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Bill Breakdown: How Solar Credits Slash Your Power Bill

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Bill Breakdown: How Solar Credits Slash Electric Bills

  • No Upfront Cost CEIP Loan
  • Upwards $45,000 in lifetime savings

If you’re a homeowner in Alberta with solar panels, your electric bill likely looks different than it used to. One standout item solar homeowners notice is a“Microgen” Credit — a key benefit of Alberta utility’s net billing program that helps homeowners maximize their solar investment.

Let’s break down what each charge means and how solar dramatically reduces your monthly costs.

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Charges Breakdown

Here’s a simplified look at a typical real residential electricity bill for a solar homeowner in Edmonton who used 651 kWh in one billing cycle.

  • Energy: $69.99

  • Regulated Transmission & Distribution: $57.10

  • Municipal & Retailer Fees: $14.07

  • Balancing Pool & GST: $5.16

  • Subtotal (before credits): $146.32

Microgen Credit: –$56.44

This is where the magic happens.

This homeowner exported excess solar energy back to the grid that the home didn’t use — and Orizon Utilities credited them $56.44. That’s the essence of net billing in Alberta: your solar panels don’t just power your home, they earn you credits when you produce more than you consume.

Final Bill Total: $21.16

That’s an 85% reduction in electricity costs this month, all thanks to solar and net billing. Since Alberta has ridiculously sunny summers, it offsets the little sun we get in the winter, resulting in year around electric bills.

This is why it’s important you have an experienced solar company size your system correctly to your home’s usage. So you aren’t overpaying for a solar panel system too big, but generating enough that covers what you need and a little extra to get credits.

What Is the Microgen Credit?

When your solar system produces more electricity than your home needs, the extra energy flows back into the grid. Your utility company tracks this and credits you for every kilowatt-hour exported. These credits directly reduce your bill.

In Alberta, this process is called net billing under the Micro-Generation Regulation — and it’s one of the fastest ways to offset the cost of going solar.

How Net Billing Accelerates ROI

By generating excess power during sunny spring & summer months and banking credits, many homeowners:

  • Offset 60–90% of their annual power costs

  • See payback periods drop by 5–10 years depending on usage

  • Lock in long-term protection against rising utility rates

Get MicroGen Credits from Net Billing

Over the next decade, you’ll spend about $30,000 on electricity whether you choose solar or not. The difference? With solar, you’re investing in your own power system instead of endlessly paying your utility company. Post breakeven years, you pay a near $0 dollar electric bill for 20+ years – (along with the fixed grid connection fees) all the while protecting yourself from rising energy costs.

Get a Solar Quote & Get Net Billing

Your home without solar energy

  • $250 average monthly electricity bill
  • 10-Year Cost: $30,000 (assuming no rate increases)
  • Continued dependence on utility companies
  • No long-term savings or added home value

Your home with solar net billing

  • Get MicroGen Credits from Net Billing
  • No upfront cost solar loan (CEIP)
  • Ownership of your power generation system
  • 20+ years of low cost electricity after loan payoff
  • 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.

Create your personalized solar investment plan

We offer a variety of financing options to make solar more affordable to fit your budget.

Let our expert solar team handle the rest

From incentives applications, installation to activation, our experts are with you every step of the way.

Explore your home’s solar savings potential

Energy costs are expected to keep rising, but yours don’t have to. Take the first step towards energy independence by getting your free, personalized solar savings estimate before it’s too late.

  • Save upwards $45,000 in lifetime electricity costs
  • Protect your monthly finances from energy price increases
  • Eliminate up to 100% of your monthly payment
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Across Alberta we’ve helped over 1355+ homes and businesses go solar. Our installers service surrounding areas of Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Calgary.

The future of the CEIP Loan and net billing solar program is uncertain. Fill out our form today to receive a transparent solar quote that’s personalized to your home and energy costs.

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