Generate your own electricity

To qualify as a micro-generator you must:

• Only use renewable or alternative energy sources to produce electricity.
• Produce energy intended to meet all or a portion of your energy needs. (If you want to generate electricity to earn revenue, and not for your own use, you are considered a commercial generator)
• Have generation capacity that does not exceed five (5) megawatts.
• Supply energy only to a site that you own/lease.
• Install the micro-generation unit on the site the energy is consumed or on a property you own/lease adjacent to the micro-generation site.

The Alberta government is offering incentive programs to residential, commercial, community, and agriculture projects to help offset the costs of installing grid-tied solar systems in Alberta. Learn more about the solar incentive program on the Energy Efficiency Alberta website.

If you don't qualify as micro-generator, your project may be considered to be distributed-generation. For more information, please review the Distributed-generation application guideline.

How to get approval to generate my own electricity?

• Contact the electric distribution service provider in your area to inform them that you plan to install a micro-generation unit and get informed on their guidelines and requirements.
• You or your distribution service provider must ensure the project meets the requirements set out in the Micro-generation notice submission guideline.
• Notify your electricity retailer and provide information they require for compensation and billing.

Review your utility bill to find the electric distribution company in your area, then find the steps to becoming a micro-generator required in your service area.
Links to distribution companies' micro-generation information is provided here:

FortisAlberta
ATCO Electric
ENMAX
EPCOR
City of Medicine Hat
City of Red Deer
City of Lethbridge
Crowsnest Pass
Town of Cardston
Town of Fort Macleod
Town of Ponoka

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