Solar This Winter: When (and Why) It Can Pay to Switch Off Your Solar Rate

Why Alberta solar homes should review their electricity rate each winter

The shift from summer to winter often nudges Alberta solar households from being net exporters (you generate more electricity than you use) to net importers (you use more than you generate).

That change is natural — that’s because winter brings shorter days, a lower sun angle, and more snow on panels — all of which cut your solar generation. At the same time, your home’s electricity use usually rises with heating loads, longer evenings with lights on, more people staying home, humidifiers, and EV charging.

That flip matters for your bill:

• When you’re exporting a lot, you want higher export credits.
• When you’re importing more, you want a lower import price.

Several Alberta retailers now offer seasonal or adjustable rate options that help you make the most of these shifts — rewarding solar exports in sunny months and keeping winter bills lower when generation drops.

The key is knowing when to make that change. That’s where Jotson’s Solar Analysis Toolkit comes in. It helps you pinpoint your personal Switch Zone — the period each year when your home transitions from exporting to importing — so you can switch at the right time and keep your savings on track.

Alberta solar billing 101: Exports, imports, and rate types

Your meter tracks two things — imports and exports. Understanding how each is billed, and how your provider links them under one rate, is key to maximizing your savings.

Imports (what you buy from the grid)

When your home needs more power than your solar panels are producing, you import electricity.

• What you pay: An energy rate in ¢/kWh*.
• Fixed vs. variable rate: Imports can be either fixed or variable rates.
  • Fixed: The ¢/kWh stays the same for the contract term — predictable and stable.
  • Variable (market/RoLR): The ¢/kWh rate changes with market conditions — either through a competitive market plan or Alberta’s regulated Rate of Last Resort rate.
• On your bill: Imports appear as kWh × rate = energy charge, plus delivery/fees on separate lines.*Note: delivery and distribution fees and fixed charges are separate and don’t change when you switch energy rates

Exports (what you sell to the grid)

When your solar panels produce more than you use, you export electricity.

• What you earn: An export credit (usually shown in ¢/kWh or $). This credit reduces your bill. If credits exceed charges, many retailers carry the balance to the next month or pay it out, depending on their policy.
• How credits are set:
  • Some plans credit exports at the same rate as your import price.
  • Others use a separate rate (often market- or retailer-based), which may be higher or lower than your import rate.
• On your bill: Exports appear as kWh × credit rate = energy credit that offsets your energy charges.

Seasonal rate options for solar homes

Some Alberta retailers offer rate plans that adjust with the seasons — one rate for high-generation periods (spring and summer) and another for high-consumption periods (fall and winter).

Here’s how that typically works:

• High rate: Reward solar exports with a higher credit, but comes with a higher import price — best when you’re exporting a lot (sunny months).
• Low rate: Lower export credit but lower import price — better when your generation drops (winter).

Switching between these seasonal rates helps solar homeowners stay ahead of Alberta’s changing daylight and usage patterns. The trick is timing your switch around when your home’s imports start to exceed exports — your personal “Switch Zone.”

That timing isn’t the same for everyone. It depends on your roof orientation, solar panel size, and household habits. That’s why Jotson’s Solar Analysis Toolkit uses 20 years of weather data and your own import/export history to model the best time for your switch — so you’re never left guessing.

Quick example (just to see the math)

Assume solar rates of High = $0.30/kWh and Low = $0.09/kWh.

• Sunny months on High:
  • Import 400 kWh, export 600 kWh
  • Import charge: 400 × $0.30 = $120
  • Export credit: 600 × $0.30 = $180
  • Net energy line: –$60 (credit rolls over to next bill or you get a cash payout)
• Winter months on Low:
  • Import 700 kWh, export 200 kWh
  • Import charge: 700 × $0.09 = $63
  • Export credit: 200 × $0.09 = $18
  • Net energy line: $45 (charge)

Note: Delivery, distribution, riders, and fixed fees are added separately and don’t change when you switch energy rates.

Solar in Alberta: When to switch rates

What the switch is (and why it matters)

On seasonal rates, you choose one rate per billing period that applies to both imports and exports: High (higher export credit, higher import price) or Low (lower export credit, lower import price).

Switching from High to Low as you become import-heavy (winter) helps you save on your energy bill when you’re getting less sun and using more power. Switching from Low to High as you become export-heavy (spring) helps you capture more value from your solar exports. That timing is where most of the savings happen.

What triggers the switch

• Your net position flips: you move from net exporter to net importer (fall), then back again (spring).
• System output changes: shorter days, lower sun angle, shading/snow, and your roof’s orientation/pitch reduce winter generation.
• Household loads rise: heating-related loads, longer evenings with lights on, more people staying indoors, and EV charging push winter imports higher.
• Weather variability: cloudy stretches and cold snaps can shift timing by a week or two.

When to act (without chasing single days)

Chasing the perfect date for when to switch from High to Low or vice versa can be difficult. Aim for a window in the fall (for High to Low) and in the spring (for Low to High). A “switch zone” recognizes there’s no single magic day, just a reliable period when the savings tilt in your favour.

At a glance: How solar billing works in Alberta

Find your “Switch Zone” with Jotson’s Solar Analysis Toolkit

Timing your rate change can make a noticeable difference — but it’s hard to know exactly when your solar system crosses that line between exporting and importing more power.

Jotson’s Solar Analysis Toolkit takes the guesswork out of it. It models your expected solar generation and household consumption using:

• 20 years of historical weather data
• Your own system size and orientation
• Your import/export history from your bills

The result is your personalized Switch Zone — a window each year when it’s financially smart to move from a high export rate to a lower import rate (or the reverse).

Prefer to squeeze every last cent from your exports? Watch your inverter of billing data during your Switch Zone — once you notice a consistent drop in daily exports over several days, it’s likely time to switch. Want more predictability and peace of mind? Switch earlier and lock in savings sooner.

How to find the Solar Analysis Toolkit

• Home (HQ) tab: The Toolkit appears in the default view.
• Resources tab: You can also launch it from Resources.

To get your personalized solar analysis, we’ll ask you a few questions about your panel, inverter, and installation details.

Your personalized solar analysis

After you fill out the questions, you’ll get your solar analysis:

• System capacity: Total capacity of all your solar arrays.
• Annual savings: Percentage of your electricity use covered by solar and your total savings over the past 12 months.
• Imports & Exports: Displays data from your bills. Imports represent electricity drawn from the grid; exports represent electricity sent back to the grid.
• Switch Zones: Your recommended windows for optimal rate changes.
• How to switch rates: Your provider’s contact details so you can easily reach out to switch.

Stay ahead of Alberta’s seasonal shifts

Winter flips most Alberta solar homes from exporting to importing — so getting the right rate will make a difference. Open Jotson, run your Solar Analysis, and see the personal Switch Zone for your home and know the best time to review or adjust your rate.

No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just clear, insight to help you keep more of your savings this season.