BC solar rebates and incentives in 2026
A BC Hydro home can get up to $5,000 back on solar panels and up to $5,000 more on a battery enrolled in Peak Saver. The federal Greener Homes grant and loan are closed, and FortisBC customers can't use the BC Hydro rebates.
Last checked November 12, 2026 against the official pages linked in the table. Programs change and funding runs out, so confirm with the source before you sign.
What can a BC homeowner claim in 2026?
| Program | Who runs it | Amount | Who qualifies | The catch | Official link | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel rebate | BC Hydro | $1,000 per kW, up to $5,000 and half the installed cost | Individually metered homes on the BC Hydro self-generation rate | Approval before you buy. Installer on the Home Performance Contractor Network since June 1, 2026. Tesla products and self-installs are not eligible. First come, first served. | BC Hydro | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Battery rebate | BC Hydro | $500 per kWh, up to $1,500, or $5,000 with Peak Saver. Never more than half the installed cost | Homes adding a battery with solar. A battery alone qualifies only if enrolled in Peak Saver | Battery must be on the qualified list. Enrol in Peak Saver within 14 days of interconnection approval. Tesla products are not eligible. | BC Hydro | Nov 12, 2026 |
| New Westminster solar and battery rebates | City of New Westminster with BC Hydro | Solar $1,000 per kW up to $5,000. Battery $500 per kWh up to $1,500. Combined maximum $6,500, capped at half the installed cost | Homeowners with a New West Electrical Utility residential account | Pre-approval before installation. Battery needs solar and at least 5 kWh. Paid within 80 business days of interconnection approval. | City of New Westminster | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Self-generation rate, Rate Schedule 2289 | BC Hydro | 10 cents per kWh for surplus in a billing period | New BC Hydro solar connections from July 1, 2026 | Credits cover energy charges only. Surplus is no longer banked as kWh. | BC Hydro | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Net metering, Rate Schedule 1289 | BC Hydro | Surplus kWh banked for later use | Existing customers only, for 10 years from their start date | Closed to new customers. | BC Hydro | Nov 12, 2026 |
| PST exemption on solar equipment | Province of BC | No PST on solar panels, or on inverters, wiring and controllers bought with and as part of a system that includes panels | Buyers of qualifying equipment | Batteries are not exempt. Bulletin PST 203 was last revised in September 2022. | Bulletin PST 203 (PDF) | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | Government of Canada | None for new applicants | Closed. Funding is fully committed | Approved loans are not affected. Page last modified October 29, 2026. | Canada.ca | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Canada Greener Homes Grant | Government of Canada | None for new applicants | Closed | Page last modified November 6, 2026. | Canada.ca | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit | Canada Revenue Agency | None for a homeowner | Taxable Canadian corporations and certain real estate investment trusts | A person claiming for panels on their own home is not on the list of eligible claimants. | Canada.ca | Nov 12, 2026 |
| BC Hydro rebates for FortisBC customers | BC Hydro | None | Customers of other BC utilities, such as FortisBC, are not eligible | FortisBC runs its own net metering program. Its current terms: status not confirmed. | BC Hydro | Nov 12, 2026 |
How does the BC Hydro solar rebate work?
The rebate is $1,000 for each kW of panels. A 3 kW system gets $3,000, and anything from 5 kW up gets $5,000.
Order matters. You apply and wait for approval before buying equipment. BC Hydro pays within 60 days of approving the connection, so plan to pay the full price first. Our rebate guide walks through the steps.
What does the battery rebate add?
Up to $1,500, or up to $5,000 if the battery is enrolled in Peak Saver, the BC Hydro program that draws on enrolled batteries during winter peak events. Whether a battery makes sense is a separate question, covered in our battery guide.
What does BC Hydro pay for surplus power?
Ten cents per kWh, for surplus left at the end of a billing period. This is the self-generation rate, Rate Schedule 2289, in effect since July 1, 2026. Net metering is closed to new customers. Our rate guide works through a full year.
Is solar equipment exempt from PST in BC?
Yes for the panels, and for inverters, wiring and controllers obtained with them as part of one system. Bulletin PST 203 treats batteries as generic goods, which are taxed.
The bulletin does not spell out how the exemption applies when a contractor supplies and installs the system under one contract. Ask the installer to show any PST as its own line.
Are any federal programs open?
We found none for a homeowner. The Canada Greener Homes Loan and Grant both show as closed on Canada.ca, and the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit is for corporations and certain trusts. A quote that counts on federal money needs a second look.
What could we not confirm?
- FortisBC's current net metering terms: status not confirmed. Its page did not load fully when we checked.
- Municipal programs other than New Westminster's: status not confirmed. Ask your city hall.
- Peak Saver reward amounts: BC Hydro's pages showed different figures, so we quote none.
Does your quote get the rebate right?
A quote can state the right amount and still miss a condition, such as buying equipment before approval. Our free price check and paid reviews test a quote against these rules. We sell no solar and take no installer money.
Common questions
How much is the BC Hydro solar rebate in 2026?
BC Hydro pays $1,000 per kW of panels, up to $5,000 for an individually metered home and never more than half the installed cost. Approval has to come before you buy equipment.
Is there a federal solar rebate or tax credit for homeowners in 2026?
We found none open. The Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan are both closed to new applicants, and the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit is for corporations and certain trusts.
Can FortisBC customers get the BC Hydro solar rebate?
No. BC Hydro says customers of other BC utilities, such as FortisBC, are not eligible. City of New Westminster residential customers apply through the city.
Sources
We read every page below on November 12, 2026.
- BC Hydro: solar and battery rebates
- BC Hydro: net metering and the self-generation rate
- BC Hydro: enrol your smart home devices in Peak Saver
- City of New Westminster: solar PV and battery storage rebates
- Province of BC: Bulletin PST 203, energy conservation and the ICE Fund tax (PDF), revised September 2022
- Government of Canada: Canada Greener Homes Loan
- Government of Canada: Canada Greener Homes Grant
- Canada Revenue Agency: who can claim the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit, page dated December 22, 2025
- FortisBC: net metering program (terms not confirmed)
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Solar Second Look is not affiliated with BC Hydro, FortisBC or any government.