Net metering in Canada is not a single program. Each province runs its own, sets its own export rate, and changes the rules on its own schedule, while some provinces do not use a net metering structure at all. The gap between the best and worst programs is wide enough that the same solar system in two different provinces produces very different economics for the customer sitting across the table.
Export Rates Vary Significantly by Province
The spread across Canada is worth knowing. Saskatchewan runs a true net metering program, crediting homeowners 7.5 cents per kWh for exported power while those same customers pay roughly 15.5 cents per kWh to draw power back from the grid. Nova Scotia sits at the other end. Its program credits exported power at the full retail rate, currently around 18.5 cents per kWh, making it one of the strongest net metering programs in the country.
British Columbia has operated a retail-rate net metering program, but that is changing. The BC Utilities Commission recently approved a shift to a net billing structure, where new customers will receive 10 cents per kWh for exported power starting July 2026. BC Hydro's current retail rates sit at 10.73 cents per kWh for Tier 1 and 13.62 cents per kWh for Tier 2. Existing net metering customers have ten years to transition.
Some Provinces Use Net Billing Instead
Manitoba and Alberta do not run net metering programs. Both use net billing, and the distinction matters. Under net metering, exported power is credited at the retail rate. Under net billing, exported power is credited at a lower rate, typically wholesale or a posted utility rate, while customers still pay full retail to consume from the grid.
Manitoba Hydro pays homeowners 4.39 cents per kWh for exported power, adjusted annually, against a residential retail rate of roughly 9.97 cents per kWh. Customers receive less than half the value for power they send to the grid compared to what they pay to draw it back. Alberta's structure is different again. There is no standard posted export rate. Credits are negotiated directly between the customer and their electricity retailer, so the rate varies and can change. Programs like Solar Club come in handy for Albertan homeowners who are looking for flexibility in their rate.
Programs Can Change Quickly
Provincial programs are not static. The BC change was approved in March 2026 and affects every new customer application going forward. Quebec recently raised its net metering cap from 50 kW to 1 MW, opening up commercial projects that were largely off the table before. These shifts do not always come with much public notice, and they are not always covered in the same places installers track equipment pricing or rebate updates.
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association maintains a regularly updated summary of provincial rates and programs. For rate specifics, utility program pages remain the most reliable source.
The Rate Is Part of the Customer Conversation
When a customer asks how much they will save, the export rate is part of that answer. A system that produces more than the home consumes will earn very different returns depending on the province. Knowing the local program before that conversation should be part of your preparation.
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