Many governments are offering incentives to businesses to reduce the cost of solar.  This can sometimes come in the form of rebates or low rate financing options.  This has a benefit to you but it also benefits all of our futures.  

Sure solar benefits our planet by utilizing a more responsible way of producing energy…but it also benefits our future needs.  Every year we have a need for more electricity which causes electric rates to go up. With operating costs continuing to rise and advances in technology this demand keeps increasing.  Oh and did I mention the solar industry is a growing industry to so it helps creates jobs too!

Now about the rebates...

Each province is different.  As I write this, here are the rebates available to business owners:

Alberta: None

British Columbia: None

New Brunswick: None

PEI: Businesses - $350/kilowatt DC installed, up to 40% of installed costs, to a maximum of $10,000.

• To be eligible, the building must receive the general service 1 rate or the small industrial rate on the electric bill

Farm buildings - $1250/kilowatt DC, up to 40% of installed costs, to a maximum of $35,000 

Must be a non-residential building owned and operated by a bona fide farmer.

Nova Scotia: Solar for non profits-0.60/DC Watt. Max rebate of $15000, up to 25% of eligible pre-tax system costs.

NWT: Businesses, community governments, Indigenous governments and non-profit organizations are eligible for up to $50,000.

The rebate amount you receive will be the lower of:

• 50% of the total eligible costs of your project

• A calculation based on the amount of money and greenhouses gases that your project will save (for projects other than solar electric systems)

• (For solar electric projects only) A calculation of $4.00 per watt that the system can produce

Yukon: None

Quebec: None

Newfoundland: None

Ontario: None

Saskatchewan: None

Manitoba: $0.50 per DC W installed on buildings connected to Manitoba Hydro’s grid up to a maximum of $25000 per building.

With the price per watt installation being anywhere from$2.30 - $3.50 the rebates could reduce your overall cost by 30% or more.

Here is the tricky part though: Filling out the forms correctly!  

Solar is likely a whole new world for you and the people administering the programs for creating home efficiency.  The terminology, the processes, the numbers and what they mean. If you don’t fill out the form right the first time, it could delay your project.  You may not know where to get all of the information from.

This is where the solar company you are working with should help you.  They should hopefully be assisting you every step of the way by undertaking the tasks on your behalf or giving you the details you need and explaining everything.  When you’re assisted with the applications, the whole project will go much smoother and your chances of being approved for the rebate are much better. 

To learn more about Why Solar, click here.