Northwest Territories
Solar panels in Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories has among the highest power rates in Canada — roughly 31–41¢/kWh depending on community — so displacing your own consumption is valuable. NTPC offers 1:1 net metering up to 15 kW, and payback can be as short as 7–12 years in high-rate diesel communities.
The Arctic Energy Alliance rebate is generous — $4/watt up to $20,000 — but with an important catch: it applies only to off-grid buildings or non-hydro communities. Homes in hydro communities (Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith) instead use 1:1 net metering. Federal programs are closed; confirm eligibility with AEA.
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Cities we serve in Northwest Territories
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Northwest Territories — 0 kW rooftop
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What 0 Northwest Territories installs tell us
Aggregated from completed Xolar systems across Northwest Territories — first-hand data, not industry averages. Nothing a competitor can copy.
With sky-high electricity costs and 1:1 net metering, NWT solar economics are surprisingly strong where it applies — best in high-rate diesel communities. Credits reset each March 31 and systems cap at 15 kW, so sizing to annual use is key.
Northwest Territories energy & net metering
Consistent across every Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) / Naka Power (Yellowknife) service area.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Northwest Territories 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 35¢/kWh. Only the surplus flows past the meter to Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) / Naka Power (Yellowknife) for 1:1 net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Northwest Territories
Local, provincial, federal and Xolar in-house — covering all available programs for Northwest Territories homeowners.
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What Northwest Territories homeowners say
Northwest Territories solar questions
Does the Northwest Territories have net metering for home solar?
Yes.
NTPC (and Naka Power) offer net metering on a 1:1 basis, crediting excess solar energy at the full retail electricity rate.
Systems are generally capped at 15 kW of rated capacity.
Note that credits don’t roll over indefinitely — any excess-energy credit balance is reset to zero at the end of March each year, so it’s best to size a system to your annual usage rather than to bank a large surplus.
The territorial regulator has indicated it will review net-metering compensation as part of its regular process, so current terms could change.
What rebates can NWT homeowners get for solar panels?
The Arctic Energy Alliance offers a rebate of $4.00 per watt of installed solar capacity, up to $20,000 for residents (higher caps apply to businesses and community or Indigenous governments).
There’s an important eligibility catch: this solar rebate is available only for off-grid buildings or homes in communities that do not run on hydroelectricity.
Homes in hydro-powered communities such as Yellowknife, Hay River, and Fort Smith are not eligible for the AEA solar rebate and instead go the net-metering route.
Confirm current program funding directly with the Arctic Energy Alliance.
Are the federal Canada Greener Homes grants still available?
No.
Both federal programs have closed.
The Canada Greener Homes Grant closed to submissions — December 31, 2025 was the last day to submit documents — and the Canada Greener Homes Loan is also closed, with no further applications approved.
Federal support for residential solar is no longer available through these programs, so today’s main incentives are the AEA rebate (in non-hydro communities) and net metering.
How much does electricity cost in the NWT, and does solar make sense here?
NWT power rates are among the highest in Canada and vary sharply by community.
In diesel/thermal communities, NTPC charges roughly 35¢/kWh for the first 600 kWh per month and considerably more above that (effective June 1, 2026).
In the hydro-served south — Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, and Hay River — the rate is about 32.4¢/kWh, and Norman Wells is about 36.9¢/kWh.
A territorial subsidy (the Territorial Power Support Program) lowers the cost of the first 600 kWh.
Because retail rates are so high and net metering credits solar at that full retail rate, offsetting your own consumption with solar can be valuable.
What's involved in connecting a solar system to the grid in the NWT?
To net-meter with NTPC you submit a Net Metering Application Form to your utility, obtain an electrical permit from the GNWT Department of Infrastructure, and ensure the system meets NTPC’s Technical Interconnection Guidelines.
Equipment must be CSA- or ULC-approved and the installation must comply with the current Canadian Electrical Code.
Systems are generally limited to 15 kW of rated capacity; work with a licensed local electrician to confirm timelines and inspection steps.
Why Solar Works in the Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories has the strongest solar economics of anywhere Xolar operates, and it is not close. Electricity runs about 35 cents per kWh – roughly three and a half times Manitoba’s rate – and varies by community, with diesel-dependent communities paying more still. Every kilowatt-hour a panel produces displaces power at that price.
Yellowknife produces around 1,095 kWh per kW installed annually. The seasonal swing is extreme: near-continuous summer daylight drives very high production from spring through autumn, while deep winter contributes little. That profile suits net metering well, because summer surplus carries forward against winter consumption.
Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Naka Power (in Yellowknife) credit exported energy at the full retail rate, 1:1. Credits reset on March 31, which lands at the end of winter drawdown rather than mid-summer – a genuinely favourable reset date for solar.
NWT Solar Rebates & Grants (2026)
Arctic Energy Alliance Grant – up to $20,000 residential
The largest residential solar grant available in Canada, administered by the Arctic Energy Alliance. Combined with 35-cent electricity, it produces payback periods well shorter than southern provinces achieve.
Arctic Energy Alliance Grant – up to $50,000 commercial
The commercial stream supports larger installations for businesses and community organisations.
Net Metering
Residential systems up to 15 kW qualify – a lower ceiling than most provinces, so sizing matters. Exported energy is credited 1:1 at retail, with credits resetting March 31 each year.
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