FindSolar.caThe idea in one paragraph
A grid-tied solar home runs two-way traffic. At noon in July your panels overproduce and push power out to the grid; on a December evening you draw power in like any other house. Net metering is the accounting between the two: your utility credits the power you export and nets it against the power you import. In most provinces credits accrue in kilowatt-hours at or near the retail rate and expire if unused after a set period, usually 12 months.
Why the details decide your payback
Two systems with identical roofs can earn different returns purely on export treatment. Where exports earn full retail credit, oversizing a little is harmless. Where exports earn less than retail, like Saskatchewan, every exported kilowatt-hour is worth less than one you consume yourself, so sizing tight to your own usage wins. And where a retailer pays a premium for summer exports, like Alberta's Solar Club style plans, the export side can become a strategy of its own. This is a question to settle before you pick a system size, not after.
Province by province
| Province | Program | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Micro-generation regulation, plus optional retail plans | Exports are credited by your retailer. Solar Club style plans pay a premium summer export rate under a private retail contract, not under the regulation itself. |
| British Columbia | BC Hydro net metering | Exports earn credits with an annual true-up. BC has signalled changes for new applicants, so confirm the current program status before you sign anything. |
| Saskatchewan | SaskPower net metering | Exports are credited at a set rate that sits below the retail price, so self-consuming your own power is worth more than exporting it. |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Hydro net billing | Exports earn credits, and low provincial rates mean the biggest value is offsetting your own use. |
| Ontario | Net metering through your local utility | Exports earn kWh credits at the retail rate that roll forward up to 12 months, then reset. Ontario has also run rebate programs that cannot be stacked with net metering, so ask your installer which path fits. |
| Quebec | Hydro-Quebec net metering | Exports earn kWh credits. Very low provincial rates stretch payback, which is why Quebec math needs a longer view. |
| New Brunswick | NB Power net metering | Exports earn credits that carry forward up to 12 months. |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Power net metering | Exports earn credits at the retail rate, and comparatively high rates make the program work harder here. |
| Prince Edward Island | Maritime Electric net metering | Exports earn credits that carry forward up to 12 months. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Net metering through NL utilities | Exports earn credits that carry forward, and modest sun hours make honest sizing matter more than anywhere. |
Reviewed August 2026. Programs change with regulatory decisions and some have signalled changes for new applicants. Territorial utilities run their own arrangements. Confirm the current rules with your utility before you sign an interconnection agreement; your installer files the paperwork, but the contract is yours.
Questions to ask before you sign
Four cover most of it. At what rate are exports credited, and is it the same rate you pay? How long do credits carry forward before they expire? Is there a system size cap tied to your usage or your service? And does enrolling in any rebate program disqualify you from net metering, as it can in Ontario? Your installer should answer all four without checking; the utility's website is your second source.
What this means for sizing
The cleanest rule: size to your annual usage unless your province's export deal rewards going bigger. A good installer will pull your last 12 months of bills and show the sizing math before quoting. One who quotes panels first and asks about usage later has the order backwards, and our hiring guide explains why that matters.
Common questions
Do I get paid cash for exports?
Usually no. Most provinces issue bill credits rather than cheques, and unused credits typically expire after an annual true-up. A few arrangements pay out small balances; your utility's program page will say.
Can I go over my house's usage to earn export income?
Most programs cap system size at or near your own consumption, and sub-retail export rates make overbuilding a poor trade in most provinces. Alberta's retail plans are the notable exception, explained in our Solar Club article.
Does net metering need special hardware?
A bidirectional meter, which your utility installs or reprograms at interconnection. Your installer's paperwork triggers it; you should not have to arrange anything yourself.