Province guide

Net metering ~18-19¢/kWh

Nova Scotia

Solar, batteries & heat pumps

Nova Scotia lost its rebate but kept what matters more: high power rates and near-retail net metering. Displaced electricity is worth more here than almost anywhere in Canada.

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Home or business?

Rated 4.9

Homeowners across Ontario, Alberta & Nova Scotia

Electricity rate

19.128¢/kWh (since May 1, 2026)

Solar export

Roughly 1:1, 12-month rollover

Max system size

27 kW homes; 200 kW business; 1 MW farms

Open programs

Home or business?

Power is priced differently for homes and businesses, and so are the programs. Pick yours for the full step-by-step guide.

For homes

Residential solar

Home electricity rates, rebates, sizing, batteries and every step from quote to switch-on.

Read the home solar guide →

For businesses & farms

Commercial solar

How business power is billed, demand charges, the 30% federal credit and how a project runs.

Read the business solar guide →

For homes

Home power rates and solar programs

Electricity rates for homes

How homes pay for power

Nova Scotia Power has one residential rate across the province, and it's among the highest in our markets. That's why solar makes sense here even without a rebate.

Energy rate19.128¢/kWhSince May 1, 2026

Base charge$20.08/monthWas $19.17

Next stepJan 1, 2027NS Power applied for +4.1%

Residential energy rate history

2025 (with storm rider)18.561¢/kWh

Jan 1, 202618.187¢/kWh

May 1, 202619.128¢/kWh

What this means for solar

Every kWh your panels make and you use saves you over 19¢. Exports are banked as credits against your own use, so a system sized to your yearly consumption is usually the sweet spot.

Sources · checked October 2026

Nova Scotia Power – Rates

Home solar programs

The short version

The SolarHomes rebate closed in April 2025, so there's no upfront solar cash. Net metering and high power prices carry the payback. Heat pumps still have strong rebates.

Self-Generating Optionup to 27 kWExports banked as credits

Heat pump rebateup to $15,000Moderate-income stream

Halifax Solar City≈4.75%10-year property-tax financing

Nova Scotia home net meteringUp to 27 kWRead the program →Nova Scotia heat pump rebatesUp to $5,000 or $15,000Read the program →HomeWarmingFree heat pump for income-qualified homesRead the program →National Heat Pump RebateUp to $10,000 for below-median incomes, $2,000 for other households. Applications expected early 2027.Read the program →

No application is needed for the 27 kW option; your installer sends electrical plans to NS Power's inspection team.

Sources · checked October 2026

Read the full home solar guide →Get my free estimate

What this means for solar

No home solar rebate, but power is expensive and exports are banked as credits, so every kWh you make is worth a lot.

We design every system around your province's rules and your own power bill, so the savings we quote are the ones you see.

Get my free estimate

For businesses & farms

Business power rates and solar programs

How business power is billed

Small shops pay per kWh. Once you use 32,000 kWh a year or more, you move to a demand rate, where your highest draw in the month sets part of the bill.

Rate	Who	Demand	Energy
10 · Small General	Under 45,000 kWh/yr	None ($22/month base)	19.804¢ first 200 kWh, then 17.997¢
11 · General Demand	32,000 kWh/yr+, under 1,800 kW	$9.809/kW	15.738¢ for first 200 kWh per kW of demand, then 12.674¢
12 · Large General	1,800 kW+	$11.174/kVA	11.78¢

Rates updated May 1, 2026. Fuel and other adjustments apply on top.

Where solar saves

On Rate 10, every kWh is worth roughly 18 to 20¢, the best solar economics we see for small business.
On Rate 11, the first block of energy is priced higher, so solar cuts the most expensive kWh first.
Demand charges need a battery or load management; solar alone won't hold your monthly peak down.

Sources · checked October 2026

Nova Scotia Power – Business rates

Business solar programs

For businesses, farms and non-profits

Nova Scotia businesses combine commercial net metering, Efficiency Nova Scotia incentives and, if incorporated, the 30% federal tax credit.

Commercial net metering27–200 kWUp to 1 MW for farms, fisheries, aquaculture

Federal ITC30%20% without labour election

Nova Scotia business & non-profit solarEfficiency NS + ITCRead the program →Commercial net metering27 kW to 1 MWRead the program →Federal Clean Technology ITC30% refundable tax credit (20% without the labour election). Taxable corporations and incorporated farms only.Read the program →

Efficiency Nova Scotia needs pre-approval on larger projects. Don't sign an equipment order before it's in hand.

Sources · checked October 2026

Read the full business solar guide →Get my free estimate

Utilities in this province

Who runs the wires, what power costs, and when prices change next. Pick yours for the full solar rules.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Power

19.128¢/kWh energy rate (since May 1, 2026)

Next change:

December 31, 2026

Second year of the approved 2026–2027 rate plan (applied for +4.1% residential)

Rate outlook:

Rising

See utility →

Which cities have their own page?

