BC Hydro still pays rebates for home solar and batteries in 2026, but the rules changed this year: a smaller battery rebate unless you join Peak Saver, a required installer network, and a new export rate that replaced net metering. Here’s what you can get now, who qualifies, and the order to do things in so you don’t lose the rebate.
Quick answer: BC Hydro pays $1,000 per kW of solar, up to $5,000, and $500 per kWh of battery storage, up to $1,500 with solar, or up to $5,000 if the battery is enrolled in Peak Saver. Each rebate is capped at 50% of the installed cost. That’s up to $10,000 together. You need a BC Hydro (or City of New Westminster) residential account, an installer from the Home Performance Contractor Network, and BC Hydro’s technical acceptance before installing. Net metering is closed to new customers: since July 1, 2026, exported power earns a $0.10 per kWh bill credit.
Key takeaways
- Solar: $1,000/kW, up to $5,000, no more than 50% of the installed cost.
- Battery: $500/kWh, up to $1,500 with solar, or up to $5,000 enrolled in Peak Saver. Battery-only systems qualify only with Peak Saver.
- Installer rule: since June 1, 2026, the install must be done by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member.
- Order matters: apply for self-generation and get technical acceptance before installing. BC Hydro recommends not buying equipment until then.
- Net metering is closed to new customers. New systems are on Self-Generation Service (Rate Schedule 2289): $0.10 per kWh exported, credited on your bill.
- FortisBC customers aren’t eligible for BC Hydro’s rebates.
See every province on our Canadian solar rebates page, or get a quote with the rebate applied.
What BC solar and battery rebates are available in 2026?
| Rebate | Rate | Maximum (home) | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | $1,000 per kW (DC) | $5,000 | 50% of installed cost |
| Battery, with solar | $500 per kWh | $1,500 | 50% of installed cost |
| Battery, enrolled in Peak Saver | $500 per kWh | $5,000 | 50% of installed cost |
| Battery only, no Peak Saver | Not eligible | ||
Source: BC Hydro, Rebates for solar panels and battery storage, checked October 26, 2026. Higher caps apply to commercial and multi-unit buildings, social housing providers, Indigenous governing bodies and remote communities.
Rebates are first come, first served while funding lasts, and BC Hydro hasn’t published an end date.
How much is the BC Hydro solar rebate?
$1,000 for each kW of solar panels installed, up to $5,000, and never more than half of what the system cost, labour and materials included.
A worked example
These numbers show the arithmetic. They’re an example, not a quote.
- Solar: an 8 kW system works out to 8 × $1,000 = $8,000, which is above the cap, so the rebate is $5,000. For the full $5,000, the solar portion has to cost at least $10,000 because of the 50% limit.
- Battery: a 13.5 kWh battery, the size of one Tesla Powerwall 3, works out to 13.5 × $500 = $6,750. That’s above both caps, so the rebate is $1,500 with solar, or $5,000 if it’s enrolled in Peak Saver.
- Total in this example: $6,500, or $10,000 with Peak Saver.
Systems of 5 kW and up reach the solar maximum, as long as the 50% limit doesn’t bite. Check the battery against BC Hydro’s qualified product list before you commit; see Tesla Powerwall and the BC Hydro rebate.
How does the battery rebate and Peak Saver work?
Peak Saver is BC Hydro’s program for easing demand at the busiest times. With a home battery enrolled, the battery rebate cap rises from $1,500 to $5,000. BC Hydro says to enroll within 14 days of interconnection approval to get the larger rebate.
According to BC Hydro, during occasional peak events in the winter season (November to March) an enrolled battery discharges to power your own home, for no more than four hours and never below 20% charge, then goes back to its normal settings. You can opt out of an event, but opting out of more than half of a season’s events can cost you the seasonal reward.
Peak Saver is also the only way a battery without solar qualifies. See home backup batteries for what a battery covers in an outage.
Who qualifies for the BC Hydro rebates?
- A BC Hydro or City of New Westminster residential account. Customers of other B.C. utilities, such as FortisBC, aren’t eligible.
- You own the property. Rented homes qualify, but the rebate goes to the registered owner.
- Installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member, for installs from June 1, 2026. BC Hydro recommends getting at least three quotes.
