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Self-generation

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Description

Rate updates

BC Hydro is closing the net metering service rate (Rate Schedule 1289) to new customers. Effective July 1, 2026, a new self-generation service rate (Rate Schedule 2289) will apply. This change is based on the decision made by the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) on our net metering service rate application.

Customers currently on our net metering service rate (Rate Schedule 1289) will have 10 years from the initial net metering service start date to remain on this rate. Once those 10 years have passed, they will automatically be transferred to the self-generation service rate (Rate Schedule 2289).

You can learn more about the details of this rate change here.

Application updates

If you are applying for self-generation with over 100 kW total you will be able to apply through MyHydro starting July 16, 2026. Please check back soon to apply.

Generate your own electricity

Self-generation – previously called net metering – is designed for those who want to reduce their electricity bills and gain energy independence by generating their own electricity. It allows you to power your home or business with your privately generated renewable energy, with the flexibility to rely on our grid if you need it.

As of February 2026, over 17,000 customers are participating in self-generation, with the majority using a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Some customers install a battery to store excess energy they generate to use when they want to, or as backup energy during a power outage.

How it works

Self-generation is ideal for people looking to lower their electricity costs and achieve energy independence by producing their own power.

If your generation system, for example solar panels, produces more electricity than you use, the excess energy will earn generation credits on your bill. These credits are applied as a dollar amount to help reduce your future electricity costs. For each billing period, you'll be compensated at a fixed rate of 10 cents per kWh for the excess electricity you generate.

Work with your contractor to have your generation system designed, accepted for self-generation, and installed. Once it’s connected to the grid, you’ll be able to offset your electricity costs by generating your own power.

Watch: How self-generation works, applications and rebates

Discover how self-generation works, its benefits, and how to apply for the service and for rebates on solar panels and battery storage.


Eligibility

Self-generation is open to residential and commercial customers. You can participate if your electricity generators meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Owned or leased by you (the customer).
  • Connected to our distribution system.
  • Uses a clean or renewable resource as defined by the Clean Energy Act. (such as solar, wind, hydro, etc.).
  • Has an aggregated nameplate rating of no more than 100 kW, or the customer’s premises is configured to have a net injection limit at the point of delivery of no more than 100 kW per phase of service.

Rebates and incentives

Reduce the payback period of your project by taking advantage of our rebates for solar panels and battery storage and load displacement incentives.

Rebates

We're offering rebates on solar panels and energy storage systems for residential and business customers participating in our self-generation rate. Review the rebate offer details in the planning stage of your project to ensure that your property, equipment, and installation will qualify.

View solar panel and battery storage rebate information here.

Incentives

We offer financial incentives to help industrial and large commercial customers reduce the cost of their generation projects. These custom incentives are developed on a project-by-project basis and are based on the amount of energy saved or load displaced at your site.

Projects are eligible for custom incentives only if the estimated solar energy used for load displacement (kWh/year) is at least 80 percent of the total solar energy generated (kWh/year). Learn more about load displacement incentives.

Please note, your incentive application must be processed first. It takes approximately four to six weeks to process the incentive application, after which we can proceed with your grid connection application.

Apply for self-generation

Interested in self-generation? Start by learning how applications work. 

Use the same application to apply for rebates on eligible solar panels or battery storage. 

Already applied? Check your application status or upload necessary documents. You’ll be prompted to log in first.

Resources

For the latest regulatory activities and updates related to the rates that apply to self-generation, visit our current rate design activities.

 

Frequently asked questions 

Getting started

How does self-generation work?

  1. Solar panels* convert energy from the sun into direct current (DC) electricity.
  2. Inverters convert the DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is what your home or business and BC Hydro’s distribution system use.
  3. The electricity your system generates powers your home or business first and any excess is sent to our distribution grid.
  4. Your smart meter measures how much you draw from BC Hydro and how much excess electricity you've sent to the grid.
  5. Your excess generation is applied to your next bill as monetary bill credits, rather than being carried forward as kilowatt-hour (kWh) credits.

* Or another source of clean or renewable energy generation as identified in the Clean Energy Act.

What does a typical solar setup look like?

The average household uses approximately 10,000 kWh of electricity per year. A typical solar installation on a residential roof is seven kilowatts (kW) in size with 16 solar panels, which in B.C., generates about 7,700 kWh of electricity per year.

Every project is different, but your contractor can assist you in better understanding the estimated payback period for your project.

Billing

When will my generation show in MyHydro?

