Canadian Electricity Rates by Utility (2026)

Quebec has the cheapest residential electricity in Canada at roughly 6.8¢/kWh blended on Hydro-Québec Tarif D. Manitoba is second at ~10¢/kWh via Manitoba Hydro. Nova Scotia Power is the most expensive at ~18¢/kWh, followed by SaskPower at ~17¢/kWh. The relationship between retail rate and solar payback is inverse — expensive-electricity provinces pay back solar fastest.

A TOU rate charges different prices for electricity depending on the time of day. Ontario's RPP divides a day into off-peak (2.5¢/kWh), mid-peak (10.2¢/kWh), and on-peak (15.1¢/kWh) periods. On-peak windows shift seasonally — summer afternoons versus winter mornings and evenings. TOU rates reward households that shift laundry, dishwasher runs, and EV charging to overnight hours.

Rarely entirely. Even a correctly-sized solar system still leaves you paying the fixed monthly customer charge ($7-$48 depending on utility) plus any delivery charges that aren't fully offset by net metering. On Toronto Hydro delivery charges roughly equal the energy charge — so solar cuts the energy portion to near-zero but you still see a ~$50/month bill. Most Canadian homeowners see 70-90% bill reduction, not 100%.

Net metering is a billing arrangement where surplus solar electricity your home sends back to the grid earns a credit on your bill. In Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, credits apply at full retail rate (1:1). In BC, Alberta, Atlantic Canada, and some utilities, credits apply at a reduced export rate (10-12¢/kWh in BC, variable in Alberta). Credits typically roll over 12 months then expire — size your system to annual consumption to avoid losing credits.

Typical savings depend on your province's retail rate, your system size relative to consumption, and whether net metering applies at retail. A well-sized 8 kW system on a typical Canadian home saves $1,400-$3,200/year depending on province — Nova Scotia and Alberta Solar Club customers see the largest savings, Quebec and Manitoba the smallest.