The HPSC co-hosted a webinar with BC Hydro on June 3, 2026. BC Hydro presented on upcoming rate and rebate changes to their Solar & Battery incentive offers.
Recording
Slides
Download a copy of the presentation slides here.
Contact Information
For questions or feedback about the Solar & Battery rebate program, contact BC Hydro at
For questions about the Home Performance Contactor Network, contact the HPSC at:
- info@homeperformance.ca
- 604-755-3469 ext 0
- homeperformance.ca/HPCN
Q&A
The following questions were asked during the webinar, either live or in the Q&A chat box. We have edited some of the content for readability. If you’d like to hear the live questions in their unedited form, watch the recording above.
Tip: Press CTRL + F on your keyboard to search this page by keyword.
For any outstanding questions not answered here, refer to the contact information section above.
HPCN MEMBERSHIP
Q: Do contractors need HPCN certification by June 1?
A: HPCN membership is required for new residential rebate applications after June 1, 2026. Membership is not required for existing applications already in progress.
Q: If my HPCN registration is still in process, will my customer’s application become eligible for rebates once I’m approved?
A: For HPCN registration, once all steps are completed, eligibility for rebates will be confirmed. However, applications submitted before June 1, 2026, do not require an HPCN member; those submitted on or after June 1, 2026, do.
Q: Do customers receive a notification about choosing an HPCN contractor when submitting a self-generation application?
A: HPCN contractors are required only if a rebate is requested. If one is not selected when required, the customer will be notified. After system updates, HPCN contractors will appear in a selection list within the application.
REBATES
Q: Is there a rebate for the new Community Solar program?
A: Rebates are available for self-generation applications only.
Q: Are business customers on a residential rate eligible for residential or business rebates?
A: Customers on a residential rate qualify for residential rebates, even if the account is in a business name.
Q: Are local governments eligible for business, social housing, or Indigenous rebates?
A: May qualify for social housing rebates if:
- Charity registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada);
- Housing society registered under the Societies Act; or
- Housing co-op registered under the Cooperative Association Act;
- May qualify for Indigenous rebates if they are an Indigenous governing body. In these Terms, “Indigenous Governing Body” means an entity that is authorized to act on behalf of Indigenous peoples that hold rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Otherwise, they qualify for commercial rebates (up to $10,000 for solar and up to $10,000 for battery) if on a commercial building rate.
Q: Are off-grid systems without batteries eligible for rebates (commercial)?
A: No. Rebates apply only to grid-tied systems with a BC Hydro account.
Q: Are there special rebates for non-profit organizations?
A: Non-profits typically qualify for commercial rebates unless they meet the customer eligibility requirements for Indigenous or social housing rebates.
Q: What happens if a system was installed and expanded before rebates existed?
A: Rebates only apply to installations after the program start date. Any expansion after the start date may qualify, but the original system does not.
Q: For residential rebates, are payments made to contractors or homeowners?
A: Rebates are paid to the homeowner.
Q: How do commercial customers qualify for $10K vs. $50K rebates?
A:
- $10K-level rebates apply to typical commercial customers.
- Up to $50K applies to:
- Indigenous governing bodies
- Eligible social housing organizations
- Customers in Aon-Integrated Areas (standalone microgrids)
Q: What are the rebate differences for residential and commercial?
A:
- Residential: up to $5,000 (solar) and $1,500–$5,000 (battery depending on program).
- Commercial: up to $10,000 (standard programs).
Q: Were customers warned they might need to repay rebates?
A: The rebate terms and conditions always required switching to the new rate, but repayment became an option later.
Q: Why are only a few batteries eligible for the full rebate?
A: Only batteries integrated with the demand response system and meeting program requirements are eligible.
Q: When will more batteries be added to the Peak Saver list?
A: Work is ongoing, but timelines are uncertain due to technical and contractual requirements.
Q: Why was the battery rebate reduced if only a few batteries qualify?
A: Updated analysis showed lower value for non–demand-response batteries, so rebate levels were adjusted accordingly.
Q: Why is SolarEdge battery approved but not the HomeHub inverter?
A: This is under review with the planning team.
Q: What is the trigger point for rebate reimbursement?
A: Once interconnection is approved, the rebate application is reviewed and processed if qualified.
Q: What final step is required after installation to receive a rebate?
A: Once the customer submits the application and required documents (invoice and declaration), the rebate is processed. No additional action is required unless information is missing.
Q: Bulk application: Is there only one person responsible for submitting applications?
