Solar Power & Saskatchewan
For a province that has the highest potential to produce solar energy in all of Canada, Saskatchewan is the worst for our net-metering policies, financing options, incentives, and more recently, fewer rebates. Saskatchewan has the ability to produce an average 1330kW per kW of solar-generated energy installed per sunlight hour in Saskatchewan (based on data from National Resources Canada’s photovoltaic and solar resource maps, those numbers fluctuate depending on what time of year it is and where in Saskatchewan you live. A 1000 Kilowatt (kW) solar power system in Regina would produce an approximate average of 1,361 kWh/year but you can expect this average to decrease the more you move north and east. The Saskatchewan solar industry has the capability to stimulate the economy and create many jobs, so why are local solar businesses laying off their tradesmen?
SaskPower recently revised their solar power rebate incentive program. Residents of Saskatchewan used to earn double the bill credits for the power they generated power via solar or other means. There has been a significant demand for this net metering rebate program because in addition to credits on one’s bill customers were also eligible for a rebate of up to 20% of the cost to install solar panels. The previous program was ranked 3rd best in Canada. Saskatchewan as of November 1st is now the only province that does not offer any solar and energy rebate incentives for solar installation. You can still receive credits for excess power production but no longer at the retail rate, it would be at almost half the rate they sell it for; you previously earned 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, the amount is now 7.5 cents. It now takes 16 years to have a solar system pay for itself whereas before that amount was approximately 9 years.
Some small local businesses like Prairie Sun Solar are talking about diversifying their business, others like miEnergy are talking about relocating their business entirely, ultimately small businesses fear that this change may be the death of the residential solar business in Saskatchewan. Many companies have not made a single sale since SaskPower revised its program. The Distributed Energy Association of Saskatchewan suggests orders for solar power systems have dropped by 90 per cent. SaskPower’s minister Dustin Duncan’s data reflects that only 25% of the potential customers who were cut off of the previous program decided not to continue, but 25% is still quite a large number for a small business, especially considering 39% of people haven’t decided if they are going to continue with installing solar systems, so sales have dropped 75-90% depending on who you ask.
Saskatchewan’s previous net metering program was revised because it was scheduled to run until 2021 or until it hit a province-wide limit of 16-megawatt capacity. This program was a victim of its own success, as many took advantage of the progressive program. SaskPower states that if the program was maintained as is customers who rate-pay would experience a 7% increase, as those who have solar systems would still be utilizing the system on days when they don’t produce as much power. The 2019 Power Generation Partner Program is no longer accepting applications, of the 35 MW allocated for projects 10 MW is reserved for renewable projects while the remaining 25 MW is reserved for carbon-neutral non-renewables.
We worry about our local contractors affected by this newest change. Kelln Solar has installed Solar systems for over 30 years, including all of our Build Love projects and we hate to see them struggle when they’ve contributed so much to our local community. Derek Verhelst of Kelln Solar said, “It’s essentially stopped our business in residential solar.” They are still acquiring commercial work because for small business owners who operate during the day they will use the majority of the power they produce, but for homeowners who work away from home the majority of the day, they don’t use what they produce. To remain progressive and stay alive in the industry with these new changes Kelln solar will be looking at various “ways to incorporate batteries and load management software to help customers match their consumption to their production.” We are confident this company will be innovative enough to continue to provide solar solutions to off-grid and grid-tie customers.
Here is a list of SaskPower’s Solar PV Suppliers/Efficiency Partners
2BGreen Solar Power Ltd.
Regina, SK
306-570-3654
www.2bgreen.ca
Advanced Energy Inc.
White City, SK
306-591-2243
team@adv-energy.com
www.adv-energy.com
Anagram Solar
306-581-3350
rick@anagramsolar.com
www.anagramsolar.com
Blaze Solar & Electric Ltd.
Saskatoon, SK
306-292-7570
blazesolar2016@gmail.com
www.blazesolar.ca
Blue Sky Solar
Saskatoon, SK
306-241-0817
www.blueskysolar.ca
Bright North Electric
Saskatoon, SK
306-850-5710
ben@brightnorthelectric.ca
www.brightnorthelectric.ca
Concept Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
306-652-7776
mike.bischler@conceptgroup.ca
www.conceptgroup.ca
Dynamo Electric
Saskatoon, SK
306-651-3355
mailbox@dynamoelectric.ca
www.dynamoelectric.ca
Eco-Consulting Ltd.