It can take about four weeks for your self-generation data to show in your MyHydro consumption graphs. 

However, your first self-generation bill will show your self-generation data starting from the effective date stated in your interconnection approval email. 

View sample self-generation bills

Why doesn’t the data on my inverter match the data on my bill?

The amount of electricity that you generate, as registered by your inverter, won't match the amount shown on your BC Hydro bill. This is because the electricity you generate will first supply the electricity needs of your home or business. If you generate more than you need, excess generation will low to our grid and will be recorded on your bill as "generation.outflow to the grid”.

Your BC Hydro bill will also show the amount of additional electricity needed from us to supplement your home or business, which is labelled as "consumption."

How do generation credits work?

If, over the course of one billing cycle, you generate more electricity than you use, you’ll receive a monetary generation credit that applies to your current billing cycle at a fixed rate of 10 cents per kWh.

Under the self-generation rate (Rate Schedule 2289), we use net billing. This means that if you produce 50 kWh more than you use, those 50 kWh are converted into a $5 credit (50 kWh × 10 cents).

Under the previous net metering rate (Rate Schedule 1289), if you produced 50 kWh more than you used in a month, those 50 kWh were “banked.”

Self-generation bill credits cover Energy Charges only. You’ll still need to pay any other charges that are part of your bill, such as the Basic Charge.

Eligibility

Can I participate in time-of-day pricing?

Yes, residential customers on the tiered or flat rate and who are also on the self-generation rate can also opt into time-of-day pricing.

Time-of-day pricing is not available to commercial customers.

What is time-of-day pricing?

With time-of-day pricing, the price for electricity is highest during the evening and lowest overnight. Learn more.

Time of day rate graph surcharge discount

How does it work with self-generation systems?

Time-of-day pricing only applies to your consumption – the electricity you draw from our grid when you need it. It does not apply to your generation back to our grid.

This means that: 

  • The surcharge applies to all electricity you draw from our grid during the on-peak period of the day (4 to 9 p.m.)
  • A discount applies to all electricity you draw from our grid overnight (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.). 
  • When you're using electricity directly from your own generation or storage system at any time, no surcharges or discounts accumulate. 

Maximize your savings

By combining a generation system with time-of-day pricing, you can further reduce your electricity costs. We expect that the average residential self-generation customer with a solar panel system and electric heating would save about $52 per year on this rate plan, even without changing their daily habits. 

Ways to save more:

  • If you need to charge your energy storage batteries (if you have them) with electricity from our grid, do that during the overnight period to earn the discount. 
  • Use your own electricity as much as possible during the on-peak period to reduce or avoid the surcharge. 

Want to opt in to time-of-day pricing? Change your rate plan online. 

 

Can I participate in Team Power Smart challenges?

If you're registered in Team Power Smart, you'll be unenrolled if your self-generation application is approved. Any active Team Power Smart challenges will be cancelled.

Connections

My generation system is small. Do I have to apply?

Yes, even if it’s a small generation system, or one that won’t have any outflow to our grid, you need to apply and get approval before connecting your system to our grid.

This is a requirement from the Canadian Electrical Code, which stipulates that any customer who wants to connect a generating system to the electrical grid must meet their utility’s interconnection requirements and receive approval prior to connecting.

More importantly, it’s important for the safety of our electrical workers.

What is an unauthorized grid connection and how does it get authorized?

An unauthorized grid connection is any load-side generation source connected to our grid that we haven’t approved. This can include connections made without the proper permits or those that don’t comply with applicable safety standards.

Unauthorized grid connections pose significant safety risks and legal implications. They can endanger both the property owner and the broader community by potentially causing electrical faults, equipment damage, or fires.

We use various methods to detect unauthorized grid connections including routine inspections, monitoring systems, and reports from the community.

What are the penalties for unauthorized connections?

Unauthorized connections can lead to fines, service disconnection, and a service reconnection fee. If you have an unauthorized connection, you’re responsible for all associated costs. However, if the service disconnection was made in error, you can discuss your situation with us to see if any exceptions apply.

What should I do if I have an unauthorized grid connection?

If you discover that you have an unauthorized grid connection:

  1. Disconnect the load-side generation source connection immediately.
  2. Apply for self-generation.
  3. Ensure your installation complies with our technical interconnection requirements [PDF, 779 KB]. 

Planning

Work with a Home Performance Contractor Network Member

Beginning June 1, 2026, solar and battery installations must be completed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member in order to be eligible for rebates.