- Battery equipment on BC Hydro’s battery qualified product list.
- Installed and connected after June 27, 2024.
How do you apply, step by step?
- Choose an HPCN installer and get quotes.
- Submit the self-generation application to BC Hydro before installing. BC Hydro strongly recommends waiting to buy equipment until it’s reviewed and accepted.
- Get technical acceptance from BC Hydro, then your licensed contractor installs the system.
- Send the final inspection documents and the paid invoice to get interconnection approval.
- Enroll the battery in Peak Saver within 14 days of interconnection approval, if you’re going for the $5,000 battery rebate.
- Get paid. BC Hydro processes the rebate within 60 days after interconnection approval.
If the installed equipment differs from what was approved, BC Hydro may need a new approval before it pays, so keep your installer to the approved design.
What happened to net metering in BC?
BC Hydro’s net metering rate (Rate Schedule 1289) is closed to new customers. Since July 1, 2026, new solar systems go on Self-Generation Service (Rate Schedule 2289):
- Power you export is totalled at the end of each billing period.
- BC Hydro applies a credit of $0.10 per kWh exported to your bill.
- Customers already on net metering keep it for 10 years from their start date, then move to the new rate automatically.
What it means for a new system: power you use yourself saves you the full retail rate, while exported power earns a flat 10 cents. Using more of your own solar, for example with a battery or by running high-use appliances in the day, matters more than it did under net metering. Our solar battery calculator shows the effect for your usage. For how net metering works elsewhere, see net metering by province.
What if you’re a FortisBC customer?
BC Hydro’s rebates are for BC Hydro and City of New Westminster customers only, so homes served by FortisBC or another utility aren’t eligible. FortisBC has its own terms for connecting solar; check them with FortisBC before you design a system.
Watch out for door-to-door solar sales
BC Hydro notes that new consumer protection requirements apply to the sale of solar systems in B.C. from August 1, 2026. Law-firm summaries of the changes describe a ban on unsolicited door-to-door sales of solar systems and related financing. If someone knocks offering a “BC Hydro rebate” deal, check the rebate yourself at bchydro.com/solarrebate and confirm the installer is an HPCN member.
BC solar and battery rebates at a glance (2026)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Solar rebate | $1,000/kW, up to $5,000 (50% cap) |
| Battery rebate | $500/kWh, up to $1,500 with solar; up to $5,000 with Peak Saver |
| Most you can get | $10,000 (solar + battery in Peak Saver) |
| Installer | Must be an HPCN member (from June 1, 2026) |
| Before installing | Self-generation application and technical acceptance |
| Exported power | $0.10/kWh bill credit (Rate Schedule 2289) |
| FortisBC customers | Not eligible |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the BC Hydro solar rebate in 2026?
$1,000 per kW of solar installed, up to $5,000 and no more than 50% of the installed cost.
How much is the BC Hydro battery rebate?
$500 per kWh of storage, up to $1,500 when paired with solar, or up to $5,000 if the battery is enrolled in Peak Saver. Both are capped at 50% of the installed cost.
Can I get a rebate for a battery without solar?
Only if you enroll the battery in BC Hydro’s Peak Saver program.
Does BC Hydro still offer net metering?
Not to new customers. Since July 1, 2026, new systems are on Self-Generation Service (Rate Schedule 2289), which credits exported power at $0.10 per kWh. Existing net metering customers keep it for 10 years from their start date.
Do I have to use a specific installer?
Yes. For installs from June 1, 2026, the installer must be a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network.
When is the rebate paid?
Within 60 days after BC Hydro gives interconnection approval, which follows the final inspection and paid invoice.
Are FortisBC customers eligible?
No. BC Hydro’s rebates are only for BC Hydro and City of New Westminster customers.
Sources
- BC Hydro, Rebates for solar panels and battery storage, checked October 26, 2026.
- BC Hydro, Customer generation and self-generation service, checked October 26, 2026.
- BC Hydro, Enroll your smart home devices in Peak Saver, checked October 26, 2026.
- Fasken, British Columbia tightens consumer protection rules, May 2026.
Related: Solar installers in British Columbia · Do solar panels work in winter? · Home backup batteries · Solar rebates by province
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