With electricity prices continuing to rise, more homeowners are looking for ways to take control of their energy costs. Installing a solar system—especially when paired with battery storage—offers one of the most effective long-term financial solutions. Below, we explain how solar saves money, how BC Hydro rates affect your bill, and how batteries can maximize savings through time-of-use programs.
1. How Solar Reduces Your Electricity Costs
A solar system allows your home to generate its own electricity instead of purchasing it from the utility. During daylight hours, your solar panels power your appliances directly, reducing the amount of energy you draw from the grid.
Every kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced by your solar system is:
- One less kWh purchased from BC Hydro
- One less kWh affected by future rate increases
Over time, this results in significant monthly and annual savings, often reducing electricity bills by 80%, depending on system size and household usage.
2. Understanding BC Hydro Electricity Rates
BC Hydro electricity rates are structured to encourage energy conservation and are subject to regular increases over time. Most residential customers pay:
- A lower rate for basic electricity usage
- A higher rate once usage exceeds a certain threshold
As more homes adopt electric vehicles, heat pumps, and electric heating, household electricity consumption increases—often pushing customers into higher billing tiers. This means:
- The more electricity you use, the more expensive each additional unit becomes
- Future rate increases have a greater financial impact on high-usage homes
Solar helps offset this risk by reducing total grid consumption, keeping your usage within lower-cost tiers and minimizing exposure to rising rates.
3. How Battery Storage Increases Savings
Adding battery storage takes solar savings to the next level.
During the day, your solar panels often produce more electricity than your home needs. Instead of sending this excess power back to the grid, a battery system stores it for later use. This stored energy can then power your home in the evening or early morning.
Key financial benefits of batteries include:
- Reduced reliance on grid electricity at night
- Better control over when you use utility power
- Increased self-consumption of solar energy
This means you are using more of your own free energy and buying even less from BC Hydro.
4. Using Batteries to Reduce Costs with Time-of-Day Programs
BCHydro’s Time-of-day (TOD) electricity pricing is an option program for homeowners; it charges higher rates during peak demand hours and lower rates during off-peak periods. These peak hours occur in the evening—exactly when solar production drops.
A battery system allows you to:
- Charge your battery with solar energy during the day
- Discharge stored energy during high-rate peak hours
- Avoid buying expensive electricity when demand is highest
Instead of paying premium prices during peak periods, your home runs on stored solar energy, significantly reducing utility costs over time.
5. Long-Term Financial Return
A properly designed solar and battery system offers:
- Lower monthly electricity bills
- Protection from future rate increases
- Improved energy cost predictability
- Strong return on investment over 20–25 years
When combined with available government incentives and rebates, the payback period becomes even shorter—making solar not just an environmental decision, but a smart financial investment.
Final Thoughts
Solar power provides immediate and long-term financial benefits by reducing reliance on BC Hydro, protecting homeowners from rising electricity rates, and maximizing savings through battery storage and time-of-use optimization.
At CreateSolar, we design systems that are tailored to your energy usage, utility rates, and future needs—so you can save more, worry less, and enjoy true energy independence.
Contact CreateSolar today for a personalized solar and battery savings assessment. ☀️