Is Solar Too Expensive in BC? How to Check Your Real Cost

By Sam Menard · Updated September 26, 2026

What BC rebates actually pay

• Solar: $1,000 per kW (DC), capped at 50% of the installed cost, up to $5,000 for a home.
• Battery: $500 per kWh, capped at 50% of cost, up to $1,500, or up to $5,000 if you enroll it in Peak Saver within 14 days of interconnection approval.
• Peak Saver bill credits for a battery: up to $500 when you enroll and $250 per winter you take part.
• Get technical acceptance from BC Hydro before you install.
• Tesla products are not eligible for BC Hydro rebates (as of March 12, 2025), though a Powerwall 3 can still earn Peak Saver rewards.

There is no separate CleanBC solar grant. Earlier versions of this post said otherwise; that was wrong.

How to work out your real monthly cost

1. Start with the installed price on your quote.
2. Subtract the BC Hydro rebate you'll actually get (use the rules above).
3. If you'll finance it, get the real monthly payment from the lender.
4. Ask the installer for a written estimate of yearly production (kWh) for your roof, and multiply by what you pay per kWh. Be careful: power you send to the grid is credited under BC Hydro's net metering rules, which may differ from what you pay.
5. Your real monthly cost is the payment minus your estimated monthly savings.

If that number is still high, solar may not be the best first step. Insulation or a heat pump often saves more per dollar. See why insulation comes first.

Why quotes look so different

System size, panel and inverter brands, roof work and whether a battery is included all move the price. Get two or three quotes for the same size system. Read why solar quotes vary so much.

Sources, checked September 26, 2026: BC Hydro solar and battery rebates · BC Hydro battery qualified product list · BC Hydro Peak Saver device rewards

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