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$0.30/kWh export rate May through October
Switch rates seasonally , no penalties, 10 days notice

The Solar Club™
Alberta's Premium Solar Rate Plan

The Solar Club™ gives Alberta solar producers the power to switch between two electricity rates based on the season , maximizing credits when you export and minimizing costs when you import.

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What is The Solar Club™?

The Solar Club™ is a special electricity rate plan for Alberta solar homeowners that allows you to switch between two electricity rates based on the season. Both the import and export sides of your bill use the same selected rate during a billing cycle.

Available through select Alberta electricity retailers, it's designed to maximize the value of your solar exports during peak production months and minimize your import costs during low-production winter months.

$0.30

per kWh

High Rate

Summer months (approx. March–October) when you're exporting more than you use. Build credits fast during peak solar production.

$0.0877

per kWh

Low Rate

Winter months (approx. October–March) when you're importing from the grid. Minimize electricity costs during low-production months.

You can toggle between rates by submitting a quick request through your Solar Club™ retailer's website. Most homeowners switch to the high rate around March or April and drop back to the low rate in October or November, aligning with solar production cycles.

Solar Club Alberta seasonal electricity rate plan summer winter switching Solar Club electricity rates based on season Alberta ENMAX

Solar Club™ seasonal rate structure , higher export rates in summer, lower import rates in winter.

Who Should Join the Solar Club™?

The Solar Club™ works best for homes that generate 70% or more of their annual electricity needs from solar. These homes typically export surplus electricity in summer, allowing them to build valuable credits at the high $0.30/kWh rate.

If your system offsets less than 70% of your usage, you may not export enough to benefit from the high rate , a standard fixed rate might make more sense.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be a micro-generator under 150 kW
  • Use a bi-directional cumulative meter (not an interval meter)
  • Not in Medicine Hat, Peigan REA, Ermineskin REA, Wild Rose REA, Lakeland REA, North Parkland Power REA, or Blue Mountain Power Co-op
  • A charitable donation to your local food bank is encouraged

Not sure if you qualify? We can review your utility situation and solar quote to confirm Solar Club™ eligibility before you install. Fill out our form and we'll check for you.

When Should I Switch Rates?

The general rule is simple:

  • If your home is exporting more electricity than it's using → switch to the high rate ($0.30/kWh)
  • If you're consuming more than you're producing → switch to the low rate ($0.0877/kWh)

Most Alberta homes with well-sized solar setups hit net-export status by spring and revert by fall. The program allows rate switching with just 10 days' notice, no penalties. Your retailer may even send email reminders in spring and fall.

Pre-Solar Rate

You can pre-enroll in the Solar Club™ as soon as you've signed a solar installation contract , even before your panels are turned on. During the waiting period (up to 180 days), you'll be placed on a pre-solar rate of $0.065/kWh.

Are Rates the Same Across Retailers?

Yes , all participating Solar Club™ retailers offer the same high and low energy rates. However, monthly admin fees vary, so it's worth comparing retailers. Some offer signup incentives , contact us for the latest referral codes.

Why Choose the Solar Club™?

Here's a simple example to show the power of the Solar Club™:

  • Your home uses 8,000 kWh per year
  • Your solar system produces 8,000 kWh per year
  • In summer, you export 2,000 kWh → credit built at $0.30/kWh = $600 credit
  • In winter, you import 2,000 kWh at $0.0877/kWh = $175.40 cost
  • Net result: $600 credit more than covers $175 winter import + fixed fees

The difference in rates, combined with rollover credit, boosts your solar ROI by 3–4 years and flattens seasonal billing swings.

Can I Get $0 Power Bills?

You absolutely can , if your solar system covers 100% or more of your annual energy needs. Here's how:

  • In summer, export excess energy at the high rate and build credit
  • That credit can be applied toward everything on your electricity bill, including fixed fees
  • Extra credits roll over month-to-month

Many Alberta homes report $0 bills from May through September , and some see it stretch into the fall.

What About All Those "Other Fees"?

In Alberta, fees like transmission, distribution, and local access charges are mostly variable , tied to how much electricity you use. When your solar production offsets your usage, you reduce these fees too. And when you export electricity at the Solar Club™ high rate, you build credits that can be applied to cover these charges.

