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Solar Advantage Rate for Alberta solar customers

Earn 35¢/kWh credits for the electricity your solar panels export and manage your rate online when it works best for your home.

Learn more
Solar Advantage Rate for Alberta solar customers Solar Advantage Rate for Alberta solar customers Solar Advantage Rate for Alberta solar customers
A colorful illustration of a house featuring a car in the driveway and solar panels installed on the roof for energy efficiency.
A colorful illustration of a house featuring a car in the driveway and solar panels installed on the roof for energy efficiency.
A colorful illustration of a house featuring a car in the driveway and solar panels installed on the roof for energy efficiency.

Solar Advantage Rate

is designed for Alberta customers with solar panels. It gives you a simple way to earn credits during high-production months and switch back to your regular electricity rate when solar output is lower.

Add Solar Advantage Rate

Not a customer yet?

Solar Advantage Rate offers one of the highest solar export rates available to Alberta homeowners.

When Solar Advantage Rate is active and your system produces more electricity than your home uses, that extra energy is exported to the grid and credited at 35¢/kWh.

You are in control of when to use the solar rate — and can switch back to your regular electricity rate when solar production drops.

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What is Solar Advantage Rate?

What is Solar Advantage Rate?

Solar Advantage Rate is an optional electricity rate for Alberta customers with solar panels.

It allows you to earn 35¢/kWh credits for the electricity your solar system sends back to the grid. During months when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, that extra energy is exported to the grid and credited on your bill.

Solar Advantage Rate can be added to most Direct Energy electricity plans and managed through your Online Account. You can switch between your regular electricity rate and the solar rate up to once per month, giving you the flexibility to match your electricity rate to how your home generates energy throughout the year.

Why choose Solar Advantage Rate

Solar Advantage Rate is designed to help solar customers get more value from the electricity their system generates.

With Solar Advantage Rate you can:

  • Earn 35¢/kWh in credits during high solar production months for the electricity your solar panels export.
  • Switch between solar and regular electricity rates up to once per month
  • Manage your rate through your Online Account
  • Align your electricity rate with seasonal solar production in Alberta

We’ll also provide helpful reminders and information so you know when switching rates may make sense for your solar production.

Add Solar Advantage Rate

Solar production changes throughout the year. Solar Advantage Rate lets you adjust your electricity rate to match those seasonal changes.

1

Choose your electricity plan

Select the Direct Energy electricity plan that fits your home.

2

Add Solar Advantage Rate

Add Solar Advantage Rate and earn 35¢/kWh credits for the electricity your solar system exports.

3

Switch when your generation changes

When solar production slows in winter, you can switch back to your regular electricity rate through your Online Account.

Add Solar Advantage Rate

Match your rate to Alberta’s solar seasons

 

 

Higher solar production from May to October

 

Solar panels in Alberta typically produce the most electricity between May and October when daylight hours are longer.

 During these months, many solar homes export more electricity than they use and can earn higher solar credits.

 

Lower solar production from November to April

 

Solar production usually drops between November and April as daylight hours shorten.

During this time, customers may import more electricity from the grid and often switch back to their regular electricity rate.

 

 

Switch your rate to match your solar generation

 

Solar Advantage Rate gives you the flexibility to adjust your rate throughout the year.

By switching between solar and regular electricity rates up to once per month, you can better match your rate to how your home generates energy.

Decide when to activate the solar rate and when to switch back to your regular electricity rate.

Track how your electricity generation and usage affect your bill.

Manage your rate in seconds right in your Online Account.

See how solar credits appear on your bill and get reminders to help you maximize your solar production.

Is Solar Advantage Rate right for you?

Solar Advantage Rate may work well if:

Your home has solar panels installed

You want to earn Alberta’s highest solar export credits for the electricity

You prefer managing your energy account online

You want flexibility to adjust your rate during the year

Frequently asked questions

Show all answers

Solar buyback credits are the credits you receive for the electricity your solar panels send back to the grid. When your system produces more electricity than your home uses, the extra energy is exported and credited on your electricity bill. The value of those credits depends on the electricity rate that is active on your account.

Many solar customers switch to the solar rate during higher production months, typically from May to October when solar panels generate more electricity. During winter months when solar generation drops, customers often switch back to their regular electricity rate.

Yes. Solar Advantage Rate can be added to any Direct Energy residential electricity plans. Customers can activate or switch their solar rate through their Online Account, making it easy to manage their electricity rate as solar generation changes during the year

Your bill will show the electricity your home imports from the grid and the electricity your solar system exports. Exported electricity is credited on your bill based on the rate that is active during that billing period. If you switch rates during a billing cycle, your bill will show prorated line items for electricity charges and microgeneration credits, so it’s clear what you are paying for and what you are being credited.

You can switch between Solar Advantage Rate and your regular electricity rate up to once per month through your Online Account. This flexibility allows you to align your electricity rate with how your solar system generates energy throughout the year. Many customers choose to activate the solar rate during higher-production months and switch back to their regular rate when solar generation is lower. We’ll also send helpful reminders and information to support you in deciding when switching rates may make sense.

Solar buyback credits are the credits you receive for the electricity your solar panels send back to the grid. When your system produces more electricity than your home uses, the extra energy is exported and credited on your electricity bill. The value of those credits depends on the electricity rate that is active on your account.

Solar Advantage Rate

The Solar Advantage Rate is an optional add-on for Direct Energy residential electricity customers who meet the eligibility requirements for small micro-generation as set out in the Micro-generation Regulation, Alta Reg 27/2008. Upon enrollment, customers remain on their underlying Energy Contract rate until they manually switch to the Solar Advantage Rate via their Online Account or by contacting Direct Energy customer care. Customers can switch rates up to once per calendar month and are solely responsible for switching to optimize electricity costs and solar export credits. The Solar Advantage Rate may result in higher costs or higher credits depending on individual usage patterns and solar production. Direct Energy does not guarantee savings. For additional information, visit directenergy.ca/solar