BC Hydro vs. FortisBC Solar 2026
BC Hydro vs. FortisBC Solar in 2026: What BC Homeowners Need to Know
Two utilities, two very different sets of solar rules. Before you evaluate panels, prices or payback, here's why the logo on your electricity bill shapes everything that follows.
See If Solar Makes Sense For Your HomeStep one: check the logo on your electricity bill
Residential solar in British Columbia isn't governed by one provincial rule — it's governed by your electricity utility. BC Hydro and FortisBC each run their own solar program with different export rules, different compensation and different rebates, and some communities are served by municipal utilities with programs of their own. The same panels on the same roof can produce different economics depending only on whose logo is on the bill. So before you compare quotes, prices or payback periods, find that logo — everything else in this guide follows from it.
Your utility, your rules
If You're a BC Hydro Customer
BC Hydro's solar rules changed significantly in 2026 — here's what new customers need to understand.
The July 1, 2026 change
Effective July 1, 2026, BC Hydro closed its traditional net-metering Rate Schedule 1289 to new customers. New solar customers instead take service under the Self-Generation Rate Schedule 2289.
How exports are treated
Under Rate Schedule 2289, excess electricity you export to BC Hydro is compensated at $0.10 per kWh, with compensation each billing cycle. Electricity you generate and use in your home still directly offsets what you would otherwise buy — that part didn't change.
Already have solar?
Existing net-metering customers did not automatically lose their arrangements — transition and grandfathering rules exist, and how they apply depends on your account. BC Hydro is the authority on your specific situation; contact them before assuming anything.
We cover the new rate structure in more depth in our guide to BC Hydro's self-generation rate change, and the BC Hydro solar rebate is explained in full further down this page.
A different model
If You're a FortisBC Customer
FortisBC runs its own Net Metering Program — separate rules, separate economics, and no access to BC Hydro's rebate.
A kWh bank, not a purchase
Under FortisBC's Net Metering Program, excess electricity you generate is banked in a kWh bank and used during future billing periods, subject to FortisBC's current program rules. Surplus summer generation can offset what you draw back in winter — a different model from BC Hydro's new export purchase arrangement.
Sizing and eligibility
Eligible systems are intended to offset some or all of the property's expected annual electricity consumption, and FortisBC currently allows generating capacity of up to 50 kW under the program. Program terms can change, so confirm current requirements with FortisBC before committing to a system.
One thing to be clear about: FortisBC customers are not eligible for BC Hydro's solar rebate. It's a BC Hydro program for BC Hydro customers — not a BC-wide incentive — no matter where in the province you live.
Side by side
BC Hydro vs. FortisBC: the comparison at a glance
The same solar array behaves differently under each utility's rules.
| BC Hydro (new customers) | FortisBC | |
|---|---|---|
| Program that covers solar | Self-Generation Rate Schedule 2289 — for customers who joined on or after July 1, 2026 | FortisBC Net Metering Program |
| What happens to excess electricity | BC Hydro purchases it at $0.10/kWh, with compensation each billing cycle | Banked in a kWh bank and used during future billing periods, under FortisBC's current program rules |
| Electricity you use yourself | Directly offsets electricity you would otherwise buy at your applicable rate | Directly offsets electricity you would otherwise buy at your applicable rate |
| System sizing anchor | Your actual consumption — self-consumption matters more than export | Your expected annual consumption — the program is intended to offset some or all of it |
| Maximum generating capacity | Defined by BC Hydro's interconnection requirements — check with BC Hydro | Up to 50 kW under FortisBC's current program rules |
| Utility solar rebate | $1,000 per kW of installed DC capacity, up to program limits, for eligible customers | Not eligible for the BC Hydro rebate — that program is for BC Hydro customers |
Reflects each utility's published program information as of September 17, 2026. Both utilities can change their terms — always verify current rules with your own utility.
Sizing follows the rules
Why This Changes Your Solar System Size
Under BC Hydro's new structure, where each kilowatt-hour goes matters as much as how many you produce.
Under BC Hydro's Self-Generation Rate Schedule 2289, a kilowatt-hour you use directly in your home — running your dishwasher, heating water, charging a car while the sun is up — avoids a purchase at your applicable residential rate. BC Hydro's published tiered residential rates are higher than the $0.10/kWh currently paid for exports, which means self-consumed electricity and exported electricity have different economics for the same home. The per-kWh gap is modest, but it points in one direction: for new BC Hydro customers, a system sized to what you actually consume is worth more than an oversized one exporting heavily.