Local pages with your utility, the rebates that apply and what a system looks like there.

Halifax

Solar City PACE financing

Halifax runs Solar City, one of the few purpose-built solar PACE financing programs in Atlantic Canada.

Local details →

Dartmouth

Solar City financing + net metering

Dartmouth is part of Halifax Regional Municipality, so HRM's Solar City financing is open to homeowners here.

Local details →

Bedford

Solar City financing + net metering

Bedford is part of HRM, so Solar City property-tax financing is available.

Local details →

Lower Sackville

Solar City financing + net metering

Lower Sackville is part of HRM, so Solar City financing applies here too.

Local details →

Cape Breton

Net metering + Efficiency NS

Cape Breton's coastal weather makes battery backup worth a look alongside solar.

Local details →

Sydney

Net metering + Efficiency NS

Sydney is the largest community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Local details →

Glace Bay

Net metering + Efficiency NS

Glace Bay is a former coal town in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Local details →

Lunenburg

Town utility rules + Efficiency NS

Lunenburg has its own town electric utility rather than Nova Scotia Power, so we confirm its solar rules before quoting.

Local details →

Chester

Net metering + Efficiency NS

Chester is a seaside village on Mahone Bay.

Local details →

Where do we install across the province?

Every town below has its own page with the local utility, rebates and a quick answer on whether solar pays there.

Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Lower Sackville, all eligible for HRM's Solar City financing.

Cape Breton Island

Sydney, Glace Bay and the wider Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Cape Breton

Sydney

Glace Bay

South Shore

Lunenburg, Chester, Bridgewater and Queens County.

Annapolis Valley & Central Nova Scotia

Truro, Wolfville, Kentville, Windsor, New Glasgow and Hants County.

Northwestern Nova Scotia

Amherst and the Isthmus of Chignecto.

Amherst

Western Nova Scotia

Yarmouth and the southwestern tip.

Yarmouth

How it works

Four steps from your first call to making your own power.

1. Free estimate

Send us a recent power bill and your address. We look at your roof and your usage and send back a plain estimate.

2. Design and paperwork

We size the system, then handle rebate pre-approval, permits and your utility's connection application.

3. Install and inspection

Our crew installs the system, then it goes through the electrical inspection.

4. Switch on

Your utility sets up the meter and you start making your own power. We show you how to keep an eye on it.

Questions we hear here

Straight answers on rebates, connecting to the grid and what to expect.

What solar rebates and incentives are available in my province?

It depends on where you live. Ontario and BC offer up to $10,000 for solar and batteries, Alberta has CEIP financing, and Nova Scotia and New Brunswick rely on strong net metering. We track every program and date each figure.

What is net metering?

Net metering credits the solar power you send to the grid against power you use later. Rules and credit values vary by province: some pay full retail, others pay less.

What is permission to operate?

It's your utility's final approval to switch your system on and export to the grid. It comes after the electrical inspection, and we handle the request.

Does solar work in Canadian winters and snow?

Yes. Panels produce less in winter because days are short, but cold temperatures improve efficiency and snow usually slides off. Annual estimates already account for winter.

Do I need permits and inspections, and who handles them?

Yes. Most projects need a building permit, an electrical permit and inspection, and utility approval. We handle all of them.

What are the steps to go solar with GriffEnergy?

Free assessment, custom design and proposal, choosing cash, financing or lease, rebate pre-approval and permits, installation, inspection and utility approval, then switch-on and monitoring.

Should I add a battery to my solar system?

A battery makes sense if you want backup power, are on time-of-use or ultra-low overnight rates, or your province rewards self-consumption over export. Some rebates pay for batteries installed with solar.

FREE Estimate

Check what your home could save

Find out what your home could really do. We’ll show you your potential savings, energy independence, and how your system would perform — all in a quick, no-pressure estimate.

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Rated 4.9 by homeowners across Ontario, Alberta & Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Solar, batteries & heat pumps

Home or business?

Residential solar

Commercial solar

Home power rates and solar programs

Electricity rates for homes

Home solar programs

No home solar rebate, but power is expensive and exports are banked as credits, so every kWh you make is worth a lot.

Business power rates and solar programs

How business power is billed

Where solar saves

Business solar programs

Utilities in this province

Which cities have their own page?

Where do we install across the province?

Halifax Regional Municipality

Cape Breton Island

South Shore

Annapolis Valley & Central Nova Scotia

Northwestern Nova Scotia

Western Nova Scotia

How it works

Questions we hear here

Check what your home could save

Ready to take control of your power bill?

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of your power bill?