Changes to SaskPower’s Net Metering Program will create greater certainty for participating customers and support the growth of Saskatchewan’s renewable industry.

“The revised Net Metering Program will add up to an additional 16 megawatts of renewable and carbon neutral electricity to the province’s grid and support SaskPower’s goal to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2030,” said the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskPower. “This program will continue to assist individuals and businesses looking to participate in green initiatives and represents yet another example of our commitment to climate change action through our Prairie Resilience plan.”

SaskPower’s Net Metering Program allows customers to generate up to 100 kilowatts of power to decrease their monthly power bills and get credit for the excess power they generate. Under the revised program, the rebate application process has been simplified, banked credits now last for three years rather than one, and customers will sign a ten-year contract rather than two, providing more long-term certainty.

“The changes you see today are the result of extensive consultations with the solar industry and I thank everyone who took part,” said Mike Marsh, President and CEO of SaskPower. “The vast majority of renewable generation that will go towards our emissions goal will be from utility-scale projects, as they are the most cost-effective and efficient means of adding power to the grid. But we also know there is a growing interest in customer self-generation. SaskPower is committed to supporting those customers and, by continuing to do so, we get to learn more about how this type of renewable generation works in our generation mix.”

SaskPower will continue to offer a one-time rebate equivalent to 20 per cent of equipment and installation costs to a maximum payment of $20,000. There are currently about 1400 Net Metering customers with a total capacity of just under 14 megawatts (MW). The program has been approved to Nov. 30, 2021, or until it reaches the 16 MW cap, whichever comes first. SaskPower will monitor progress and re-evaluate as needed to ensure that the program continues to meet the needs of our company and our customers. 

The first step for any home or business to save money and reduce environmental impact is energy efficiency. It’s the lowest-cost option and will help customers to realize savings on their power bills long before recovering the cost of generation equipment. SaskPower encourages you to take advantage of the Home Online Energy Assessment Tool available through its website, saskpower.com. 

For more information on the Net Metering and other programs, go to saskpower.com/future.

At a glance...

• Changes include a simplified rebate application process, longer contracts, and more time to use banked credits
• Revised program comes after last year’s extensive consultation with solar industry
• Participating customers are still eligible for a rebate of up to $20,000 for equipment and installation costs
• For more information, go to saskpower.com/future