For FortisBC customers, the sizing anchor is your expected annual consumption — that's what the program is designed to offset, with excess generation banked as kWh rather than sold each cycle. Annual surplus beyond what the program intends is subject to FortisBC's settlement rules, so more isn't automatically better there either.
None of this is a savings or payback guarantee — your outcome depends on your usage patterns, roof, shading and rates. It's simply why estimating your system size with the right utility selected matters more in 2026 than it did under a single net-metering model.
Follow the utility
What About Solar Rebates?
There is one major utility solar rebate in BC right now — and it follows the utility's logo, not geography.
BC Hydro customers
Eligible BC Hydro residential customers may qualify for a rebate of $1,000 per kilowatt of installed DC generating capacity, subject to a maximum of $5,000 for an individually metered home and a maximum of 50% of the eligible installed product cost. Eligibility conditions apply, funding is limited and allocated first-come, first-served, and pre-approval is required before purchasing equipment. Beginning June 1, 2026, installations must be completed by an eligible Home Performance Contractor Network member to qualify. Always verify current program rules with BC Hydro — our rebate guide covers the details.
FortisBC customers
FortisBC electricity customers are not eligible for the BC Hydro solar rebate — it is a BC Hydro program for BC Hydro customers. Municipal utility customers aren't eligible either. For any incentive your own utility may offer, check its published programs directly; we won't assume offerings that may not exist.
In order
What Should a BC Homeowner Do First?
A short, sensible sequence — before quotes, before prices, before decisions.
- 1
Find the logo on your electricity bill
BC Hydro, FortisBC, or a municipal utility — this single detail determines which solar program, export rules and rebates apply to your home.
- 2
Gather your electricity usage
A year of bills, or at least a typical monthly bill and an estimate of annual consumption, gives any solar estimate something real to work with.
- 3
Run the numbers with your utility selected
Our solar calculator asks which utility serves your home and models BC Hydro's Self-Generation rate and FortisBC's kWh bank separately — no generic assumptions.
- 4
Verify current program rules with your utility
Rates, program terms and rebate funding can change. Before buying anything, confirm eligibility and current rules directly with your utility.
- 5
Get a personalized analysis
A solar analysis looks at your roof, orientation, shading and usage together — so the sizing recommendation reflects your home, not an average.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions BC homeowners ask us most about utility differences.
I already have solar and I'm a BC Hydro customer — did I lose my net metering?
Not necessarily, and no website can tell you which terms apply to your account. BC Hydro has transition and grandfathering rules for customers who were in the program before July 1, 2026, and how they apply depends on your specific situation. Contact BC Hydro directly to confirm the rate schedule your account is on.
Can I choose to be a BC Hydro or FortisBC customer?
Generally no — electricity service territories are set by where your home is located, and most homeowners can't switch utilities to get better solar terms. Some communities are served by municipal utilities instead (such as the City of Penticton or the District of Summerland), which have their own programs.
Is solar still worth it for new BC Hydro customers under Rate Schedule 2289?
It depends on your consumption, roof, shading and how the system is sized — not on any single rule. Because exported electricity is now purchased at $0.10/kWh rather than banked, a system matched to what you actually use matters more. Our solar calculator models the new BC Hydro structure, and a personalized analysis looks at your specific home. We don't guarantee savings or payback.
Does FortisBC offer a solar rebate?
The BC Hydro solar rebate is a BC Hydro program — FortisBC electricity customers are not eligible for it, regardless of where in BC they live. For any current FortisBC offerings, check FortisBC's published programs directly, since incentives can change.
What if my bill is from a municipal utility like Penticton or Summerland?
Municipal utilities run their own net-metering programs with their own rules, caps and compensation — they're neither BC Hydro's new rate nor FortisBC's program. Identify your utility from your bill first, then verify the current program terms with that utility. Our guide to solar across British Columbia covers how the landscape fits together.
Check the source
Sources / Verify Current Programs
Utility programs change. These are the official pages to confirm current eligibility, rates and terms.
- BC Hydro — Self-Generation (Rate Schedule 2289) — current export terms and conditions.
- BC Hydro — Self-generation rate updates — background on the July 1, 2026 change and transition rules.
- BC Hydro — Solar and battery rebates — current rebate amounts, eligibility and pre-approval requirements.
- FortisBC — Net Metering Program — current program rules, capacity limits and the kWh bank.
Facts on this page reflect each utility's published program information as of September 17, 2026. BC Solar Expert is an independent educational resource — we are not a utility, government body, installer or contractor, and we don't guarantee eligibility, rates or savings. Always verify current programs directly with your utility before making purchase decisions.
Estimate Your Home's Solar Potential
Start with your electricity use, utility and home details to get a preliminary solar estimate.
