Kilowatt Kit
🇨🇦 Canada — All Provinces Published 2026-05-07 · 9 min read

Canada Solar Incentives & Rebates 2025: Provincial & Federal Guide

The Greener Homes Grant ended in 2024, but Canada still has meaningful provincial solar incentives — particularly in BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Here's the full picture of what's available, what changed, and where solar makes financial sense across the provinces.

MUK
Written by
Muhammad Umar Khan

Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills — and realising there were no simple, jargon-free tools to help ordinary homeowners understand their energy costs. He researches electricity rates, EV charging, solar payback, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

⚠️
Canada Greener Homes Grant ended April 2024

The flagship federal solar grant — worth up to $5,000 for solar installations — was discontinued ahead of schedule after overwhelming demand exhausted its funding. The replacement landscape is now primarily provincial. Full details on what changed and what replaced it →

Current Federal Incentives (2025)

Programme Status Value Who it's for
Canada Greener Homes Grant ❌ Ended April 2024 Was up to $5,000 for solar All homeowners
Canada Greener Homes Loan ❌ Wound down 2024 Was $40,000 interest-free All homeowners
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program ✅ Active Up to $10,000 Low-income households switching from oil heat
Clean Tech Investment Tax Credit (30%) ✅ Active 30% of eligible costs Businesses only (not residential)
Net Metering ✅ All provinces Credits for surplus solar All solar homeowners

Provincial Incentives at a Glance

🏔️ British Columbia

CleanBC Better Homes: up to $6,000 for heat pumps, rebates for EV chargers and insulation. Strong net metering at full retail rate. Solar irradiance excellent in southern BC (Okanagan, Lower Mainland).

Up to $6,000
heat pump rebate
🍁 Ontario

Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus: up to $10,000 for heat pumps, insulation, and windows (Enbridge gas customers). Net metering at distribution rate. Higher electricity prices (~$0.12–$0.18/kWh) make solar viable.

Up to $10,000
efficiency rebate
⚜️ Quebec

Chauffez Vert: up to $3,000 for heat pump conversions from oil/propane. Note: Quebec's very cheap hydroelectricity (~$0.07/kWh) makes solar panels rarely cost-effective — heat pumps are the better focus for QC residents.

Up to $3,000
heat pump conversion
🌾 Alberta

Efficiency Alberta: heat pump rebates $750–$1,500. Deregulated electricity market — rates vary significantly. Micro-generation (net metering) rules apply. Calgary and Edmonton have good solar irradiance.

Up to $1,500
heat pump rebate
⚓ Nova Scotia

Efficiency NS: one of Canada's best programmes — heat pump rebates up to $2,000+, insulation rebates, home energy assessments. High electricity rates (~$0.18/kWh) make solar genuinely worthwhile. Active net metering policy.

Up to $2,000+
heat pump rebate

Net Metering by Province

Province Electricity rate Export credit rate Solar viability
Nova Scotia ~$0.18/kWh ~$0.08–$0.10/kWh ✅ Strong
Ontario ~$0.12–$0.18/kWh Full retail (time-of-use) ✅ Good
British Columbia ~$0.11–$0.14/kWh Full retail, 12-month rollover ⚡ Moderate
Alberta $0.08–$0.20/kWh (variable) Distribution rate ⚡ Variable
Quebec ~$0.07–$0.09/kWh Retail rate (but very low) ⚠️ Rarely viable

Deep Dive Guides

Greener Homes Grant: What Ended & What Replaced It

Full history of Canada's flagship solar grant, why it ended early, and what alternatives exist in 2025.

Read guide →
Provincial Rebates: BC, Ontario, Quebec & Alberta

Detailed breakdown of each province's current heat pump, solar, and home efficiency rebate programmes.

Read guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still available? ▼
No. The Canada Greener Homes Grant — which offered up to $5,000 for solar panels and up to $5,600 for other efficiency upgrades — was discontinued in April 2024, more than a year ahead of schedule, after exhausting its funding due to overwhelming demand. The federal government received far more applications than anticipated, leading to the early closure. While the Grant is gone, several provincial programmes have expanded to fill the gap, and the Canada Greener Homes Loan (interest-free, up to $40,000) also wound down in 2024. See our detailed Greener Homes page for what replaced it.
What federal solar incentives are available in Canada in 2025? ▼
Canada's federal solar incentives for homeowners are limited compared to the US or UK. The main federal options in 2025 are: (1) Net metering — federal policy supports net metering but implementation is provincial; (2) Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit — 30% credit, but only for businesses and corporations, not residential; (3) Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program — up to $10,000 for low-income households switching from oil heating (heat pumps, not solar specifically); (4) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Green Home premium refund — if you finance a new energy-efficient home via CMHC. The most significant incentives for Canadian homeowners are now at the provincial level.
Which Canadian province has the best solar incentives? ▼
British Columbia currently offers the strongest provincial solar and clean energy incentive package: CleanBC Better Homes provides up to $6,000 for heat pumps, rebates for EV chargers, and various other home efficiency grants — stacking across multiple upgrades. Ontario's Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus offers up to $10,000 for home efficiency upgrades including heat pumps and insulation (for Enbridge gas customers). Quebec's Chauffez Vert programme offers up to $3,000 for converting from oil or propane to a heat pump. Nova Scotia's Efficiency NS programme provides comprehensive rebates for heat pumps and insulation. For solar panels specifically, most provinces rely primarily on net metering economics rather than upfront grants.
How does net metering work in Canada? ▼
Net metering in Canada means your utility credits you for excess electricity your solar panels produce and export to the grid. The credit rate and settlement rules vary significantly by province: Ontario (net metering at distributor rate, monthly net, annual settlement); BC (net metering at full retail rate with rollover for 12 months); Alberta (micro-generation at distribution rate); Quebec (net metering at Hydro-Québec retail rate, very low because QC electricity is very cheap); Saskatchewan (SGI net metering); Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Power net metering). Provinces with higher electricity rates (Nova Scotia ~$0.18/kWh, Ontario ~$0.12–$0.18/kWh) have stronger solar economics than Quebec (historically ~$0.07–$0.09/kWh).
Is solar financially viable in Canada given the lower electricity rates in some provinces? ▼
It depends heavily on the province. Nova Scotia, PEI, and parts of Ontario have electricity rates high enough ($0.15–$0.20+/kWh) that solar pays back in 8–12 years. British Columbia's rates are moderate (~$0.11–$0.13/kWh) with good solar irradiance in southern BC — paybacks of 10–15 years. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have lower rates but reasonable sun. Quebec has extremely cheap electricity from hydropower (~$0.07/kWh) which makes solar economics very challenging — paybacks of 20+ years are common, making it rarely financially justified. Alberta's deregulated market with variable rates can make solar viable in the right circumstances. Canada's cold winters also mean lower winter generation, though summers can be excellent.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada — Canada Greener Homes (nrcan.gc.ca, 2024); Environment and Climate Change Canada — Clean Technology ITC (2025); BC Hydro / FortisBC — CleanBC Better Homes (2025); Enbridge Gas — Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (2025); Transition énergétique Québec — Chauffez Vert (2025); Nova Scotia Power / Efficiency NS (2025); AEMC / OEB net metering regulations. Provincial programme details change — always verify current availability directly with the provincial agency or utility.