quote usually saves money on the inverter, protection or structure.
Accepting "equivalent brand" substitutions at delivery without written approval.
Oversizing for export under net billing instead of adding storage.
Ignoring battery-inverter compatibility. A lithium battery without BMS communication can be under-used or damaged. Check the HV battery compatibility list.
Skipping the workmanship warranty because the panel warranty "is 25 years".
Paying in full before commissioning.
Not getting a handover file with as-built drawings, serial numbers, test results and warranty cards.
Buying an on-grid-only system when you need backup during load-shedding. Understand the difference in on-grid vs off-grid solar.
Choosing by sector: residential, commercial and industrial
For homeowners
Prioritise hybrid inverters and modular lithium storage so the system works during outages and under net billing.
LESCO processing: ask how many prosumer applications the company has completed with LESCO this year, and how long they took.
Smog and dust: panels in Lahore lose noticeable output in winter smog and summer dust. Ask for a cleaning schedule and whether it is included.
Rooftop space in dense areas (for example Gulberg, Model Town, Johar Town, DHA): check that the company designs around water tanks and neighbouring shade instead of forcing extra panels.
Summer heat above 45°C: confirm inverter placement is shaded and ventilated, and ask about the inverter's derating curve.
The same checklist works for Karachi (K-Electric), Islamabad and Rawalpindi (IESCO), Faisalabad (FESCO), Multan (MEPCO) and Peshawar (PESCO).
How to check eligibility for a solar scheme
Government schemes change often, so always use official channels:
CM Punjab Solar Scheme: eligibility has typically targeted low-consumption domestic users (for example, up to about 200 units per month) with a valid Punjab CNIC and an active DISCO connection. Registration has run through the official Punjab government portal and SMS to 8800 (bill reference number and CNIC). Selection may be by balloting, followed by verification.
Other provincial or federal programmes: check the relevant provincial energy department (for example the Punjab Energy Department) and AEDB announcements.
Bank financing: ask your bank about current State Bank of Pakistan-backed green or renewable financing windows.
Warning: official scheme registration does not require paying an agent. Avoid anyone who charges to "guarantee" selection.
Complete solar buying checklist in Pakistan (2026 guide)
Panel, inverter and battery make and model named with datasheets
4
Generation, self-consumption, export and payback shown with the net billing rate
5
Galvanised structure with wind-load anchoring
6
DC/AC breakers, SPDs, earthing and cable sizing specified
7
Product, performance and workmanship warranties in writing
8
DISCO/NEPRA application included in scope
9
Monitoring access, O&M plan and service response time
10
Itemised quote with milestone payments
Questions to ask a solar energy company
Can I visit or call three customers with systems installed more than two years ago?
What happens if actual generation is below your projection?
Who is my single point of contact after installation?
Will you use exactly the models in the quote? What happens if one is out of stock?
Is the battery fully compatible (BMS communication) with the inverter you propose?
Do you provide as-built drawings and earthing test results at handover?
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a solar company in Pakistan is genuine?
Check its AEDB certification (and PEC registration for larger EPC work), visit its office, ask for NTN-registered invoices and speak to past customers. Genuine companies name exact equipment models and give written warranties.
What is the most important factor when choosing a solar installer in Pakistan in 2026?
Design quality for net billing. Since exports now earn a low buyback rate, the installer must size the system for self-consumption and advise on battery storage. Otherwise even premium panels will pay back slowly.
How many AC can a 10kW solar system run?
In good sunlight, a 10 kW system can comfortably run about three 1.5-ton inverter ACs alongside normal household loads, and up to four or five at midday if other loads are light. At night, runtime depends on battery capacity.
Should I choose the cheapest solar quotation?
Rarely. Low quotes usually cut corners on inverter quality, structure, cabling or protection devices. Compare itemised quotes line by line, including warranties and after-sales service.
What warranties should a solar company give?
Expect a 12–15-year panel product warranty, a 25–30-year panel performance warranty, a 5–10-year inverter warranty, the manufacturer's battery warranty, and a separate workmanship warranty from the installer.
How do I check eligibility for the Punjab solar scheme?
Use only official channels: the Punjab government solar scheme portal or the 8800 SMS service with your electricity bill reference number and CNIC. Eligibility has generally focused on low-consumption domestic consumers. Never pay an agent for registration.
Does the solar company handle net billing approval?
A good company should. It should prepare the documents and drawings, coordinate the DISCO inspection and meter installation, and handle NEPRA concurrence for systems above 25 kW. Confirm this is written into the scope of work.
What should a commercial or industrial buyer look for in a solar EPC company?
PEC registration, similar-size reference projects, structural and load-flow studies, TOU and maximum-demand savings modelling, SLA-based O&M, and experience with C&I storage and three-phase inverters.
