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What questions should you ask a solar installer in BC?

Ask a BC solar installer to confirm in writing that they are on the Home Performance Contractor Network, which BC Hydro rate the savings assume, and how many kWh a year the system should make. Those three answers decide whether the rebate and the payback in the quote hold up, and five more questions cover permits, equipment and money.

Last checked November 12, 2026. Rates and program rules change, so confirm them with the source before you sign.

Which eight questions should you ask?

Question	A sound answer	Why it matters
Are you a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network?	Yes, under a business name you can look up.	BC Hydro has required a member installer for the rebate since June 1, 2026.
Which BC Hydro rate do the savings assume?	The self-generation rate, Rate Schedule 2289, with surplus at 10 cents per kWh.	Net metering closed to new customers on July 1, 2026.
How many kWh a year will the system make, and how many will I export?	Two numbers, with the shade and roof direction they assume.	Every savings figure rests on them.
Is each component eligible for the rebate?	Model numbers for panels, inverter and any battery.	BC Hydro keeps qualified product lists and lists Tesla products as not eligible.
Who applies to BC Hydro, and when?	You do, from your own account, before equipment is bought.	Contractors can't apply for you or ask for your MyHydro login.
Who takes out the electrical permit?	The contractor, naming the authority that issues it.	A permit is required before regulated electrical work starts.
What is the deposit, and when is each payment due?	Dollar amounts tied to approval and installation.	Money paid before approval is at risk if approval doesn't come.
What does the workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?	A number of years, in the contract.	Roof leaks and wiring faults are workmanship claims.

Send the questions by email and keep the replies. A written answer can be checked later.

How do you check the production answer?

Divide the promised yearly kWh by the system size in kW, then compare the result with a typical figure for your region. Our sample quote promises 10,400 kWh from an 8.8 kW system in Metro Vancouver.

Step	Working	Result
Promised output per kW	10,400 kWh divided by 8.8 kW	1,182 kWh per kW
Typical output, Metro Vancouver	8.8 kW × 1,050 kWh per kW	9,240 kWh
Gap	10,400 divided by 9,240	13% over

A gap that size needs an explanation. Ask what shade loss and system losses the estimate assumed, and which software produced it. The regional figures we use are approximate, and How to read a solar quote in BC shows the rest of the check.

What should you ask about the rebate?

Ask the installer to state the rebate amount and the conditions it depends on. The BC Hydro solar rebate is $1,000 per kW, up to $5,000 for a home and never more than half the installed cost. BC Hydro pays it to you within 60 days of interconnection approval, first come, first served while funding lasts.

Two details are easy to miss. BC Hydro says the final paid invoice has to list the make, model, cost and capacity of each component. It also tells applicants to get at least three quotes. You can search for a member on the Home Performance Contractor Network site that BC Hydro links to.

What should you ask about permits and approval?

Ask who handles each approval and in what order. BC Hydro has to accept the application on technical grounds before the contractor installs, and it needs the final inspection documents before it approves the connection.

Technical Safety BC says an installation permit is required before regulated electrical work begins, and that licensed contractors usually take out permits for the work they are hired to do. It issues permits across BC except in Burnaby, Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, Vancouver and West Vancouver, where the municipality does. Your city may want a building permit as well, so ask the installer which permits apply to your address.

What should you ask about money and the contract?

Ask for the deposit in dollars and for each later payment with its trigger. In our reviews we flag a deposit over 30% of the price and a workmanship warranty under five years. Both thresholds are our own rules of thumb.

If the quote includes a loan, ask for the interest rate, the term and the total interest in dollars. Since August 1, 2026, a seller in BC can't arrange credit as part of a direct sales contract, and solar panel systems can't be sold door to door. For a contract signed at home, Consumer Protection BC says the deposit is generally limited to $100 or 10% of the price, whichever is less. Our guide to the door-to-door rules has the details.

Which answers are a warning sign?

The rebate is described as guaranteed. BC Hydro pays first come, first served while funding lasts.
The savings are built on net metering or on every kWh being worth your retail rate.
The installer asks for your MyHydro login.
Equipment is described by brand only, with no model numbers.
The price is good only if you sign today.

One of these doesn't prove a bad installer. It tells you which answer to get in writing before you sign. If you would like the replies checked against your quote, we offer a free price check and paid reviews.

Common questions

How do I check that a solar installer qualifies for the BC Hydro rebate?

Ask for the business name they are listed under on the Home Performance Contractor Network and look it up yourself. BC Hydro has required solar and battery installations to be completed by a network member since June 1, 2026.

Can my solar installer apply for the BC Hydro rebate for me?

No. BC Hydro says contractors cannot submit applications on a customer's behalf or ask for MyHydro login details. You apply from your own account and wait for approval before equipment is bought.

How many solar quotes should I get in BC?

BC Hydro tells rebate applicants to get at least three quotes. Comparing them on price per watt and on promised kWh per kW makes the differences easy to see.

Who gets the electrical permit for a solar installation in BC?

Licensed electrical contractors usually take out the permit for work they are hired to do. Technical Safety BC issues permits in most of BC, and seven municipalities, including Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria, issue their own.

Want your own quote checked?

The free calculator runs the rough numbers in your browser from four figures on your quote and your hydro bill. The sample report shows what a written review looks like.

Try the free calculator See a sample report

Solar Second Look is a document review. We check a quote against published prices and program rules. This guide is general information and does not replace legal, financial or engineering advice. For questions about a contract, contact Consumer Protection BC.