British Columbia utility
Solar with BC Hydro
What rooftop solar does on a BC Hydro bill: the rate plans, how exported power is credited, and what a typical home in Vancouver could save.
- Sample system
- 15.5 kW
- 36 panels, Vancouver
- Year-1 savings
- $1,808
- Pays back in
- 18.9 years
- Bill, before → after
- $180 → $29
- per month, average
Rate plans
What BC Hydro charges
Residential step rate
Tiered · from 2026-04-01 · some figures approximate- 11.9¢ for the first 675 kWh a month
- 14.1¢ above that
Plus about $8 a month in fixed charges, then 5% tax.
Step 1 threshold shown per month (1,350 kWh per two-month billing period).
Questions
BC Hydro and solar: FAQ
- Can BC Hydro customers get credit for solar power they send to the grid?
- BC Hydro self-generation: exports credited at 10¢ per kWh. Exports earn a credit per kWh rather than a one-for-one offset. See the British Columbia page for the full rules.
- How much could solar save on a BC Hydro bill?
- In our model, a sample Vancouver home with a $180 monthly bill on the Residential step rate plan saves about $1,808 in the first year with a 15.5 kW system, paying back in 18.9 years. Your roof and usage will change the result.
- Do I need BC Hydro's permission to install solar?
- Yes. Your installer applies to connect the system to the grid, and an electrical inspection is required before it is switched on. The utility may change your meter.
Your roof
Check your own home
Your roof, your BC Hydro bill. About a minute.
Or try a sample roof: , ,