Yes , solar helps reduce "other fees" too. The Solar Club™ high-rate credits can effectively wipe out your entire electricity bill, including the line items most people think are unavoidable.

Who Funds the High Rate?

The Solar Club™ high rate is made possible through the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), which helps balance grid supply. The rate is determined by each Solar Club™ retailer under Alberta's Microgeneration Regulation. One key rule: the buy and sell rate must match during a billing cycle.

Will the Solar Club™ Always Be Available?

The Microgeneration Regulation could change in the future, and there's no guarantee the Solar Club™ will remain unchanged. That said, there are no known plans to alter or phase out the program. Installing sooner ensures your interconnection is established under current terms.

ENMAX monthly electricity rates chart Solar Club Alberta

ENMAX electricity rates , the Solar Club™ high-rate ($0.30/kWh) is significantly above standard market rates.

Solar Club seasonal rate calendar Alberta spring fall switching

Offset Your Energy Costs the Solar Club™

No matter what, you're likely to spend around $30,000 on electricity over the next 10 years. The difference? With the Solar Club™, that money goes toward owning your own energy system and can accelerate ROI by 3–4 years.

Home without solar high electricity bills Alberta ENMAX

Your home without solar energy

  • $250 average monthly electricity bill
  • 10-Year Cost: $30,000 (and rising)
  • Continued dependence on utility companies
  • No long-term savings or added home value
Home with Solar Club net billing low electricity bill Alberta Calgary

Your home with solar net billing

  • No Upfront Cost CEIP solar loan option
  • $0.30/kWh export credits May–October
  • Ownership of your power generation system
  • 20+ years of low cost electricity after payback
  • Protection against future rate hikes
  • Energy independence and savings

Maximize your energy savings in three simple steps

Request your free solar savings estimate

An energy consultant will help design the perfect system for your home's unique energy needs and confirm Solar Club™ eligibility.

Create your personalized solar investment plan

We model your Solar Club™ savings alongside CEIP financing to show you the actual month-by-month cash flow for your home.

Let our expert solar team handle the rest

From Solar Club™ enrollment to installation and rate switch timing , our experts guide you every step of the way.

Solar Club™ Frequently Asked Questions

No , net billing is the provincial regulation that allows micro-generators to earn retail-rate credits for exports. The Solar Club™ is a specific retail rate plan offered by select Alberta retailers that enhances those credits by providing a higher seasonal rate of $0.30/kWh during summer export months.
Yes. You can pre-enroll as soon as you've signed a solar installation contract. During the waiting period (up to 180 days), you'll be on a pre-solar rate of $0.065/kWh. Once your system activates, you automatically transition to the Solar Club™ low rate unless you specify otherwise.
Multiple Alberta retail electricity providers participate in the Solar Club™ program. All offer the same $0.30/kWh high rate and $0.0877/kWh low rate, but monthly admin fees and signup incentives vary. Contact us for current retailer comparisons and any available referral codes.
You submit a rate switch request through your retailer's website or customer portal. A 10-day notice period applies. Most retailers also offer email reminders in spring and fall to help you time the switch correctly based on your system's production patterns.
The rate applies to both your imports and exports in that billing cycle. If you switch to the $0.30/kWh rate and end up consuming more than you produce, you'll pay $0.30/kWh for any grid electricity consumed. This is why timing your rate switches carefully , aligned with your actual export/import status , is important.
Yes. The Solar Club™ is available to ENMAX customers in the Calgary distribution area, but other participating retailers may serve additional Alberta regions. Eligibility excludes customers in rural co-ops: Medicine Hat, Peigan REA, Ermineskin REA, Wild Rose REA, Lakeland REA, North Parkland Power REA, and Blue Mountain Power Co-op.

See what incentives your home qualifies for

Between the Solar Club™, CEIP financing, and net billing, Alberta homeowners have access to one of the strongest solar incentive stacks in Canada. Fill out our form to see exactly which programs apply to your home and utility.

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Claim your solar savings before it's too late

Across Alberta we've helped over 1,355+ homes go solar. The Solar Club™ high rate won't last forever , install now to lock in today's terms.