What Is Micro-Generation?
Micro-generation is Alberta’s framework that allows homeowners and small businesses to generate their own electricity — typically from solar panels — and connect to the electrical grid. If you produce more power than you use, the excess goes back to the grid and you receive credits on your electricity bill.
It’s governed by the Micro-Generation Regulation under Alberta’s Electric Utilities Act. Any system up to 5 MW qualifies, though residential systems are typically 3-15 kW.
How It Works: Step by Step
1. Your Panels Generate Electricity
During daylight hours, your solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. A typical Alberta home system (6-10 kW) can produce 7,000-14,000 kWh per year — enough to cover most or all of a household’s annual usage.
2. Your Home Uses What It Needs
The electricity your panels produce goes to your home first. Your lights, appliances, heating, and everything else draw from your solar production before touching grid power. This happens automatically — no switches or manual intervention needed.
3. Excess Power Flows to the Grid
When your panels produce more than your home is using (common during sunny afternoons), the excess flows through your meter and onto the grid. Your bi-directional meter tracks both what you import and what you export.
4. You Import Power When Needed
At night, on cloudy days, and during high-usage periods, your home draws power from the grid as usual. You’re never “off-grid” — the grid serves as your backup.
Important: Because of Get Energy’s Solar Club rates, staying grid-connected is significantly more financially beneficial. The high export rate (35.00¢/kWh) you can sell your excess power back at through Solar Club means your grid connection actually generates revenue — something you’d lose entirely by going off-grid.
5. Your Bill Reflects the Net
Each billing period, your retailer calculates:
- How much electricity you imported from the grid
- How much you exported to the grid
- The net difference determines your bill or credit
What Rate Do You Get for Exported Power?
This is the critical question — and where most homeowners leave money on the table.
Under Alberta’s regulation, your electricity retailer sets the rate they pay for your exported power. There’s no mandated rate. This means:
- Some retailers pay as little as 8–10¢/kWh for exports
- Some pay the same rate you’re charged for imports
- Get Energy’s Solar Club pays up to 35.00¢/kWh on the High Export Rate
The difference is enormous. A system exporting 5,000 kWh annually would earn $250-$400 at most retailers, but up to $1,750 on Get Energy’s Solar Club HI rate.
The Billing Cycle
Here’s how a typical month works for a solar home in Alberta:
| Scenario | What Happens |
|---|---|
| You imported more than exported | You pay for the net imports at your contracted rate |
| You exported more than imported | You receive a credit (rolls forward to next month) |
| End of year with credits remaining | Typically paid out or applied to your account |
Note: You still pay delivery charges, transmission fees, and other regulated charges regardless of your generation. These typically make up 40-60% of a standard electricity bill.
What Equipment Do You Need?
- Solar panels: Mounted on your roof or ground-mounted on your property
- Inverter: Converts DC power from panels to AC power for your home
- Bi-directional meter: Your utility installs this (usually free) to track both imports and exports
- Disconnect switch: Required safety device that allows the utility to isolate your system
You do not need batteries. While battery storage is an option, it’s not required for micro-generation in Alberta. The grid effectively acts as your “battery.”
How to Get Connected
- Get your solar system installed by a certified installer
- Apply to your wire service provider (ATCO, ENMAX, EPCOR, FortisAlberta) for micro-generation interconnection
- Get your bi-directional meter installed — the wire company does this
- Choose a retailer with good solar rates — this is where your financial return is determined
Choosing the Right Retailer for Solar
Your choice of electricity retailer is the single biggest variable in your solar savings. Get Energy’s Solar Club is specifically designed for micro-generators:
- LO rate (3.33¢/kWh): Low import rate — great for winter months when you’re drawing more from the grid
- HI rate (35.00¢/kWh): High export rate — maximizes your earnings during sunny summer months
- Switch anytime: Just 10 days’ notice to swap between LO and HI rates
- 3% cashback: On all energy imported from the grid
This flexibility means you can optimize your rate seasonally — something no other Alberta retailer offers.
Common Questions
Can I go completely off-grid?
Technically yes, but it’s not practical or cost-effective for most homes. Grid-connected micro-generation gives you the best of both worlds — solar savings during the day and reliable grid power when you need it.
What happens during a power outage?
Standard grid-connected solar systems shut down during outages for safety reasons (to protect utility workers). If you want power during outages, you’d need a battery system with backup capability.
Do I need permission from my HOA or condo board?
Alberta law protects your right to install solar. The Solar Energy Systems Bylaw restricts HOAs and municipalities from unreasonably preventing solar installations. However, there may be aesthetic guidelines to follow.
Get Started
Ready to take advantage of Alberta’s micro-generation framework? Join Get Energy’s Solar Club for the best export rates in the province, or compare all our plans to find the right fit.
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