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How to read a solar quote in BC: the numbers to check before you sign

Six numbers decide whether a BC solar quote holds up: price per watt, yearly production, payback, the rebate, the deposit and the workmanship warranty. You can test each one with a calculator and your hydro bill.

Last checked November 12, 2026. Rates and program rules change, so confirm them with the source before you sign.

The examples on this page use the invented quote from our sample report: an 8.8 kW system for a Surrey home with electric heat that uses 14,500 kWh a year, quoted at $31,900. The household and the installer are made up. The arithmetic is real.

Number	The quote says	The check finds
Price per watt	$31,900 for 8.8 kW	$3.63, above the usual $2.50 to $3.30
Yearly production	10,400 kWh	About 9,240 kWh is typical
Payback	9.5 years	19.3 to 25.1 years
Rebate	$5,000, guaranteed	$5,000 is the right amount. It can't be guaranteed.
Deposit	50% at signing	$15,950 before any approval
Workmanship warranty	2 years	Short against our five-year flag

What is the price per watt?

Divide the total price before rebates by the system size in watts. Here that is $31,900 divided by 8,800 watts, or $3.63 per watt.

Published Canadian cost guides put installed residential solar in BC at about $2.50 to $3.30 per watt. For 8.8 kW that range is $22,000 to $29,040, so this quote is $2,860 above the top of it.

A high price can be fair. A steep roof or an electrical panel upgrade adds real cost. The quote should say what applies. The question to send back: what on this job puts the price above $3.30 a watt?

Is the production figure realistic?

Divide the promised yearly kWh by the system size in kW. The sample quote promises 10,400 kWh from 8.8 kW, which is 1,182 kWh per kW.

Our regional figure for an unshaded south-facing roof in Metro Vancouver is about 1,050 kWh per kW, which gives 9,240 kWh. The claim is 13% above that. As a cross-check, BC Hydro's own reference is a 7 kW system making about 7,700 kWh a year in BC, or 1,100 kWh per kW.

Every savings figure in a quote is built on this number. Ask what shading and system losses were assumed, and whether the installer will put the production figure in the contract.

Which rate does the payback use?

New BC Hydro customers are on the self-generation rate. Solar offsets your own use within each billing period, and surplus in that period is paid at 10 cents per kWh. Net metering closed to new customers on July 1, 2026. The sample quote still says "net metering credits at full retail rate".

Redone on the current rate with realistic production, the first year looks like this:

Step	Working	Result
Solar used at home	7,678 kWh × 12.70 cents	$975
Surplus paid by BC Hydro	1,562 kWh × 10 cents	$156
First-year bill value	Used at home plus surplus	$1,131
Net cost	$31,900 less the $5,000 rebate	$26,900
Simple payback	$26,900 divided by $1,131	23.8 years

Our model then lets panel output fall 0.5% a year and tests two price paths. With electricity prices flat, payback is 25.1 years. With prices rising 3% a year, it is 19.3 years. The quote claimed 9.5.

If your quote's payback is far shorter than your own figure, ask which export rate it assumed and what yearly price rise is built in.

Is the rebate described correctly?

The BC Hydro rebate for a home is $1,000 per kW up to $5,000, capped at half the installed cost. Check the amount, then check the conditions:

BC Hydro must approve your application before equipment is bought. You file it yourself.
The installer must be a Home Performance Contractor Network member.
BC Hydro lists Tesla solar and battery products as not eligible.
FortisBC customers are not eligible.

Rebates are first come, first served while funding lasts. A quote that calls the rebate guaranteed is promising something the installer doesn't control.

How much is the deposit, and when is the rest due?

Multiply the price by the deposit percentage so you see it in dollars. Half of $31,900 is $15,950, due at signing, before BC Hydro has approved anything.

We flag any deposit over 30%. That threshold is our own rule of thumb and has no legal standing. A schedule that ties payments to BC Hydro's approval and to connection leaves you less exposed if the job stalls.

If the contract was signed during a visit to your home, separate rules can apply. Consumer Protection BC says deposits on those contracts are generally limited to $100 or 10% of the price, whichever is less. See BC's door-to-door solar sales ban.

What do the warranties cover?

A quote usually carries more than one warranty. The manufacturer covers the panels and the inverter. The installer's workmanship warranty covers the roof penetrations and the wiring, which is where a leak or a fault would show up.

We flag workmanship warranties under five years, again as our own rule of thumb. The sample quote offers two. Check too that the quote names the make and model of the panels and the inverter. BC Hydro asks for both on the final invoice before it pays a rebate.

What about financing?

Ask for the cash price first. Then work out what the financing adds. The sample quote offers 9.99% over 15 years. On $31,900 that is about $343 a month, and about $29,769 in interest over the term.

Two rule changes matter here. Since August 1, 2026, a seller can't arrange credit as part of a direct sales contract. And the federal Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed to new applications, so a quote that counts on it is out of date.

Common questions

What is a fair price per watt for solar in BC?

Published Canadian cost guides put installed residential solar in BC at about $2.50 to $3.30 per watt before rebates. A quote above that range should explain why, for example a steep roof or an electrical panel upgrade.

How do I know if the production estimate is too high?

Divide the promised yearly kWh by the system size in kW. Our typical figures for an unshaded south-facing roof run from about 1,030 to 1,200 kWh per kW depending on the region. A claim more than 10% above the figure for your region deserves a question.

Should a BC solar quote still mention net metering?

Not for a new BC Hydro connection. BC Hydro closed net metering to new customers on July 1, 2026. New systems go on the self-generation rate, which pays 10 cents per kWh for surplus in a billing period.

What deposit is reasonable on a solar contract?

There is no single published standard. We flag deposits over 30% as our own rule of thumb. For contracts signed during a home visit, Consumer Protection BC says deposits are generally limited to $100 or 10% of the total price, whichever is less.

Want your own quote checked?

The free calculator runs the rough numbers in your browser from four figures on your quote and your hydro bill. The sample report shows what a written review looks like.

Try the free calculator See a sample report

Solar Second Look is a document review. We check a quote against published prices and program rules. This guide is general information and does not replace legal, financial or engineering advice. For questions about a contract, contact Consumer Protection BC.