Saskatoon, SK
306-280-0006
charles.eco@sasktel.net
www.eco-electric.net
EECOL
Regina, SK & Saskatoon, SK
403-827-2627
jaye.jonsson@eecol.com
www.eecol.com
Enviro Energy
Whitefish, ON
639-317-9167
team@enviroenergysolar.ca
www.enviroenergysolar.ca/saskatchewan
Evolv Solar Inc.
Calgary, AB
403-771-9902
noelle.leblanc@evovsolar.com
www.evolvsolar.com
GreenCat Renewable Canada
Calgary, AB
1-866-216-2481
cpottle@gatewaymechanical.ca
www.greencatrenewables.ca
Greenline Electric Inc.
Saskatoon, SK
306-281-4781
shaun@greenlineelectric.ca
www.greenlineelectric.ca
Ion Solar Ltd.
Saskatoon, SK
306-380-3859
sdaywiggins@ioncontrols.ca
www.ioncontrols.ca/solar
KCP Energy Inc.
Calgary, AB
403-800-3107
calvin@KCPenergy.com
www.livesolarnow.com
K2 Electric Ltd.
White City, SK
306-537-9515
kyle@k2electric.ca
www.k2electric.ca
Kelln Solar
Lumsden, SK
306-731-2224
austin@kellnsolar.com
www.kellnsolar.com
Living Skies Solar
Saskatoon, SK
306-241-8599
www.livingskiessolar.com
riley@livingskiessolar.com
Meridian Solar & Electric Inc.
Radville, SK
306-869-2273
meridian@sasktel.net
www.meridiansolar.ca
MiEnergy
Saskatoon, SK
306-683-2247
info@mienergy.ca
www.mienergy.ca
Mo’ Solar Company
Regina, SK
306-580-1469
info@mosolar.ca
www.mosolar.ca
Nexon Solar Ltd.
Regina, SK
306-450-7226
victor@nexonsolar.ca
www.nexonsolar.ca
Prairie Sun Solar
Regina, SK
306-531-4141
info@prairiesunsolar.com
www.prairiesunsolar.com
Rock Paper Sun Ltd.
Saskatoon, SK
306-290-1875
info@rockpapersun.com
www.rockpapersun.com
Roots Rock Solar
Saskatoon, SK
306-717-6596
info@rootsrocksolar.ca
www.rootsrocksolar.ca
Sasksolar.com Energy Solution
Vibank, SK
306-424-7741
katlin@sasksolar.com
www.sasksolar.com
SkyFire Energy Inc.
Calgary, AB
403-930-5610
Dave@skyfireenergy.com
www.skyfireenergy.com
Sound Solar Systems Inc.
Regina, SK
306-569-9962
brooke@soundsolar.ca
www.soundsolar.ca
Suncap Energy
Saskatoon, SK
306-261-1685
sales@suncapenergy.ca
www.suncapenergy.ca
Suncatcher Solar Ltd.
Saskatoon, SK
1-877-441-2355
angie@suncatchersolar.com
www.suncatchersolar.com
SunDawg Solar Inc.
Regina, SK
1-833-SUNDAWG
info@sundawgs.com
www.sundawgs.com
Sunteam Solar Inc.
Saskatoon, SK
306-493-7789
info@sunteamsolar.com
www.sunteamsolar.com
TruGreen Energy
Regina, SK
1-833-847-6527
info@trugreenenergy.com
www.trugreenenergy.com
Vision Energy Inc.
Cabri, SK
306-587-3570
brock@visionenergy.ca
Disclaimer: A SaskPower Energy Efficiency Partner is a contractor that has applied and been accepted into SaskPower’s Energy Efficiency Program. A list of SaskPower Energy Efficiency Partner’s is set out above. SaskPower does not endorse any particular Energy Efficiency Partner. SaskPower does not expressly or implicitly guarantee or warrant the work of any Energy Efficiency Partner. SaskPower encourages you to evaluate potential Energy Efficiency Partners by reviewing credentials, qualifications and references. Any agreement between you and an Energy Efficiency Partner will not include SaskPower as a party, beneficiary, or guarantor of that agreement and you agree not to bring any claim against SaskPower relating to any work that any Energy Efficiency Partner performs. SaskPower shall have no liability or responsibility for loss or damages arising from any relationship between you and any Energy Efficiency Partner.
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