Customer Self-Generation Programs
Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P) customers wishing to generate their own electricity may apply to participate in one of three available programs: Net Metering Program, Small Power Producers Program, or Behind-the-Meter Program.
Net Metering Program
The Net Metering Program allows customers to generate renewable electricity up to 100 kilowatts (kW) for their own use and send excess electricity to the grid for future credit on their power bill.
When you generate electricity from your net-metered system, that electricity is first used in your home or business to meet your current electricity needs. If more electricity is generated than is needed, the excess is sent to the SL&P power grid. If you require more electricity than what you are producing, SL&P will supply it to you.
In a given period, if the amount of electricity you generate is greater than your overall needs, the difference is awarded to you as a 1:1 credit on your monthly bill.
The credit can be used to offset future electricity costs on your bill until March 31 of each year. Any unused energy credits as of April 1 will be forfeited as per Administrative Policy No. A07-022, Power Producer Policy.
Small Power Producers Program
The Small Power Producers Program is ideal for customers that want to generate renewable electricity up to 100 kW, and sell excess electricity to the SL&P power grid. Electricity is purchased at a fixed rate as per Bylaw No. 2685, Electric Light and Power Bylaw, 1940. Rates may be adjusted periodically, with a current power purchase rate of $0.114846(2020 rates) per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh).
Behind-the-Meter Program
The Behind-the-Meter Program is for customers that want to generate electricity above 100 kW for their own use only. Interested customers must ensure there is no back feed of excess electricity to the SL&P power grid.
Program Costs
There are costs associated with some of the activities under each program. These program costs must be paid by the customer before the execution of the interconnection agreement is implemented. Any costs under $5,000 must be pre-paid after approval of application. The breakdown of estimated interconnection costs for each program as follows:
| Type | Net Metering | Small Power Producers |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Services (15 kW or less) |
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| Residential or commercial Services (Between 15 and 100 kW) |
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| Behind-the-Meter | ||
| Commercial Services (Over 100 kW) |
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Customers are responsible for all costs associated with the buying, permitting and installation of their self-generation system.
Application Steps
Application forms:
Residential Services (15 kW or less)
Residential or Commercial Services (greater than 15 kW)
| Customer | Vendor | SL&P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
Complete the appropriate application and submit to selfgenerationprogram@saskatoon.ca Remember to include:
Refer to Interconnection guidelines for any questions on system interconnections. |
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2 |
Initiate application and service inspection reviews, and where required conduct preliminary interconnection study. Customer/Vender to facilitate a visual site assessment visit by SL&P personnel. |
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3 |
Approve application and provide quote for applicable fees. | |||
| 4 | Accept quote, terms and conditions and pay fees. | |||
| 5 | Obtain building permit from City of Saskatoon. | |||
| 6 | Obtain electrical permit from TSASK. | |||
| 7 | Install self-generation system. | |||
| 8 | Request electrical inspections by TSASK. | |||
| 9 | Request meter installation and witness test. | |||
| 10 | Install bi-directional meter and complete witness test. | |||
| 11 | Make final payment on any outstanding balance. | |||
| 12 | Execute Interconnection Agreement. | |||
| 13 | Energize self-generation system. | |||
| 14 | Set up billing account for applicable self-generation program. |
The Vendor may act on behalf of the Customer in some steps. Please contact us via email for any questions or clarification you may have on the above steps or requirements: selfgenerationprogram@saskatoon.ca.
For any question regarding system interconnection, please refer to SL&P Interconnection Guidelines.
Environmentally Preferred Technologies
Self-generation systems are pre-approved for solar photovoltaic projects (i.e. solar panels), and we will consider all environmentally-preferred generation technologies such as wind, biomass, micro-cogeneration (combined-heat and power), geothermal, and fuel cells under 100 kW in size.
If you are interested in an alternative technology, you will be asked to provide details about the technology that supports your request, and to demonstrate a greenhouse gas emissions savings over combined-system natural gas electricity sources (assumed to be 420 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent or less per Gigawatt-hour (CO2eq/GWh)).
