Is solar worth it where you live?
Search this and you get US tools or a sales page. Here is the Canadian picture: what a rooftop system generates and saves in your province, from NRCan sun data and your local power rate. A planning estimate, not a pitch.
How the provinces compare
A typical 7 kW system, best dollar payback first. Tap a province for the detail.
| Province | Sun (kWh/kW) | Rate (¢) | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 1330 | 17.0 | $1,583 | 12.8 yr |
| Prince Edward Island | 1190 | 18.0 | $1,499 | 13.5 yr |
| Alberta | 1276 | 16.0 | $1,429 | 14.2 yr |
| Nova Scotia | 1128 | 18.0 | $1,421 | 14.3 yr |
| New Brunswick | 1145 | 14.0 | $1,122 | 18.1 yr |
| Ontario | 1161 | 13.0 | $1,057 | 19.2 yr |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 982 | 14.0 | $962 | 21.1 yr |
| British Columbia | 1100 | 12.0 | $924 | 22 yr |
| Manitoba | 1272 | 10.0 | $890 | 22.8 yr |
| Quebec | 1185 | 7.8 | $647 | 31.4 yr |
Solar questions
Is solar worth it in Canada?
It depends on two local numbers: how much sun your province gets and how much you pay for power. The best math is in sunny, higher-rate provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta; the longest payback is in Quebec, where power is cheap. A typical 7 kW system pays back in roughly 13 to 31 years across the provinces. Use the estimator for your own case.
How is the estimate calculated?
Annual generation is your system size in kilowatts times the province's NRCan photovoltaic potential (kWh per kW per year). Savings is that generation times your electricity rate. Payback is the install cost (about $2.90 per watt) divided by yearly savings. It is a planning estimate, not a quote.
What does this leave out?
Your roof tilt and shading, your exact utility rate and net-metering rules, financing, rate increases over time, and any rebates or low-interest loans. All of those move the result, so treat this as a starting point and get local quotes.
How this page was made
Sun figures are NRCan photovoltaic potential (kWh per kW per year, representative provincial city). Rates are a representative all-in residential figure from the Canada Energy Regulator and provincial utilities. Install cost uses about $2.90 per watt (2.40 to 3.50 typical), from 2026 Canadian cost guides. Last reviewed 2026-06-23.
This is a planning estimate, not a quote. It uses a provincial average for sun and electricity price; your roof, shading, tilt, exact utility rate, net-metering rules, financing, and any rebates will change the result. Get two or three quotes from local installers before deciding. Figures last reviewed on the verified date.