Northwest Territories Solar

Northwest Territories Residents may face a considerable amount of darkness in the winter months, but the long days of summer mean that solar energy can still be a useful source of power, one that reduces the dependency on diesel engines. Not only is diesel expensive, but it also pollutes.

Solar power provides an alternative and environmentally-friendly source of power during the summer months. With new incentives promoting clean energy, the Northwest Territories has seen a surge in the number of solar PV systems.

At 29.73 cents/ kWh, the electricity prices in the province are above the national average of 12.2 cents / kWh. When it comes to average electricity consumption per household, residents of this province consume 10,560 kWh per year, below the national average of 13,300 kWh.

Currently, Northwest Territories has 1 financial incentive programs and 1 regulatory programs supporting the adoption of solar energy.

Northwest Territories is a grid parity province, making solar power cheaper than the residential utility rates. The incentives listed below can significantly reduce the cost of installation of solar panels for your home or business.

Financial Incentives

• The Alternatives Energy Technology Program (AETP)
  The program assists NWT residents and businesses to integrate commercially available, clean energy technologies into their operations. The fund is intended to reduce fuel use, and lower the cost of operations. The Residential Renewable Energy Fund (RREF) is available to assist NWT residents to integrate commercially available, clean energy technologies on their property, building or other assets for the purpose of reducing fuel usage. RREF provides funding of up to one-third of the cost of qualified renewable energy systems. The maximum amount available to any recipient is $5,000 per year. The Business Renewable Energy Fund (BREF) is available to assist NWT commercial businesses including off-grid lodges and camps to integrate commercially available, clean energy technologies into their operations. The fund is intended to reduce fuel use and lower the cost of operations in remote locations where fuel prices and carbon footprints are high. BREF provides funding of up to one-third of the cost of qualified renewable energy systems. The maximum amount available per applicant is $15,000 per year. The Community Renewable Energy Program (CREP) provides funding to community and Aboriginal governments, GNWT departments, boards and agencies, and non-profit organizations. Funding is available to assist community-based installations of alternative energy systems or the conversion of an existing conventional energy system to alternative energy technology. Renewable energy projects may receive funding of up to one-half (50%) of the project cost, up to $21,000 per year.

Regulatory Policies

• Net Metering
  Northland Utilities and Northwest Territories Power Corporation both offer Net Metering to their customers. Net Metering allows customers to accumulate energy credits monthly for any excess electricity they produce to be used against those months when their usage exceeds their production. Customers in Net Metering receive a credit in kilowatt hours equal to the excess energy, calculated at the full retail rate. If in the event there are any credits left at the end of the Net Metering cycle on March 31, they will be reset to zero.