There is no single "government solar rebate" that pays for a system across Canada, and the two big federal programs — the Greener Homes Grant and the Greener Homes Loan — are no longer taking new applicants. What remains is a patchwork: provincial, municipal and utility programs where they exist, net metering, which credits you for the electricity your panels send back to the grid, and private financing options offered by installers and lenders. Whether any of these help — and by how much — depends on your province, your utility, your roof and your electricity use.
Because it varies so much by location, the practical first step is simply to check what applies to your address. This guide explains what to look for, who tends to qualify, how net metering works province by province, and the mistakes that cost homeowners money — so you can ask the right questions before you request quotes, rather than trust a headline number.
Where home-solar support actually comes from in 2026
With the federal grant and loan closed, support for residential solar in Canada now comes mainly from two levels, and it helps to keep them separate. Provincially and locally, some provinces, municipalities and utilities offer rebates, financing or performance incentives — these vary widely and change often. And through net metering, most utilities credit you for surplus electricity your system exports, which reduces your bills over time. On top of that, many installers and lenders offer their own financing options to spread the up-front cost.
Two points worth clearing up. First, the federal Canada Greener Homes Grant and the Greener Homes Loan are closed to new applicants — if an ad still promises a large federal solar "grant" or an interest-free federal loan, it is out of date. Second, the "30% federal solar tax credit" you may have seen is a United States program and does not exist federally in Canada. This guide sticks to what may actually be available to you, which is decided at the provincial and utility level.
What may be available now that the federal programs have closed
With the national grant and loan wound down, the meaningful support is local and varies by province and utility. Depending on where you live, that can include provincial or municipal rebates, utility programs (including performance or micro-generation incentives), net metering to credit your exported power, and private financing from installers or lenders to spread the cost. Some provinces have generous programs; others have little beyond net metering — which is exactly why it pays to check your own area rather than assume.
Because these programs open, close and change amounts frequently, treat any specific figure you read as a starting point to verify — not a guarantee. The reliable way to know what applies is to confirm with your province's energy authority and your local utility, and to have an installer factor the current programs into a written quote for your address.
Solar is not "free from the government," and the big federal programs have closed. The realistic picture in Canada is whatever provincial, utility and net-metering rules apply where you live — plus a payback period that depends on your own roof and power use.
Who can generally access home-solar support
Eligibility depends on the specific program, but three groups of conditions come up again and again: who you are, what your home is like, and program-specific paperwork. Meeting these does not guarantee approval — each program sets its own rules — but they are the usual starting points.
- You are typically the homeowner of the property (some programs are for a primary residence only; rentals and secondary homes may be treated differently);
- The home is located in a province or territory — and served by a utility — where the program or net metering is offered;
- You are prepared to keep the system connected and maintained as the program requires.
- Your roof has suitable orientation, pitch, age and shading for solar — an installer or assessor confirms this;
- The equipment meets the standards the program requires (for example, CSA-certified components and a licensed electrician for the grid connection);
- The system is sized to your home so that net metering rules on system capacity are respected.
- Provincial or utility rebates usually need a quote or invoice from an approved installer and an application submitted within set deadlines;
- Some programs require a home-energy evaluation or an approved equipment list — check each program's own rules;
- A net-metering agreement with your local utility is signed before the system is connected to the grid.
What the costs and the savings actually look like
A typical residential solar system in Canada is often quoted in the range of $2 to $3.50 per watt installed, so a mid-sized system can land in the low-to-mid tens of thousands of dollars before any incentive. A financing option can spread that up-front cost, any provincial or utility rebate you qualify for reduces it, and net metering then offsets part of your ongoing electricity bill. How quickly it pays back depends on your system size, your household consumption and your utility's rates — there is no single "you will save X%" figure that is true everywhere.
A homeowner installs a system quoted at around $25,000 and spreads the cost with a financing option from their installer or lender. With net metering, the credits for exported electricity offset a meaningful share of their annual power bill, and any provincial or utility rebate they qualify for reduces the net cost. Whether the system pays for itself in, say, 8 years or 15 depends entirely on local electricity prices, sunlight and usage. Figures are illustrative only and will differ for your home.
