Canada’s B.C. Hydro to offer solar, battery rebates

B.C. Hydro, an electric utility operating in the Canadian province of British Columbia, has pledged to provide rebates for the installation of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems for homeowners and businesses.

Eligible homeowners can receive B.C. Hydro rebates totalling as much as CAD 10,000 ($7,341) for installing “a qualified solar photovoltaic (PV) system and battery-storage system together.” The rebates will be available later in July, the utility said last week.

B.C. Hydro said it would also be rolling out targeted solar+battery rebates for apartment buildings, schools, community organizations, local governments, small businesses, social-housing providers, and Indigenous communities, which could go up to $150,000 based on the individual customer.

The new program supports the province’s new clean energy strategy released on June 27. Powering Our Future: B.C.’s Clean Energy Strategy focuses on building an economy powered by clean energy, creating new jobs and opportunities, and keeping electricity affordable.

“We need more clean energy to power our homes, businesses and industries, to power a growing economy and to power our future,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “British Columbians are up for the challenge.”

Providing solar rebates builds on activities already underway to meet the growing energy demand in the province. Earlier this year, B.C. Hydro issued a request for proposals (RFP) to acquire approximately 3 GWh of emissions-free electricity annually. This was the utility’s first competitive call for power in 15 years, which is expected to add 5% to its current supply and be equivalent of enough power to supply 270,000 homes.

The objective of B.C. Hydro’s call for power is to acquire energy from: 1. Clean or renewable resources that are cost-effective for its ratepayers; 2. Projects that can come online as early as fall 2028; 3. Projects that have a meaningful First Nations partnership component. Proposals are due September 16, 2024.

Currently, 98% of the power generated for British Columbia’s integrated grid comes from clean or renewable resources, making it a leader in North America when it comes to clean energy. The province has the second-lowest residential electricity rates in North America, and the third-lowest commercial and industrial rates.