Alberta Solar Club: 2026 Rates, Eligibility & How to Sign Up
Everything Alberta homeowners need to know about the Solar Club rate program
See If You Qualify
Enter your postal code to get matched with a solar installer who can set up your Alberta Solar Club membership.
The Alberta Solar Club is a branded electricity rate plan for Alberta homeowners with solar panels — not a government program, though it is backed by provincial regulation. If you have panels on your roof (or are thinking about it) and keep seeing “Solar Club” come up in your research, this guide untangles what it actually is, who runs it, whether you qualify, and how the different retailer versions of it compare.
What Is the Alberta Solar Club?
The Alberta Solar Club is not a government program. It’s a branded electricity rate plan for Alberta micro-generators — homeowners with solar systems under 150 kW and a bidirectional meter — administered by Utility Network & Partners Inc. (UTILITYnet) and sold through 15+ retail energy marketers, each running their own version of it under the same “Solar Club” brand.
Instead of a flat export rate, members switch between a high export rate (roughly March through October, when panels produce the most) and a low import rate (roughly October through March). Here’s the part most people don’t realize: every participating retailer charges the exact same wholesale rate — currently 35.00¢/kWh export and 5.90¢/kWh import, set by UTILITYnet through December 2028. What actually differs between retailers is the monthly admin fee.
So if you’re searching “Alberta Solar Club” trying to figure out which version is best, the real answer is: they’re almost all the same rate — compare admin fees, not rates. (ENMAX’s similarly-priced “Easymax Seasonal Solar” is the one real exception: same export rate, but not part of the UTILITYnet network, so its import rate is usually higher.) See the full comparison below.
How It Works
Joining the Alberta Solar Club is a straightforward, three-step process handled almost entirely by your chosen retailer. Here's what happens between installing your system and earning the seasonal Solar Club rate:
Pre-Solar Rate
Before your system is even installed, lock in a “Pre-Solar” rate with a participating retailer.
Micro-Generator Registration
Once installed and your utility confirms your bidirectional meter, you register as a micro-generator.
Full Solar Club Membership
You're switched onto the seasonal rate — high export through summer, low import through winter — with about 10 business days' notice to switch.
Am I Eligible for the Alberta Solar Club?
You can join the Alberta Solar Club if:
- Your system is under 150 kW — the vast majority of residential installations qualify.
- You have a bidirectional meter installed by your local utility.
- You’re not in an excluded territory — see the list below.
How to Sign Up
1. Confirm eligibility — check your system size, meter type, and service territory against the list above.
2. Pick a retailer — compare rates in the table below; Park Power, Shared Value Energy, and ENMAX all currently offer a version of this plan.
3. Enroll — sign up for the Pre-Solar Rate if you haven’t installed yet, or full membership once your system is registered.
4. Know what to expect — your bill will reflect the seasonal rate you’re on, and you can request a switch with about 10 business days’ notice.
Use the postal code box above to get matched with a solar installer who can help set this up.
Which Areas Are Excluded?
The Solar Club isn’t available everywhere in Alberta. The following areas run their own municipal or co-op utilities and are excluded:
- Medicine Hat — has its own municipal utility (see our Medicine Hat solar guide)
- Peigan REA
- Ermineskin REA
- Wild Rose REA
- Lakeland REA
- North Parkland Power REA
- Blue Mountain Power Co-op
What About the Pre-Solar Rate?
Haven’t installed solar yet? Most retailers let you lock in a “Pre-Solar” rate before your system goes in, so you’re already set up for the Solar Club rate structure the moment your micro-generator registration is approved.
