Once your solar system is switched on in Alberta, the power you do not use flows back to the grid and shows up as a credit on your bill. How much that credit is worth depends on your retailer and your rate plan, and that choice can move the value of your system meaningfully. This post explains how micro-generation credits work and how to choose a plan that pays you properly.
How micro-generation credits work
Alberta’s micro-generation regulation requires your retailer to credit you for exported electricity at the same energy rate you pay to import it. A bi-directional meter tracks both directions. In summer you typically export more than you import and build up credits; in winter you draw them down. The energy rate is the part of your bill that solar affects most; distribution and transmission charges are mostly tied to the wires service and continue regardless.
Why your retailer matters once you have solar
Because the export credit equals your energy rate, a higher rate means a bigger credit for every kilowatt-hour you send out. A plan with a high summer rate and a low winter rate is ideal for a solar owner: you export at the high rate when the sun is strong and import at the low rate when it is not. Several Alberta retailers now offer exactly that structure, sometimes called a solar club or seasonal solar plan.
What seasonal solar plans typically offer
A high export rate during the sunny months, often several times the standard rate
A lower import rate in the darker months
The ability to switch between the two on a set schedule
Extras from some retailers such as cash back, carbon offsets or referral credits
Terms change, so compare the current offers at the time you sign up. Read our earlier explainer on solar loyalty programs for background.
A real example
One of our Calgary customers signed up for a seasonal solar plan after his install and saw a credit of around $75 on a single summer bill from exported power alone. That is the system doing exactly what it was designed to do.
Things to watch
Rate plans are set by retailers, not by Simply Renewable, and they change. Always check the current terms.
Credits are applied to your bill; retailers differ on how long credits carry forward.
Switching plans mid-year is usually allowed but check the schedule and any fees.
Your wires owner (ENMAX, EPCOR, FortisAlberta, ATCO or a municipal utility) does not change when you change retailer.
How we help
We size every system around your actual consumption, walk you through the micro-generation application, and point you to the current retailer plans that suit a solar owner. See the full install process or read the FAQ on grid connection.
Questions about your own roof? Call 825-964-1335 or use the Free Quote button at the top of this page for a free assessment with no deposit and no pressure.