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

www.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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