Updated September 2026
BC Hydro Solar Rebate & the 2026 Self-Generation Rate
What West Kelowna homeowners can claim on panels and batteries, and how BC Hydro now credits the power you export.
Start here
West Kelowna Is BC Hydro Territory
Start with the logo on your bill. West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland are all supplied through BC Hydro’s Westbank substation, so homeowners here can claim BC Hydro’s solar and battery rebates. Kelowna, across the lake, is mostly FortisBC, which offers no solar rebate. That’s why you will see conflicting information online.
The exception in our area is Summerland, including Trout Creek, which runs its own municipal electric utility. BC Hydro’s rebates don’t apply there.
This guide covers the solar rebate, the battery rebate and Peak Saver, and the change that caught many people out: on July 1, 2026, net metering closed to new customers and was replaced by the self-generation rate.
At a glance
BC Hydro Solar & Battery Rebates at a Glance
| Homes | Commercial & multi-unit | |
|---|---|---|
| Solar rebate | $1,000 per kW, up to $5,000 | $1,000 per kW, up to $10,000 |
| Battery rebate | $500 per kWh, up to $1,500 | See BC Hydro business program |
| Battery rebate with Peak Saver | Up to $5,000 | — |
| Cap | 50% of installed cost, incl. labour | 50% of installed cost |
| Installer | Home Performance Contractor Network member | Program-qualified contractor |
| Before you build | Self-generation application accepted | Self-generation application accepted |
| Export credit (RS 2289) | 10¢/kWh, each billing cycle | 10¢/kWh, each billing cycle |
| Funding | First come, first served | First come, first served |
Summary as of September 2026, from BC Hydro’s rebate and customer-generation pages. We confirm current terms for your address at every estimate.
Solar rebate
How the BC Hydro Solar Rebate Works
BC Hydro pays $1,000 per kilowatt of installed panel capacity (DC). For an individually metered home, the maximum is $5,000, which a 5 kW or larger system reaches. Commercial and multi-unit buildings, including strata, can claim up to $10,000. The rebate can’t be more than 50% of the total installed cost, including labour.
To qualify:
- You must own the home and be a BC Hydro customer at that address, with a grid-connected system. Off-grid systems don’t qualify.
- The installer must be a member of BC Hydro’s Home Performance Contractor Network.
- Your self-generation application must be submitted and technically accepted before installation. Start work first and the rebate is gone. This is the most expensive mistake we see.
- Funding is first come, first served. A rebate that is open today may not be open next spring.
Why the first 5 kW matter most
The rebate is paid per kilowatt up to 5 kW, then stops. So the first 5 kW of a system are the cheapest you will ever buy. A 5 kW system at typical Westside pricing costs about $11,500 and gets the full $5,000 back. Every kilowatt beyond that is paid for in full. That’s why smaller, well-sized systems often pay back fastest here: a 4–6 kW system around year 9–10, an 8 kW system around year 11.
The Battery Rebate and Peak Saver
BC Hydro also pays $500 per kWh of battery storage installed with solar. For a home it is capped at $1,500, or $5,000 if you enrol the battery in BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program. The 50% cost cap applies, and the battery has to be paired with solar.
Peak Saver lets BC Hydro draw on your battery during winter peak events, November to March. Each event lasts no more than four hours, and your battery is never discharged below 20%, so you keep a reserve. You can opt out of individual events, but opting out of more than half in a season can cost that season’s reward. On the Westside, where outages are common, a battery is worth having anyway, and the Peak Saver rebate makes it far easier to justify. Why backup matters here
The 2026 change
Net Metering Is Closed. Here’s What Replaced It.
Until July 1, 2026, BC Hydro solar customers were on net metering (Rate Schedule 1289): surplus power was banked as a kWh credit at the retail rate and carried forward, so summer production paid for winter use almost one-for-one.
New customers now go on the self-generation rate (Rate Schedule 2289). Exported power is credited at a flat 10¢/kWh each billing cycle. Power you use yourself still avoids BC Hydro’s full price: 11.87¢/kWh in Step 1 and 14.08¢ in Step 2. Customers who took the solar rebate were moved to the new rate too, and BC Hydro says the rebate is expected to fully offset the change. Existing net-metering customers keep it for up to ten years from their start date.