HPCN members have completed training on the requirements of the self-generation and rebate programs, are in good standing with WorkSafeBC, have up to date business licenses, general liability insurance and provide standard warrantees.  HPCN members are independent contractors and not affiliated with or employees of BC Hydro.

HPCN members will:

  • Design and install your clean or renewable energy system safely
  • Optimize your system size based on your electricity use profile
  • Follow all jurisdictional requirements including securing permits
  • Assist with the application process. Please note, contractors may not submit applications on behalf of customers and should never request My Hydro login credentials
  • Provide estimated monthly savings and may be able to assist with calculating the payback of your project

When looking for a contractor, be wary of claims that sound too good to be true, like “free solar,” aggressive sales tactics, or requests for in-kind contributions, like manual labor, in exchange of free solar installation. 

Why do I need to upgrade my system?

When you apply for customer generation, BC Hydro reviews the technical requirements of your request to determine whether the existing electrical infrastructure can support your system. In some cases, upgrades are needed to ensure your system can connect safely and reliably. This assessment considers factors such as:

  • Distance from existing BC Hydro infrastructure. If your property is far from the nearest power lines or equipment, additional infrastructure may be required to support your self generation system.
  • How much electricity you use. Your load helps determine whether the local system can accommodate your self generation setup without affecting reliability.
  • Whether the existing system has enough capacity. In some areas, the available electrical capacity may be limited. If the system cannot safely supply your needs while also supporting your self generation export, upgrades may be necessary.
  • How much power your system will inject into the grid. The need for upgrades is primarily driven by the net power injection of your generating facility, rather than its nameplate size alone.
    • A 100 kW per phase net injection limit generally keeps required upgrades to the secondary system and distribution transformer.
    • Staying within this limit typically avoids upgrades to the primary distribution system, upstream substations, or the transmission system.
    • This limit also aligns with:
      • the 100 kVA rating of the largest single phase BC Hydro overhead transformer that can be installed on a single pole, and
      • the CSA generator interconnection standard, which recommends using a dedicated distribution transformer for loads greater than 100 kVA.

These technical considerations determine whether your request qualifies for an express connection or requires a more detailed design connection process. You can learn more about these types of connections here.

  • If an upgrade is required, you will be notified by email with the next steps and whether you are responsible for funding the upgrade.

What is an interconnection study and when do I need one?

For every proposed interconnection of a generating facility to the grid, BC Hydro must conduct an interconnection study. Whether an interconnection study is required is based on the discretion of our engineers.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the generating facility’s maximum power output can be safely and reliably interconnected with BC Hydro’s system without modifications or whether upgrades to the local grid will be required to accommodate the interconnection.

If a study is required, our team will inform you and of any applicable fees. Fees depend on the scope and complexity of the study.

I’m a landlord or developer. How do I apply?

Landlords and developers can apply for self‑generation by submitting a self‑generation application using the BC Hydro account number and legal account holder name for the service address where the system will be installed.

A landlord/developer declaration form [PDF, 175 KB] must also be completed to confirm ownership or authorization, and all details such as the account name, account number, and service address must match across both documents.

How do I apply for new construction projects?

You can apply by submitting a self‑generation application. However, new construction projects are typically classified as complex applications. Since the electrical service is not yet fully established, BC Hydro may require additional information such as site plans, load details, and design drawings to assess your request and determine the infrastructure needed to support your future generating facility.

I’m located in a non-integrated area (NIA). How do I apply?

For projects located in our non-integrated areas (NIAs), we strongly recommend waiting to purchase generating equipment until after the self-generation application is reviewed and accepted by us.

NIA systems use a variety of resources to support their electricity load, such as diesel, existing or proposed independent power producer (IPP) renewable generation, and intermittent energy via self-generation. That complexity requires us to perform a thorough technical review of each self-generation application received for projects located in an NIA, so we can ensure that we’ll be able to continue to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity to you.

Learn about rebates and how to apply in non-integrated areas.

What does it mean if I'm located in a constrained area?

Being in a constrained area means the local electrical system has limited capacity available to support additional load or new self‑generation.

In these areas, the existing infrastructure such as transformers, distribution lines, or substations may already be operating near their limits. As a result, BC Hydro may not be able to accommodate new generation export or increased electricity demand without upgrades. This can affect whether your self‑generation system can be connected, how much you're allowed to export, and whether additional studies or system improvements are required before approval.

How to reach us

For questions about self-generation and the application, please email us.

Visit our self-generation page for program details and resources.

You can manage your self-generation application and account through MyHydro.

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