Will rooftop solar pay off on your BC home?
Most solar content is sales hype, and BC's cheap hydro makes the answer genuinely close. This calculator uses real BC sun hours to show your true production and bill offset — and it accounts for BC Hydro's 2026 net-metering change that most calculators still ignore.
Your solar production and bill offset, in 30 seconds
Pick your region, roof, and system size — see annual production, where the energy goes, and what it offsets.
The honest answer, not a sales pitch
BC's cheap hydro power makes solar marginal here. A tool that gives you the real number — sometimes "the payback is too long" — is worth more than a quote.
BC sun is decent, not Arizona
A typical 6 kW array makes roughly 6,000 kWh/yr on the coast, a bit more in the Okanagan. We use BC-specific sun hours, not national averages.
The 2026 net-metering change
BC Hydro's 1:1 net metering closes to new customers July 1, 2026. New systems export at roughly 10¢/kWh — below retail. That changes the math, and we model it.
Payback is often 10–15 years
Because hydro is so cheap, BC payback is long. The free tool shows offset; the kit shows the honest payback after rebates — even when it says "not worth it yet."
Will it actually pay off?
Production is only the start. The full kit does the rebates, net cost, payback, and the net-metering impact.
BC Home Solar + Battery Payback Kit
Everything the free calculator does, plus the money-and-decision math:
- ✓ Rebate stacker — BC Hydro solar (up to $5k) + battery (up to $5k), and your net cost
- ✓ Net-metering impact — RS 1289 vs RS 2289 vs FortisBC 1:1, and how each changes the value of every exported kWh
- ✓ Honest payback — net system cost vs annual savings, in years (even when it's "don't bother")
- ✓ Battery add-on ROI — shown separately, because it's often weak without Peak Saver
BC solar guides
Plain-English answers to the questions BC homeowners ask before going solar.
BC home solar — common questions
How much does solar produce on a BC home?
A typical 6 kW rooftop array makes roughly 6,000 kWh/year on the BC coast — about 1,000 kWh per kW installed — and a bit more in the sunnier Southern Interior. East/west roofs and shading reduce that. See how production drives payback →
Is solar worth it in BC?
It's genuinely marginal. BC Hydro power is among the cheapest in North America, so each kWh of solar offsets less money than it would elsewhere — payback often runs 10–15 years. For some homes it makes sense; for many the honest answer is "not yet." The honest math →
What is the BC net-metering change in 2026?
BC Hydro's 1:1 net metering (rate RS 1289) closes to new customers on July 1, 2026. New solar customers move to the Self-Generation rate (RS 2289), which credits exported surplus at roughly 10¢/kWh — below the retail rate. FortisBC keeps its own 1:1 program. This materially lengthens payback for export-heavy systems. What it means for you →
What solar rebates can I get in BC in 2026?
BC Hydro offers up to $5,000 for solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage (if enrolled in Peak Saver; $1,500 if only paired with solar). From June 1, 2026 the installer must be an HPCN member. The full rebate picture →