What solar and battery rebates pay in Richmond
We re-read BC Hydro's solar and battery rebate page on October 3, 2026. The battery rebate is higher if you enroll it in Peak Saver. Every rebate is capped at 50% of what you paid.
Solar panels
$1,000 per kW of DC capacity, up to 50% of the installed cost.
Battery with Peak Saver
$500 per kWh, up to 50% of cost. Enroll in Peak Saver within 14 days of the in-service date. Battery-only allowed.
Battery without Peak Saver
Only when paired with solar.
Peak Saver battery reward
One-time bill credit for enrolling, then a seasonal reward each winter you stay in.
Tesla Powerwall
Tesla batteries, inverters and chargers are not eligible for BC Hydro or CleanBC rebates.
How much sun Richmond gets
Richmond averaged about 3.47 peak sun hours a day from 2020 to 2024. Shade on your own roof matters more than the city average. As a rough guide, a 5 kW system here would make about 5,066 kWh a year, using 3.47 sun hours times 365 days and assuming 80% of the panel rating reaches your panel after losses. Your installer's design for your own roof will be more accurate.
Homes in Richmond
The 2021 Census counted 81,080 households in Richmond. 30% of Richmond households live in a detached house (24,440 homes), and about 71% own. Townhome owners can apply too but will need strata approval for the roof.
Flat roofs and townhomes
Richmond's 3.47 peak sun hours are above the Metro Vancouver average. Many newer townhome complexes have shared roofs, so strata approval comes first. On a detached house, a south or west face gives the most output; east-west splits still work but make a little less.
Battery first: outage backup
A battery stores power for when the grid goes down. The rebate is $500 per kWh, so a 10 kWh battery that cost at least $10,000 can reach $5,000 with Peak Saver. Without Peak Saver, the battery must be paired with solar and the rebate stops at $1,500.
The 50% cap and the order of steps
Every rebate is limited to 50% of the installed cost. You must hire a contractor in the Home Performance Contractor Network and submit a self-generation application to BC Hydro before you install. Wait for technical acceptance. After install, send the final inspection documents and paid invoices. BC Hydro pays within 60 days of approval.
Tesla Powerwall is not eligible
Tesla's Powerwall 2 and 3, Tesla inverters and Tesla chargers are not eligible for BC Hydro or CleanBC rebates. The only exception is an application made before March 12, 2025.
Top-rated installers in Richmond
These Richmond solar installers have the best Google ratings with enough reviews to trust. Ratings and review counts from Google Maps. Ask each one if they are in the Home Performance Contractor Network.
How to claim it
- Confirm your home is on BC Hydro's grid.
- Hire a Home Performance Contractor Network member.
- Submit the self-generation application before you install, and wait for technical acceptance.
- Install. Enroll the battery in Peak Saver within 14 days of the in-service date if you want the $5,000 battery rebate.
- Send the final inspection documents and paid invoices.
Common questions
How much sun does Richmond get?
About 3.47 peak sun hours a day on average from 2020 to 2024, from the Open-Meteo historical archive.
What does Peak Saver ask of my battery?
BC Hydro can draw on it during a few winter peak events, November to March, for up to four hours. You can opt out of events, but opting out of more than half may cost you the seasonal reward.
Can I get the battery rebate without solar?
Yes, but only if you enroll the battery in Peak Saver. Then the battery-only rebate can reach $5,000.
Is the Tesla Powerwall eligible?
No. Tesla batteries get $0 from BC Hydro and CleanBC.
Who can apply?
Owners of single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and mobile homes connected to BC Hydro's grid.
What to do next
See Richmond heat pump rebates and every Richmond rebate.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: BC Hydro solar and battery rebates, BC Hydro solar and battery rebate terms, BC Hydro ineligible products (Tesla), BC Hydro Peak Saver, Solar radiation, Open-Meteo historical archive 2020 to 2024, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Richmond rebates → Every BC Hydro rebate →