In practice: size for self-use, not for the roof. Every kWh you use yourself is worth 19–41% more than one you export.
Side by side
Old Net Metering vs the Self-Generation Rate
| Net metering (RS 1289) | Self-generation (RS 2289) | |
|---|---|---|
| Open to new customers | No, closed July 1, 2026 | Yes |
| Exported power credited at | Retail rate, as banked kWh | 10¢/kWh |
| When credited | Carried forward, settled yearly | Each billing cycle |
| Self-used power saves | 11.87–14.08¢/kWh | 11.87–14.08¢/kWh |
| Solar rebate recipients | — | On this rate |
| Best system size | Up to annual use | Matched to daytime and evening use |
From BC Hydro’s customer-generation rate updates. BC Hydro residential tiered rates as of September 2026.
What it means
What This Means for Your System
With the rebate and the new rate together, an 8 kW system at typical Westside pricing costs about $18,400, less $5,000 back, and saves around $1,058 in its first year. That pays back in about year 11. Without a rebate, for example on Summerland’s utility, it takes about year 15.
- Right-size. Match the system to your use, including loads you are sure to add, like an EV or heat pump. Oversizing now mostly buys 10¢ exports.
- Think about orientation. West-facing panels produce into the late afternoon and early evening, when most households use more. On the new rate that can be worth more than the annual output figure suggests.
- Consider a battery. Storing midday surplus for the evening turns a 10¢ export into a 12–14¢ saving, and gives you backup. With Peak Saver, BC Hydro pays up to $5,000 toward it.
- Shift some use to daytime. Dishwashers, laundry, pool pumps and EV charging on timers use more of your own solar.
PST and Federal Programs
Qualifying solar generation equipment is exempt from BC’s 7% PST, which is built into our pricing. Federal grants and loans have opened, changed and closed several times in recent years. Rather than list something that may have ended, we check what is current when we prepare your estimate and include anything you qualify for.
Common Rebate Mistakes
- Installing before BC Hydro accepts the application. The rebate requires acceptance first. No exceptions.
- Using an installer outside the Contractor Network. Check before you sign.
- Assuming net metering still applies. A quote built on retail-rate credits for exports will overstate your savings.
- Assuming everyone near Kelowna is on FortisBC. The Westside is BC Hydro. Summerland is municipal. The rebate depends on which one you are.
- Signing up for Peak Saver without reading the terms. It is a good deal for most, but know what it asks of your battery.
How We Handle the Paperwork
The self-generation application, the electrical permit and the rebate claims are part of every installation we do, in the right order. You won’t need to chase BC Hydro forms. Send us a photo of your bill and the rebate goes straight into your written estimate.
Questions
BC Hydro Rebate Questions
How much is the BC Hydro solar rebate?
$1,000 per kW of installed panel capacity, up to $5,000 for an individually metered home and up to $10,000 for commercial and multi-unit buildings. It can’t exceed 50% of the total installed cost, including labour.
Can I get the BC Hydro rebate and net metering?
Not any more. Net metering closed to new customers on July 1, 2026. New systems, including every system that takes the solar rebate, go on the self-generation rate, which credits exported power at 10¢/kWh each billing cycle. BC Hydro says the rebate is expected to fully offset the change.
Does the BC Hydro battery rebate require solar panels?
Yes. The battery has to be installed with solar. It pays $500 per kWh, up to $1,500 for a home, or up to $5,000 if the battery is enrolled in Peak Saver, capped at 50% of cost.
Is the BC Hydro solar rebate still available?
As of September 2026, yes. It is offered first come, first served while funding lasts, so it could close without much notice. Your self-generation application also has to be accepted before installation, so don’t start work before that.
Find out what the rebate is worth on your roof.
Send us a photo of your BC Hydro bill or give us a call. We will put the rebate, the self-generation credit and your payback year in writing. Free, no obligation.
250-250-2525