Alberta Solar Club Rates by Retailer: 2026 Comparison
Here’s the thing most comparison pages miss: every retailer selling “The Solar Club®” charges the exact same wholesale rate, set by UTILITYnet. What actually differs between retailers is the monthly admin fee.
| Retailer | Export Rate (HI) | Import Rate (LO) | Admin Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Power | 35.00¢/kWh | 5.90¢/kWh | $7.25/mo | Lowest published admin fee of the retailers we checked |
| Shared Value Energy | 35.00¢/kWh | 5.90¢/kWh | $7.95/mo | Also offers 3% cash back on imported electricity and partial REC credits |
| Get Energy | 35.00¢/kWh | 5.90¢/kWh | ~$9.97/mo | One of 15+ other Solar Club retailers — all on the same wholesale rate |
| ENMAX Energy | 35.0¢/kWh | Standard Easymax rate (not the 5.90¢ Solar Club rate) | Varies by plan | A separate ENMAX-only product, not part of the UTILITYnet Solar Club network — same export rate, but usually a higher import rate |
Rates last verified September 29, 2026, against Park Power’s, Shared Value Energy’s, and ENMAX’s own rate pages. The HI/LO wholesale rate is set by UTILITYnet through December 2028; admin fees are set individually by each retailer and are the main thing worth comparison-shopping on.
Note: retailer admin fees can change. This table should be checked quarterly against each retailer’s own site rather than treated as fixed.
How Much Could I Save With the Alberta Solar Club?
Use the slider to see roughly what a Solar Club rate could be worth compared to standard net billing, based on typical Alberta solar production. This is a quick illustrative estimate — use the postal code box above for a precise, personalized quote.
Solar Club vs. Standard Net Billing
If you haven’t decided solar is worth it yet, here’s the short version: standard net billing credits you at a flat rate for the power you send back to the grid, all year round. The Solar Club trades that simplicity for a seasonal high/low structure — a much higher export rate through summer, in exchange for a lower import rate through winter.
For most solar owners, whose systems produce the most exactly when the Solar Club export rate is highest, that trade works out ahead. But it depends on your usage pattern — read our cost breakdown and full Home Solar Guide for the bigger picture before you decide.
Ready to find out what the Solar Club rate could mean for your home?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from an installer who can walk you through eligibility and get your system enrolled.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Alberta Solar Club
Is the Alberta Solar Club a government program?
No. It’s a branded electricity rate plan administered by Utility Network & Partners Inc. (UTILITYnet) and sold through retail energy marketers. The high export rate is backed by Alberta’s Microgeneration Regulation, but the program itself isn’t run by the government.
Which Solar Club retailer is best?
Almost every Solar Club retailer charges the identical UTILITYnet wholesale rate (35.00¢/kWh export, 5.90¢/kWh import), so “best” usually comes down to the lowest monthly admin fee, plus any extras like Shared Value Energy’s cash-back and REC credits. Compare the fees in the table above.
Can I switch rates mid-year?
Yes — most retailers require about 10 business days’ notice to switch between the high export and low import rate periods.
What happens if I don't produce enough solar in winter?
You’ll pay the low import rate on power you draw from the grid, the same as any standard billing arrangement — the Solar Club doesn’t change how winter usage is billed, only the rate structure around your exports.
Is Medicine Hat eligible?
No. Medicine Hat runs its own municipal utility and is explicitly excluded from the Alberta Solar Club, along with a handful of rural co-ops. See our Medicine Hat solar guide for what’s available there instead.
Do I need a battery to join?
No. The Solar Club is a rate plan for grid-tied systems with a bidirectional meter — a battery isn’t required, though some homeowners add one for backup power separately.
How is the Solar Club different from standard net billing?
Standard net billing credits exports at one flat rate year-round. The Solar Club swaps that for a seasonal structure — a higher export rate in summer, a lower import rate in winter — which tends to favour systems that produce heavily during peak sun months.
How do I sign up for the Alberta Solar Club?
Confirm you’re eligible, compare retailer rates, then enroll directly with the retailer — either a Pre-Solar Rate before installation or full membership afterward. See the step-by-step above.
Explore More Alberta Solar Guides
See how these numbers play out in your specific city — including install costs, local incentives, and the retailers serving your area.
Calgary Solar Guide
Alberta’s biggest solar market — local costs, incentives, and installers.
Medicine Hat Solar Guide
Note: Medicine Hat is excluded from the Alberta Solar Club — see what’s available here instead.