A: For a bulk application, the contractor will have the opportunity to draft multiple applications for a project with a single rebate payee. Individual account owners will review the application details, then submit the self-generation application (one for each account owner). A landlord/developer form is required for the property owner (i.e. rebate payee) to apply for the rebate.
INDIGENOUS ELIGIBILITY
Q: Do Indigenous economic development corporations qualify?
A: Requires case-by-case review. Please reach out to solarrebates@bchydro.com with detailed information about the project: account ownership, property ownership, and how the corporation is affiliated with an Indigenous governing body.
Q: Is eligibility based on account holder identity?
A: No. The property must be owned by an Indigenous governing body.
Q: Can a non-profit on Indigenous land qualify with band approval?
A: No. The Indigenous governing body must own the property.
NET METERING RATE CLOSURE AND BILLING
Q: What happens to accumulated credits when switching rates?
A: Credits are expected to be paid out (likely by March), though timing may change.
Q:What if a customer declines a rebate and stays on net metering while waiting approval?
A: The current net metering service rate will close to new customers once the new rate starts on July 1st. If you’re already on the net metering service rate, you can stay on it for 10 years from when you started the rate, if you did not receive a rebate. All applications that are not approved for interconnection by July 1st will be placed on the new self-generation rate.
Q: Does expansion cancel net metering?
A: No. Customers retain eligibility (10 years from original install date).
Q: Are there tax implications?
A: BC Hydro does not collect or withhold taxes on payments for excess self generation. For most homeowners, small scale exports are not business income, but they can still be taxable as “other income” if the electricity is sold for profit. Any tax liability is the customer’s responsibility under CRA rules, not BC Hydro’s.
Q: Do credits offset connection (basic) charges?
A: No – Credits are purely on the kWh’s.
Q: Are credits applied before or after GST?
A: Before − the GST has no effect on that, it’s purely on the kWh’s.
Q: Will time-of-use billing become mandatory?
A: Unknown; outside scope and determined by regulators.
Q: How is excess energy handled?
A: Under new net billing, excess energy is credited at the time it is exported at the energy price (10cents/kWh) rather than being banked annually or credited at the retail rate.
SELF-GENERATION AND COMMUNITY-GENERATION
Q: Can an application be submitted before a building has a meter to secure the current rebate?
A: No. A permanent meter and active account must be in place before applying.
Q: For residential systems, is the credit capped at $10/month (based on 100 kWh)?
A: No. The 100 limit refers to the net injection limit (100kW per phase), not a monthly energy or credit cap. Credits depend on actual excess generation.
Q: Can three-phase commercial customers self-generate up to 300 kW (100 kW per phase)?
A: Yes – after serving on-site load
Q: What type of entity is a community generator?
A: It’s any eligible generation facility (home, solar farm, etc.) meeting additional requirements like size limits and shared benefits.
Q: How are credits distributed if BC Hydro doesn’t manage billing?
A: The community generator is responsible for allocating and tracking credits unless the optional billing service is used, which is offered at no cost for the first two years.
Q: Can a system participate in both net metering and community generation programs?
A: No. Customers must choose one program per account based on what works best for their site.
Q: Must community generators meet securities regulations?
A: Likely yes, depending on structure (confirmed informally by participant expertise).
Q: How do subscriptions and payouts work?
A:
- Financial arrangements between generator and participants are private.
- Excess generation credits are split based on predefined allocation.
- Maximum system size depends on number of participants.
- Credits only occur if excess energy is produced (10¢/kWh)
Q: Can a customer participate in multiple community generation projects?
A: No. BC Hydro tracks participants and prevents duplication.
OTHER
Q: Does expanding a system reset the eligibility period?
A: No. It is based on the original installation date.
Q: Will review processes improve?
A: BC Hydro is working on:
- Increasing automation
- Adding tools and resources
- Streamlining processes, however complex projects will still require a longer review process.
Q: How can we find out about future webinars?
A: Invitations are sent to HPCN members or contractors who have done previous projects. You can be added to the mailing list by emailing alliance@bchydro.com.
Q: Can someone open an account just to participate?
A: No they can’t, it’s considered an add-on rate, so they have to have a service rate they can add it to.
Q: Will there be direct support contacts?
A: Larger projects (>300 kW) will have dedicated interconnection managers.
Q: Are there BC Hydro engineering review fees?
A:
- Yes for projects over 300 kW.
- Smaller projects may have reduced or minimal costs.
Q: If a rebate is taken only on an expansion, does that change eligibility?
A: Receiving a solar rebate whether for an initial installation or subsequent expansion triggers the requirement to take service under the new self generation rate.