Is solar worth it in Canada in 2026?
An honest province-by-province answer for 2026 using our model's paybacks: where solar pays, who it suits best, who should wait and what could change.
6 min read · Updated 2026-10-30
For many Canadian homes, rooftop solar pays for itself well within the life of the panels. For others, it takes so long that the money would do more elsewhere. The biggest factors are your province's electricity prices and export rules, then your roof.
Payback by province in our model
We ran the same sample house, with a $180 monthly bill, through our model in each province, sized for the best payback. These are our model's estimates, not quotes.
| Province | Payback | How exports are credited |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 11.9 years | Net metering, 12-month rollover (or the HRSP rebate without net metering) |
| Nova Scotia | 13.6 years | Net metering, annual payout of leftover credits |
| Prince Edward Island | 14.4 years | Net metering |
| Alberta | 14.8 years | Credited at your retail energy rate |
| New Brunswick | 15.5 years | Net metering, credits reset each March 31 |
| Quebec | 18.1 years | Net metering, 24-month bank (with the Hydro-Québec grant) |
| Saskatchewan | 18.8 years | Net billing at 7.5¢ per kWh, credits carry forward |
| British Columbia | 18.9 years | Net billing at 10¢ per kWh for new customers since July 1, 2026 (with the BC Hydro rebate) |
| Manitoba | 20.9 years | Net billing at 7.173¢ per kWh |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 23.8 years | Net metering, annual settlement |
Panels typically come with 25-year performance warranties and can run longer. As a rough guide:
- Under about 15 years: solar is a reasonable long-term investment for a suitable home.
- 15 to 20 years: it can work, but it depends on a good roof, a fair price and staying put.
- Over 20 years: hard to justify on savings alone.
Why the provinces differ
- Electricity prices. Quebec and Manitoba have some of the cheapest power in North America, so each kWh of solar saves less. Ontario and the Maritimes pay more.
- Export rules. Net metering gives full value for summer surplus. Net billing pays less for exports. See net metering in Canada.
- Installed cost. Newfoundland and Labrador prices run about $4.00 to $4.60 per watt, against roughly $2.40 to $3.30 elsewhere. See the cost of solar in Canada.
- Sunshine. Prairie roofs produce the most per kW, which helps Alberta and Saskatchewan. See how much electricity a solar panel makes.
- Rebates. Ontario's HRSP and BC Hydro's solar rebate cut the upfront cost. The federal Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants. See incentives.
Who solar works best for
- A roof facing south, east or west with little shade.
- A roof that won't need replacing for 10 to 15 years. See replacing your roof before solar.
- Higher yearly electricity use, especially with electric heating, a heat pump or an EV.
- A province with net metering or a solar rebate.
- Plans to stay in the home for many years.
- A fair price per watt. Check quotes with our quote checker.
Who should wait or skip it
- Your roof needs work soon. Removing and reinstalling panels later adds thousands of dollars.
- Heavy shade or a north-facing roof. Output may be too low to pay back.
- Low electricity use. A small bill leaves little to save, and fixed charges stay.
- You expect to move within a few years. You may not recover the cost in the sale. See selling a home with solar.
- Your province's payback runs past 20 years and backup or climate goals aren't priorities for you.
- You can't afford it without expensive financing. High interest can wipe out the savings. See buying, leasing or financing.
If you're on a clean grid and your main goal is cutting emissions, a heat pump or EV usually does more first. See solar's environmental impact.
What would change the answer
- Electricity prices. Our model assumes 3% yearly increases. Faster increases shorten payback; flat prices lengthen it by several years.
- Installed prices. Lower prices per watt help directly.
- New or ending rebates. Programs open and close. Check before you sign.
- Export rule changes. BC's July 2026 switch to net billing, SaskPower's credit term that ran to March 31, 2026, and Manitoba Hydro's yearly price reset all show how quickly this can change.
- Your own use. Adding an EV or heat pump raises your use, which can justify a bigger system and improve the numbers.
The short answer
In Ontario and the Maritimes, solar is worth a close look for most homes with a decent roof. In Alberta and Saskatchewan, it often works for homes with good sun and higher use. In BC, Quebec, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador, savings alone rarely justify it today, though your own home may differ. Our is solar right for me page walks through the questions.
Next step
Get an honest answer for your home: check your roof. We'll tell you if solar doesn't pay.
Common questions
- Which province is best for solar in Canada?
- In our model, Ontario has the shortest payback at about 12 years for our sample home, followed by Nova Scotia, PEI and Alberta. Quebec, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador have the longest, at over 21 years.
- Is solar worth it in Quebec or Manitoba?
- Usually not on savings alone. Both provinces have very low electricity prices, so in our model payback runs about 22 years, close to the warranty life of the panels.
- Are there federal solar grants in 2026?
- The Canada Greener Homes Grant closed to new applicants in 2024, and the interest-free Greener Homes Loan closed on October 1, 2025. Some provinces and utilities, such as Ontario's HRSP and BC Hydro, offer rebates.
- Will solar add value to my home?
- It can, but buyers value it differently and there's no guarantee you'll recover the cost in a sale. If you might move within a few years, solar is harder to justify.
Sources
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