September 2026 Status: CEIP is open in Medicine Hat, Spruce Grove, Drayton Valley, Banff, Jasper, and several smaller municipalities. Edmonton, Calgary, St. Albert, Lethbridge, Beaumont, Okotoks, Cold Lake, Sturgeon County, and Wetaskiwin are on waitlists. Airdrie, Strathcona County, Leduc, Devon, Grande Prairie, Canmore, and Rocky Mountain House are closed. Status windows change quickly and this table may not be accurate by the time you read it — best to speak with our solar advisors for the latest updates.
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).
Why Alberta Solar + CEIP Makes Sense
- Alberta enjoys 17+ hours of summer daylight
- Net billing credits extra summer power toward winter bills
- CEIP financing removes the need for loans or lines of credit
- Homes with solar typically see higher resale value
Example: Typical Alberta Home with CEIP
Let's break down a common scenario for an average household:
- System Size: 8 kW (about 18–20 solar panels)
- Installed Cost: ~$24,000
- Financing: CEIP, 15-year term, ~3.5% interest (varies by municipality)
- Annual Energy Offset: ~$1,500 in electricity savings
- First Year Net Cost: Around $500 saved, even after CEIP payments
- Break-Even Point: ~11 years
- Lifetime Savings (25 years): $30,000–$45,000 (depending on usage and rate increases)
Key Benefits of CEIP for Homeowners
- ✅ No upfront costs, start saving from day one
- ✅ Easy repayment added to property tax bill
- ✅ Program stays with the home if you sell
- ✅ Boosts home value and long-term savings
- ✅ Backed by Alberta municipalities
Which Alberta Cities & Towns Offer CEIP
Here's the current status for the municipalities we get asked about most, updated as we verify with each city:
Click your city or town to open its official CEIP page in a new tab:
- City of Airdrie
- Town of Banff
- City of Calgary
- Town of Canmore
- City of Cold Lake
- Town of Devon
- Town of Drayton Valley
- City of Edmonton
- City of Grande Prairie
- City of Leduc
- City of Lethbridge
- City of Medicine Hat
- Pincher Creek Region (Town)
- Pincher Creek Region (MD)
- Town of Okotoks
- City of St. Albert
- Town of Rocky Mountain House
- Town of Stettler
- Sturgeon County
- City of Spruce Grove
- Village of Stirling
- Strathcona County
- Town of Taber
- Town of Westlock
Note: Status windows change quickly and this table may not be accurate by the time you read it. Best to confirm status on your city's page or speak with our solar advisors for the latest updates.
| Municipality | Status | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton | Waitlist | Nearing capacity, new submissions go to waitlist. |
| Calgary | Waitlist | Reopens Sept 22 at 9 a.m. |
| St. Albert | Waitlist | Accepting waitlist only. |
| Lethbridge | Waitlist | At capacity since launch, waitlist. |
| Airdrie | Closed | No longer accepting applications. |
| Strathcona County | Closed | Closed to new pre-quals, existing waitlist processed. |
| Medicine Hat | Open | 3.25% rate. Includes a 6.6% project incentive to reduce total cost. |
| Spruce Grove | Open | 3.5% rate + 7.5% rebate on financed project costs. |
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
Why Most Homeowners Use a Contractor/Third Party
Technically, you can manage CEIP on your own. In practice, most homeowners find it easier to work with a contractor who:
- Designs a code-compliant solar system that meets CEIP rules
- Coordinates the EnerGuide evaluations
- Prepares the CEIP-compatible quote and documentation
- Handles permits, inspections, and installation
- Keeps track of CEIP-specific forms, deadlines, and rules
That's what we do every day.
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.