Solar panels in Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna Solar: Okanagan Sun and FortisBC Net Metering
Kelowna sits in FortisBC territory, not BC Hydro, and that shapes the whole solar picture. FortisBC customers do not qualify for the BC Hydro solar rebate, so the main standing incentive is BC’s 7% PST exemption on your system. The upside is real: FortisBC still offers 1:1 retail–rate net metering, and the interior Okanagan is one of British Columbia’s sunniest regions at about 1,245 kWh per kW a year, roughly 20 to 25 percent more than coastal Vancouver. With FortisBC’s lower Tier 1 rate near 10.8 cents, Kelowna solar pays back fastest when sized for self–consumption.
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Xolar installs across British Columbia
8 completed Xolar systems across British Columbia. Kelowna is in our service area — yours could be the first one we publish here.
Kelowna energy & net metering
What FortisBC charges here, and how surplus solar is credited in British Columbia.
FortisBC provides electricity in the Kelowna area. FortisBC customers are NOT eligible for BC Hydro solar/battery rebates. FortisBC has its own net metering program with a 50kW cap. PST exemption on solar equipment still applies regardless of utility.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Kelowna system's value comes from power used behind the meter — electricity your panels make and your home uses on the spot, offsetting energy you'd otherwise buy at 10.8¢/kWh. Only the surplus flows past the meter to FortisBC for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Kelowna
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Kelowna homeowner can stack.
- 7% PST exemptionPST Exemption
- Up to 30% of eligible costsClean Technology Investment Tax Credit (Commercial ITC)
Solar Panels in Kelowna, BC
Kelowna gets 20-30% more sun than the coast. The Okanagan’s dry climate produces 1,245 kWh/kW – comparable to many Alberta cities.
Important: FortisBC provides electricity in the Kelowna area. FortisBC customers are NOT eligible for BC Hydro solar/battery rebates ($5,000 + $5,000). However, FortisBC has its own net metering program (up to 50kW), and the PST exemption (7%) on solar equipment (~$2,000 savings) applies regardless of utility.
Note: The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs are now closed.
FortisBC Net Metering in Kelowna
FortisBC offers genuine net metering for systems up to 50 kW. Through the year, excess solar is banked as credits at the full retail rate (1:1) and applied to later bills. Any surplus remaining at your annual anniversary is settled at FortisBC’s lower avoided-cost rate, so the goal is to size your system to net close to zero over the year.
This is a real advantage right now: BC Hydro is moving new customers to a reduced export rate in 2026, but that change applies to BC Hydro, not FortisBC. Kelowna’s FortisBC net metering is unaffected. (As of June 2026.)
Kelowna Solar Production and Savings
The interior Okanagan is one of BC’s sunniest regions. Kelowna produces about 1,245 kWh per kW a year, roughly 20 to 25 percent more than coastal Vancouver. More sun means more output from the same system.
FortisBC’s residential rate is relatively low (about 10.8¢/kWh Tier 1), so the strongest returns come from using your own solar directly rather than exporting. Sized for self-consumption, payback in Kelowna runs about 8 to 12 years, followed by decades of low-cost power.
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Areas We Serve in Kelowna
Professional solar panel installation available in these Kelowna neighborhoods and communities:
What Kelowna homeowners say
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"The rep was very educational and polite, was patient with me"
"Very good and understand she explain"
"Awesome thank you for your help and your support and generous wishes"
"Ross was great, he explained what needed explaining and didn't fill me up with bafflegab."
"Knowledgeable and right to the point. Detailed quote on my home solar."
Kelowna solar questions
Is Kelowna good for solar?
Kelowna is one of the best cities in BC for solar.
The Okanagan produces 1,245 kWh/kW – comparable to Alberta.
Payback in the interior is 8-12 years.
Does Kelowna qualify for BC Hydro rebates?
No.
Kelowna is served by FortisBC, not BC Hydro.
FortisBC customers are not eligible for BC Hydro’s solar/battery rebates.
However, the PST exemption on solar equipment (~$2,000 savings) applies regardless of utility.
What is FortisBC's net metering program?
FortisBC allows net metering for systems up to 50kW.
Excess generation credits are applied to your bill.
Contact FortisBC for current program terms and rates.
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