Airdrie Solar Case Study
- Used the CEIP No Upfront Cost Loan
- Pays $10 a month in Electricity
When the Daw family moved into their two-story home in Airdrie, Alberta—just north of Calgary—they loved the big prairie skies and those long, sunny summer days. What they didn’t love were electricity bills that seemed to creep up every year. With two kids, a home office, central AC for hot July/August stretches, and a growing collection of electrified lifestyle gear (e-bikes, tools, the works), their usage sat right around an “average-plus” Alberta household.
Airdrie Family Realizes Immediate Savings After Paying $192/month
Before solar, the Daws were averaging roughly $190–$200 per month in total electric costs (energy + distribution). Post-solar, their modeled net bill averages about $55–$60 per month across the year (some summer months even drop into credit). That’s a monthly reduction of about $135, or ~$1,630 in annual savings.
Over a 25-year lifecycle—the typical warranted life of modern panels—that pencils out to ~$40,000+ in lifetime savings before you even factor in utility price inflation. With conservative escalation, that long-term benefit only grows.
Their modeled break-even year lands around Year 12-14. That includes equipment, install, and financing costs—and it assumes “normal” Alberta seasons (big summer production, higher winter consumption).
| Key Results – Airdrie, AB | |
|---|---|
| Average Monthly Bill Before Solar | $192.00 |
| Average Monthly Bill After Solar | $56.00 |
| Annual Savings | $1,630 (Year 1) |
| Lifetime Savings (25 yrs) | $40,000+ |
| Breakeven | Year 14 |
These numbers are estimates and may vary depending on your usage, location, and incentive eligibility.
Results at a Glance
Location: Airdrie, Alberta (Calgary region; great solar resource and strong summer export potential)
System Size: ~7.2 kW rooftop
Average Bill Before Solar: ~$192/month
Average Net Bill After Solar: ~$56/month
Monthly Savings: ~$136
Annual Savings: ~$1,630
Projected Lifetime Savings (25 yrs): $40,000+ (before price inflation)
Estimated Break-Even: Years 12-14
Incentives/Programs Used: Net Billing, Alberta Solar Club–style optimized rates, Alberta CEIP loan
Three Levers That Maximized ROI
Net Billing (Micro-Generation):
Alberta’s net-billing framework lets the family earn credits for the extra energy their system exports—especially in those long, bright summer months. Those credits then help offset winter bills when the sun is lower and usage goes up (hello, space heating and more lighting). Net billing is the backbone of the ROI, letting summer do the heavy lifting for the year.Alberta Solar Club (Optimized Retail Rates):
The family enrolled with an electricity retailer offering an Alberta Solar Club–style program, which tweaks buy/sell rates to better match solar-home realities. In plain English: better export terms in high-production months and smart import pricing when they need to pull from the grid. This optimization smooths cash flow and can shave months (sometimes years) off payback compared with default rates.Alberta CEIP (Clean Energy Improvement Program) Loan:
Rather than tapping savings or a traditional loan, the Daws chose CEIP financing. It puts the project on the property tax bill at a competitive rate, spreads payments over a comfortable term, and—importantly—is tied to the property, not the people. If they ever sell, the remaining obligation and the energy savings can transfer to the next owner. For the Daws, CEIP made it $0-upfront, with most of the payment offset by the bill reduction from day one.
Their Electric Bill with Solar
This bill shows how solar wipes out most charges. From Jun 2–19, the home used 269 kWh. Charges were Energy $80.70, Transmission & Distribution $38.51, plus Municipal $7.78 and Retailer $6.85, totaling $133.84.
Because the system exported more than it imported, the Microgen credit was -$183.25, which more than offset those costs. After GST -$2.47, the statement ends at Total Due -$51.88—a credit that rolls forward to future bills.
These recurring summer credits help cover higher winter usage, accelerate ROI, and bring break-even sooner, compounding to $40k+ in lifetime savings over 25–30 years.
Monthly Production vs Consumption
The Day-to-Day Experience
The family wanted simplicity: set it, forget it, and check in when curious. Their system came with a mobile monitoring app that shows real-time and historical production. They can see exactly how many kWh their roof harvested today, last week, and month-to-date, plus how that stacks up against their typical use. It’s oddly addictive—and it turns the kids into mini energy detectives (“Close the door, we’re wasting kilowatts!”).
Installer Selection
They chose Orizon Energy as their installer for three reasons:
Experience & design: Orizon sized the array to align with the family’s actual usage profile and the roof geometry—prioritizing production without cluttering the roofline.
Permitting & paperwork: From the interconnection to the CEIP application support and retailer switch, Orizon handled the admin cleanly and kept the family in the loop.
Clean, on-time install & follow-through: The crew showed up when promised, left the site spotless, and walked the Daws through the monitoring app and expectations (seasonal swings, snow considerations, annual statements, etc.).
Power your home the right way
If you live in Alberta, the combination of Net Billing and the Alberta CEIP Loan could help you achieve similar results. Every home is different, but with long summer daylight hours and competitive installation rates, Alberta remains one of the best places in Canada to go solar.
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 net billing solar energy
- No upfront cost CEIP solar loan payment
- Ownership of your power generation system
- 20+ years of low cost electricity after loan payoff
- Protection against future rate hikes
- Energy independence and savings
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- Save upwards $45,000 in lifetime electricity costs
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- Offset up to 100% of energy usage with solar
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