BC's 2026 Solar Rule Changes: The New Self-Generation Rate Explained
August 29, 2026
VerifiedAugust 28, 2026
Next reviewNovember 28, 2026
AuthorGriffEnergy Research Team
SourceBC Hydro & BCUC
The short answer
BC's 1:1 net metering rate (RS 1289) closed to new customers on July 1, 2026. New solar customers go on the self-generation rate RS 2289, which pays a flat 10¢/kWh for exported power. Rebates still reach $5,000 solar + $5,000 battery, but since June 1, 2026 the installer must be an HPCN member. Model your payback on 10¢, not on old net-metering math.
British Columbia changed its solar economics twice in 2026, and a lot of quotes still circulating use the old numbers. Following a BC Utilities Commission decision on March 24, 2026, BC Hydro closed net metering to new customers and introduced a self-generation rate. Here is the accurate picture.
What actually changed
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2026 | Batteries not paired with solar (or not enrolled in Peak Saver) stop being rebate-eligible |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Installations must be done by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member to qualify for rebates |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Net metering (RS 1289) closed to new customers; self-generation rate RS 2289 applies at a flat 10¢/kWh export |
What the rebates pay
Solar is rebated at $1,000 per kW installed, capped at 50% of total project cost and $5,000. Battery storage starts at $500 per kWh, rising to a maximum of $5,000 when the battery is enrolled in BC Hydro's Peak Saver program. Pre-approval is required before you buy equipment, systems are capped at 100 kW AC inverter capacity (50 kW for City of New Westminster customers), and the install must have been completed after June 27, 2024.
The eligibility traps
Several exclusions catch people out, and most competitor pages omit them entirely:
- Tesla products are not eligible for the BC Hydro rebate — worth knowing if an installer is quoting you a Powerwall.
- Individually metered strata and condo suites do not qualify for the residential per-unit rebate. Buildings on a single or common-area meter may qualify under the multi-family program.
- FortisBC and other municipal utility customers are not eligible — this is a BC Hydro program.
- Ground mounts and detached garages are eligible, provided they are fixed to the property and on the primary BC Hydro meter.
The rebate-versus-rate trade-off
Here is the subtle part. Accepting a BC Hydro solar rebate constitutes acceptance of RS 2289 — rebate recipients were moved onto the new rate on July 1, 2026. If you received a rebate before the March 24, 2026 BCUC decision, you were given a one-time option to repay the solar portion of the rebate (not the battery portion) and stay on RS 1289 instead. Customers already on net metering keep that rate for 10 years from their service start date, then transfer automatically to RS 2289.
What it means for your numbers
The practical effect is that exporting power is now worth less than self-consuming it. Under RS 2289 every exported kilowatt-hour earns a flat 10¢, while every kilowatt-hour you use yourself avoids paying the full retail rate. For a system sized close to household consumption the impact is modest; for a heavily oversized export-focused system it is significant. Size for self-consumption, not for maximum export — and treat any payback estimate built on 1:1 net metering as out of date.
For the rest of Canada, see every solar rebate by province. Businesses: BC commercial incentives.
Is solar still worth it in BC after the rate change?
For systems sized to your own consumption, yes — the rebates are unchanged and self-consumed power still offsets the full retail rate. The change mainly penalises oversized, export-heavy systems.
What is HPCN and why does it matter?
The Home Performance Contractor Network. Since June 1, 2026, only HPCN members' installations qualify for rebates. Confirm membership before signing — using a non-member disqualifies your rebate.
Can I keep the old net-metering rate?
Only if you were already on RS 1289. Existing customers keep it for 10 years from their service start date. New customers cannot join it.
Are Tesla Powerwalls eligible?
No. BC Hydro's terms exclude Tesla products from the rebate. Ask your installer what eligible alternatives they offer.
Primary sources
- BC Hydro — Solar panel and battery storage rebates, terms and conditions
- BC Hydro — Self-generation service and customer generation rate updates (RS 1289 closure, RS 2289)
- BC Utilities Commission — Decision on BC Hydro's net metering service rate application, March 24, 2026
- BC Hydro — Home Performance Contractor Network requirements, effective June 1, 2026
Verified against BC Hydro program pages on August 28, 2026. Rates are regulated by the BCUC and subject to change — confirm current terms before signing. General information, not financial advice.