Two things to keep in mind. First, quotes vary a lot between installers for the same roof, so it is worth comparing more than one. Second, savings claims like "cut your bill 70%" are marketing, not a promise — the honest answer is that net metering reduces your bill by an amount that depends on your specific situation, and a good installer will model it for your address rather than quote a headline percentage.
Installed cost is usually quoted per watt, so system size drives the price — comparing several quotes is the simplest way to sanity-check a number.
From first quote to a connected system, step by step
Going solar is less about a single application and more about a sequence: check what's available locally, compare quotes, line up financing and any rebates, install, and connect to the grid under a net-metering agreement. Checking your area and getting quotes first keeps you from committing before you know the real numbers.
- Check which programs apply to your address — provincial, municipal and utility rebates, net metering terms, and any financing options.
- Get quotes from more than one certified installer, and ask each to model your expected production and net-metering credits for your address.
- Confirm current program rules and deadlines with your province's energy authority and your local utility.
- Apply for any rebates and arrange financing before signing, and confirm the documents each one needs.
- Have the system installed by a licensed installer using standards-compliant equipment.
- Sign the net-metering agreement with your utility before the system is connected to the grid.
The 2026 funding picture at a glance
There is no single national number to rely on anymore. This is the honest snapshot — the federal programs are closed, and the useful support is local. Always confirm the current details for your own province and utility.
The Greener Homes Grant stopped taking new applicants.
The Greener Homes Loan is no longer accepting new applicants.
Credits for exported power; terms set by your province and utility.
Provincial, municipal, utility and installer options differ by area.
How net metering works — and why it differs by province
Net metering is what turns a solar system into ongoing savings. When your panels produce more electricity than your home is using, the surplus flows back to the grid and your utility credits you for it, usually against future bills. The exact rules — how credits are valued, how long they carry forward, and the maximum system size — are set by each province and utility, which is why the same panels can pay back differently in two provinces.
The table below is a general orientation only. Always confirm the current terms with your own utility before sizing a system.
| Province | Net metering | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Available | Offered through local distribution utilities; credits applied to your bill. |
| Alberta | Available | Micro-generation framework; export credits vary by retailer and rate. |
| British Columbia | Available | BC Hydro and FortisBC net metering; annual reconciliation of credits. |
| Quebec | Available | Hydro-Québec net metering; surplus credited in kilowatt-hours. |
| Atlantic provinces | Available (varies) | Programs differ by utility; some provinces have offered added rebates. |
How the pieces combine on one project
What's left is designed to work together: a provincial or utility rebate where you qualify, net metering for the ongoing benefit, and a financing option to spread the up-front cost. The federal grant and loan have both closed, so ignore ads that still promise them.
| Program | Available for solar | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Net metering | Yes | Offered by most utilities; credits you for exported electricity. Terms set by your province and utility. |
| Provincial / utility rebates | Varies | Some provinces, municipalities and utilities offer rebates or incentives; availability and amounts change often. |
| Installer / lender financing | Varies | Private financing to spread the cost; terms and rates depend on the provider — compare carefully. |
| Home battery storage incentives | Varies | A few programs support batteries alongside solar; check whether storage is eligible where you live. |
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | Closed | The interest-free federal loan is no longer accepting new applicants. |
| Canada Greener Homes Grant | Closed | The up-front federal grant stopped accepting new applicants in 2024. |
| US-style 30% federal solar tax credit | N/A | This is a United States program. There is no equivalent 30% federal solar tax credit in Canada. |
The mistakes that cost homeowners the most
The most common one is signing with the first salesperson. Solar is sold door-to-door and online, and quotes for the same roof can differ by thousands of dollars. Getting two or three written quotes — and asking each to show their production and net-metering assumptions — is the simplest protection against overpaying.
A second is taking headline savings claims at face value. "Eliminate your power bill" or "save 70%" are marketing lines; your actual result depends on your consumption, your roof and your utility's rates. If a claim sounds guaranteed, ask to see the math for your specific address in writing.
Be cautious with anything that implies the government will pay for your solar, that a federal grant or interest-free loan is still open, or that you "qualify" simply because your power bill is over a set amount. Those are advertising hooks, not program rules — the federal programs have closed. The realistic Canadian picture is provincial/utility programs plus net metering and private financing — useful, but not free money. Read the contract, confirm program terms with the official source, and never feel rushed by a limited-time claim.
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