January 2026 Status: CEIP is open in Edmonton, Airdrie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, St. Albert, and Strathcona County. Calgary, Spruce Grove, Leduc, and Grande Prairie are paused and expected to reopen when additional funding is secured. When they reopen, it's first-come, first-served.
What is the CEIP?
The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is a municipal financing tool for energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels, insulation, and efficient heating systems. It's Alberta's version of PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing, administered city-by-city through Alberta Municipalities.
Instead of taking out a traditional bank loan, you finance your solar system directly through your property tax bill. The municipality pays your installer upfront, and you repay over 15 to 20 years as part of your annual property taxes.
How CEIP Works: Step by Step
- Check your city's eligibility. CEIP is offered by participating municipalities. Not every city has joined yet.
- Book an EnerGuide home evaluation (takes 3 to 6 weeks to book and complete).
- Apply through your municipality for CEIP approval before beginning any work.
- Get a full solar system design and detailed quotes from CEIP-qualified contractors.
- Your municipality pays the installer once the system is installed and inspected.
- You repay gradually, added to your property tax bill over the project life (often 15 to 20 years).
City-by-City Status (June 2026)
| City | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton | ✓ Open | Accepting applications |
| Airdrie | ✓ Open | Accepting applications |
| Lethbridge | ✓ Open | Accepting applications |
| Medicine Hat | ✓ Open | Accepting applications |
| St. Albert | ✓ Open | Accepting applications |
| Strathcona County | ✓ Open | Sherwood Park area |
| Calgary | ⏸ Paused | Expected to reopen 2026 with new funding |
| Spruce Grove | ⏸ Paused | May reopen 2026 |
| Leduc | ⏸ Paused | No reopening date announced |
| Grande Prairie | ⏸ Paused | No reopening date announced |
Why Get Started Even If Your City is Paused
CEIP requires several steps that take time to complete before you can submit an application. Getting this groundwork done now means when your city's funding reopens, you can submit immediately while others are still figuring out what solar even costs.
- EnerGuide home evaluation (3 to 6 weeks to book and complete)
- Full solar system design with production modelling
- Detailed quotes from CEIP-qualified contractors
- Organized paperwork submitted correctly on time
St. Albert Homeowner Beats the CEIP Queue
A homeowner near Lacombe Park in St. Albert heard about CEIP reopening in spring 2025 but had not yet done any preparation. With limited spots available, being application-ready was critical.
We helped them complete an EnerGuide evaluation, designed an 8.4 kW system for their two-storey home, and had all CEIP documentation organized and ready to submit the day St. Albert's intake opened.
Their application was approved within three weeks at the 3.75% municipal rate. Monthly repayment was added to their property tax bill at $152/month, while their electricity costs dropped by approximately $190/month.
Client name changed. Results vary based on individual circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
For more information on the CEIP program itself, visit ceip.abmunis.ca, the official program site run by Alberta Municipalities.