British Columbia · population 145,000
Solar in Kelowna
Most of Kelowna is served by FortisBC, with some areas on BC Hydro. The Okanagan is one of the sunniest parts of BC, with hot, dry summers and heavy air conditioning use. Wildfire smoke can cut output on some summer days.
- Sample system
- 15.5 kW
- 36 panels, $180/month bill
- Year-1 savings
- $1,807
- Pays back in
- 18.9 years
- Not recommended
- Output per kW
- 964 kWh
- a year, our model
Month by month
What a 15.5 kW system makes in Kelowna
14,928 kWh a year, kWh per month. Summer covers far more than you use; winter covers little.
Your utility: BC Hydro
FortisBC delivers electricity to most of Kelowna, and some parts of the city are BC Hydro customers. FortisBC isn't in our list yet, so we use BC Hydro rates. Check your bill.
BC Hydro self-generation: exports credited at 10¢ per kWh. Power you send to the grid earns a credit per kWh, usually worth less than what you pay to buy power, so using solar as it’s made is worth more.
BC Hydro rates and solarWhat it costs
At $2.60–$3.27 per watt installed, the sample 15.5 kW system runs about $40,248–$50,620 before rebates. Source
Programs
Rebates and loans for Kelowna homes
Programs change often. See all incentives and what’s changed.
Questions
Solar in Kelowna: FAQ
- Is solar worth it in Kelowna?
- For our sample Kelowna home with a $180 monthly bill, solar rates as "not recommended": about $1,807 saved in the first year and a payback of 18.9 years. Your roof, shade and usage decide the real answer.
- How much do solar panels cost in Kelowna?
- Installed prices in British Columbia typically run $2.60 to $3.27 per watt, so a 15.5 kW system is roughly $40,248 to $50,620 before rebates.
- How much electricity do solar panels make in Kelowna?
- In our model, each kW of well-placed panels makes about 964 kWh a year here. Output in December is a fraction of June’s.
- Does BC Hydro credit solar power I send to the grid?
- BC Hydro self-generation: exports credited at 10¢ per kWh. Power you send to the grid earns a credit per kWh, usually worth less than what you pay to buy power, so using solar as it’s made is worth more.
- Are there solar rebates or loans in Kelowna?
- There’s no city program we can confirm, but British Columbia homes may qualify for: BC Hydro solar rebate, BC Hydro battery rebate. Check current status before you sign.
Savings use the SolarMyBill model for a sample home with a $180 monthly bill on BC Hydro’s default plan, sized for best payback.