On July 1, 2026, BC Hydro switched to a new rate for solar and battery owners. Instead of banking credits, you now get paid 10 cents per kilowatt-hour for excess power your system sends to the grid. Here's what actually changes for your payback—and why smart batteries just got smarter.
Before July 1: Your solar sent excess power to the grid, and BC Hydro banked those kilowatt-hour credits. At the end of the year, the credits offset your bill.
After July 1: BC Hydro pays you cash (10 cents per kWh) each month for excess power. No more annual banking. Faster money in, easier to track.
✓ Excess power gets banked
✓ Credits used to offset bill
✓ Settled once per year
⚠️ Credits didn't roll to next year
✓ Excess power gets paid out
✓ You get 10¢ per kWh
✓ Paid each billing cycle
✓ Faster cash flow
BC Hydro's official statement: "The rebate is expected to fully offset the impact of this rate change."
Translation: When BC Hydro designed the new 10-cent payout, they made sure it wouldn't make your investment worse. If you already qualified for solar rebates, you're not losing money—you're just getting paid differently.
The rebate covers the difference. You're fine.
This is the key thing nobody's talking about.
Under the old system (annual credit banking), your solar panels just sent excess power to the grid whenever they generated it. You got paid the same rate for 2pm power and 8pm power.
Under Schedule 2289, smart batteries can now be strategic.
Here's how it works:
Not all batteries can do this. But smart batteries like the Eguana Evolve can talk to BC Hydro's time-of-use system and optimize discharge timing automatically.
Tesla Powerwall can't integrate with BC Hydro's time-of-use rates the same way. It's a hardware limitation. So under Schedule 2289, Eguana gets a bigger advantage.
Scenario: 6 kW solar + 10 kWh Eguana battery in Vancouver
| Metric | Old Rate (1289) | New Rate (2289) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Solar Production | 7,200 kWh | 7,200 kWh | Same |
| Excess to Grid (annual) | 2,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Same |
| Your Rebate (covers offset) | Included | Included | Same |
| Extra from Smart Timing | $0 | +$200–$400/year | Battery advantage |
| Total Annual Return | ~$1,200 | ~$1,400–$1,600 | +$200–$400 |
Bottom line: Your payback stays the same or gets slightly better, because smart batteries can now squeeze extra value from timing.
You're on Schedule 2289 (new rate) if:
You can stay on Schedule 1289 (old rate) if:
This doesn't affect you if:
What it does: Automatically times battery discharge to peak hours when BC Hydro grid prices spike (usually 4–9pm). Learns your usage patterns.
Advantage under 2289: Makes extra $200–$400/year by selling power during peak pricing windows.
Integration: Direct API connection to BC Hydro's real-time pricing (when available).
What it does: Stores and releases power based on owner preferences or basic load-following. No specific BC Hydro integration.
Disadvantage under 2289: Can't automatically optimize for peak pricing. You'd have to manually set discharge schedules.
Plus: Still doesn't qualify for BC rebates anyway (not on HPCN list).
If you were already planning solar + battery: Go now. Schedule 2289 doesn't make the investment worse—just different. And if you choose Eguana, you get a slight advantage under the new rate.
If you're on the fence: The 10-cent payout might sound low until you remember BC Hydro's rebate compensates you. The math doesn't change. But waiting 6+ months for your investment to pay off costs you 6+ months of savings, so the delay usually isn't worth it.
Possibly, but BC Hydro's official position is that the 10-cent payout "reflects the value" they get from your power. It's unlikely to drop significantly, but rate reviews happen every 1–2 years. Your rebate protects you from major shifts.
Probably yes, if you're already on it. The old annual banking was predictable. But you can't stay grandfathered forever—after 10 years from your install date, you automatically move to Schedule 2289. Factor that into your long-term plan.
No. BC Hydro's rebate programs (solar $5,000, battery $500–$1,500) are separate from the rate you get paid for excess power. The rate change doesn't affect rebate eligibility or amounts.
It means your battery can automatically discharge when grid prices are highest (usually 4–9pm), and charge when they're low (usually midday or after 9pm). This maximizes the money you make from exporting power. Eguana batteries do this out of the box. Other batteries require manual scheduling.
Schedule 2289 isn't bad news—it's just different news. BC Hydro pays you 10 cents per kWh instead of banking credits, but your rebate compensates you. If anything, smart batteries like Eguana gain an advantage because they can now be strategic about when they discharge.
Your payback doesn't get worse. It stays the same or gets slightly better. Don't let the rate change scare you off a good investment.
Next step: If you're ready to explore solar + battery, get matched with a BC installer who can explain how Schedule 2289 affects your specific setup.
See your battery savings estimate →