Airdrie Solar Case Study:
CEIP Financing, Positive Cash Flow from Month One
This Airdrie homeowner used the city's Clean Energy Improvement Program to finance their solar installation. Monthly CEIP payments are less than the electricity savings, meaning positive cash flow starts immediately.
The Airdrie Home
This homeowner owns a 2,500 sq ft two-storey in southwest Airdrie, near Reunion neighbourhood. Pre-solar electricity costs averaged $2,600 per year on FortisAlberta's regulated rate. The home has a large southwest-facing roof section and an east-facing section, giving good total exposure.
Airdrie's CEIP program was open at the time of installation, offering loans up to $50,000 at 3.75% repaid through the property tax bill. This homeowner financed $27,500 over 15 years, resulting in a tax bill addition of approximately $133 per month.
How CEIP Financing Changed the Math
Without CEIP, the $27,500 installation would require upfront payment or a conventional loan at 7%+. With CEIP at 3.75%, the monthly payment is $133. The electricity savings on this system average $200 per month. Net monthly benefit from day one: $67. The homeowner effectively gets paid to go solar, starting with the first bill.
System Specifications
| System size | 9.6 kW DC |
| Panel count | 24 x 400W panels |
| Annual production | ~12,200 kWh/yr |
| Roof orientation | SW-facing primary, E-facing secondary |
| Utility | FortisAlberta |
| Financing | Airdrie CEIP, 3.75%, 15 years |
| Loan amount | $27,500 |
The Bills: Before and After
Pre-solar bill: $218 for a winter month.
Post-solar bill: $41 for the same winter month, plus $133 CEIP property tax payment. Total electricity + financing: $174 vs. $218 before.
Production Data
System monitoring data from the first year of operation. Total production: 11,840 kWh in year one.
Monthly production breakdown. Peak months (June, July) produce over 1,400 kWh each, generating significant net billing credits.
Is Airdrie CEIP Still Open?
Airdrie's CEIP program availability changes based on municipal funding rounds. Check the current status on our CEIP program page. If the window is currently open, applications can be submitted through the city's portal at ceip.abmunis.ca.
Even when CEIP is temporarily paused, we can pre-qualify your home and have a proposal ready so you're first in line when the next intake opens. Bridge loan financing is also available to allow installation now, with the option to refinance through CEIP when it reopens.
See more about solar for local homeowners on our Airdrie solar page, and compare with the Edmonton case study to see how different home profiles affect the numbers.
Model Your Home Against Airdrie CEIP
If CEIP is open in your city, the math often looks like this case study. Get a proposal that shows your specific CEIP payment vs. electricity savings comparison.