Outside SL&P Service Area
For Saskatoon residents who live outside of the SL&P Service Area, please refer to the SaskPower website for their self-generation program information and guidelines.
Energy Credit Calculations
Please note that your energy credits on your bill will lag by one month. The credited energy that you see on bill is the amount accumulated during your previous billing period.
If you have questions regarding calculations on your monthly bill, please contact a City of Saskatoon Customer Service Representative at 306-975-2400.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there financial incentives available for self-generation?
There are several grants and incentive programs where homeowners in the city of Saskatoon can apply for financial rebates and incentives to install solar panels on their homes. Below is the list of programs currently available to homeowners.
- City of Saskatoon Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
- For more information on this program and eligibility, please refer to the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) website.
- Canada Greener Home Initiatives
- For more information on this program and eligibility, please refer to the Canada Greener Homes website.
Which program is better for me?
If you think you will generate less energy that you will consume in a one-year period, the Net Metering Program is likely more beneficial, as you will be credited for the energy at the same rate as you pay. If you want to sell all of the energy you produce, or produce more energy in a year than you will consume, then the Small Power Producers Program may be a better option, as all the excess energy generated with your system is sold to SL&P.
If you have sufficient space for systems larger than 100 kW, and you will consume all the energy generated by your system, the Behind-the-Meter Program is likely more beneficial to you.
How big of a solar system would I need to cover my needs?
Explore your home’s solar potential with MyHEAT. Are solar panels right for your home? Use this self-serve tool to explore personalized financial and environmental benefits of going solar. Learn about your roof's yearly usable sunlight hours and get an estimate of solar panel space available. Check available incentive programs and contact a local installer using the quote template provided.
Will generating my own electricity help me reduce my carbon footprint?
Yes. Saskatchewan residents use more energy and produce more greenhouse gas emissions per person than anywhere else in Canada. Currently, about 70% of Saskatchewan’s electricity comes from fossil fuels (coal and natural gas).
How does the self-generation program billing work?
Metered Energy
The energy produced by the self-generation system is initially supplied to your home or business. Any excess energy that your home or business does not consume is then supplied to the power grid.
The utility meter records only the amount of energy that is supplied to the power grid. It does not measure the total energy that is generated by your self-generation system.
Net Metering
At the end of each billing period, the City of Saskatoon will determine the Net Energy applicable for that billing period as follows:
Net Energy = (electrical energy supplied from SL&P to the customer) – (electrical energy delivered from the customer to the power grid) – (Net Energy credit carried over from previous months).
If the calculation above results in a positive value, the City of Saskatoon will bill the customer for the Net Energy consumed by the customer during the billing period. If the calculation above results in a negative value, the City of Saskatoon will credit the Net Energy amount to the customer’s account, and will bill the customer only for the Service Charge and Demand Charge (if applicable).
Small Power Producers
At the end of each billing period, the City of Saskatoon will determine the amount of energy that was supplied to SL&P’s distribution grid. The payments for these are made in forms of dollar credits and applied to the customer account.
Monthly energy from self-generation system does not match monthly utility bill. Why is this?
The utility meter only measures the energy that is supplied to the power grid. It does not record the total energy your self-generation system has generated. Metered energy supplied to the power grid is shown as a credit on the following month’s bill.
I want to get solar panels installed on my rooftop. Who could install it for me?
The City of Saskatoon has a list of pre-vetted contractors that homeowners can reach out to for retrofits, upgrades, and for solar installation under the HELP website. You can also research on the available contractors in Saskatoon.
I bought a home with solar panels installed, but the credits are not showing up on my bill.
Energy credits cannot be transferred from one account to another account (Saskatoon utility accounts are tied to account owner names, not addresses).
After purchasing a home with solar panels installed, the new owner must submit a new interconnection application to Saskatoon Light & Power.
Upon a successful witness inspection test by SL&P and execution of a new Interconnection Agreement, the energy credit will start from the day witness inspection test was performed.
I sold my home with solar panels installed. Will the energy credits by paid out or carried over?
No. Your energy credits will not be paid out or carry over to a new address.