Yes — and most of our customers see the savings on their very first bill. By generating your own electricity, you reduce what you buy from your utility. In provinces with net metering (BC, AB, MB, NS), excess power you produce gets credited to your account, so you build up a "bank" of credits during summer to use in winter.

One of our Lower Mainland customers, Leanne, shared: "we love getting Hydro bills that are only $18 a month" — and she has a plug-in electric car too. Real savings are very real.

Payback periods in Canada typically range from 6 to 10 years:

Alberta: 6–8 years (higher electricity rates + Calgary CEIP financing accelerate payback)
BC: 8–10 years (lower hydro rates mean longer payback, but the BC Hydro $10K rebate helps significantly)
Manitoba: 7–9 years (Efficiency Manitoba's $5K rebate is a strong head start)
Nova Scotia: 7–9 years (Solar City financing at 4.75% fixed makes monthly payments lower than your hydro bill in many cases)

Commercial systems often pay back in 4–6 years thanks to the 30% federal Clean Technology ITC plus Class 43.2 accelerated depreciation.

It used to be — solar panel prices have dropped over 70% in the last decade, and provincial incentive programs now cover a meaningful chunk of the rest. Most of our customers don't pay anything upfront. With $0-down financing, your monthly loan payment often costs less than the hydro bill you're replacing. From day one, you're cash-flow positive.

The real cost most homeowners overlook is the cost of not going solar — 20+ years of paying rising electricity rates with no return.

Yes. Studies in Canada and the US consistently show solar-equipped homes sell for 3–5% more and spend less time on the market. Modern buyers see solar as a high-value upgrade: lower utility bills, energy independence, and environmental impact all in one. If you ever sell, the system transfers with the property and the new owners inherit the savings.

Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight directly into DC electricity. An inverter converts that DC into AC — the same kind of electricity your home uses. That power flows through your existing electrical panel to your appliances. Any extra electricity you produce gets sent back to the grid through your meter, earning you net metering credits from your utility.

At night or on low-production days, you draw electricity from the grid (or your battery, if you have one) — using up those credits. The whole system runs automatically, with no moving parts and no maintenance required from you.

Yes — MAG Solar designs and installs true off-grid systems for remote cabins, properties without utility connections, and customers who want complete energy independence. Off-grid systems use a much larger battery bank to store enough power for multiple days of usage, and they typically cost more than grid-tied systems because of the battery capacity required.

For most homeowners with grid access, we recommend a grid-tied system with backup batteries — you get energy independence during outages, lower upfront cost, and the convenience of net metering credits. The choice depends on your property, location, and goals — talk to us and we'll help you decide what's right.

Absolutely. Battery storage lets you store excess daytime solar production for use at night or during power outages. MAG installs lithium-ion battery systems (LG Chem, Tesla Powerwall, and others) as part of new solar installations or as retrofits to existing systems. Batteries do add to the upfront cost, but they unlock real benefits: blackout protection, less reliance on the grid, and in some provinces, even better economics through time-of-use rate optimization.

In BC specifically, the new BC Hydro solar + battery rebate offers up to $10,000 for systems that include storage — making batteries more accessible than ever. See BC rebate details →

Not always. If your roof has 15+ years of life left, you can install solar directly on top with no issues. Solar panels last 25–30 years, so the goal is to make sure your roof outlasts (or matches) the panels.

If your roof is aging or has visible wear, we recommend replacing it first — and MAG can handle that too. We're licensed roofers AND solar installers, so we can do both jobs together as a single project, which saves money and prevents the headache of removing panels later.

Solar panels can be temporarily removed and reinstalled when your roof needs replacement. The removal and reinstallation typically takes 1–2 days and costs $1,500–$3,500 depending on system size. As a MAG customer, this service is available to you anytime — and because we know your system, we can do it faster and cleaner than a general contractor.

This is exactly why we recommend making sure your roof has enough life to last the full solar lifespan upfront. If you're unsure, we'll give you an honest roof assessment as part of your quote.

No — when properly installed, solar panels protect the portion of roof they cover from UV, weather, and hail. Modern racking systems attach to your roof rafters with flashed, sealed mounts that are essentially waterproof.

The risk comes from improper installation, which is why your installer's experience matters. MAG's installers are trained roofers as well as solar technicians — we treat every mount like a roof penetration, with proper flashing, sealing, and warranty coverage. Our 5-year workmanship warranty covers any installation-related roof issues.

Sometimes. Most homes built in the last 25 years have 200-amp panels that handle solar without modification. Older homes (especially with 100A service) may need an upgrade to safely connect the solar inverter and meet code.

If you do need an upgrade, MAG handles it in-house — we have licensed electricians on every install team, so panel upgrades happen as part of the same project with no need to hire a separate contractor. Our customer Jonathon in Richmond had us do exactly that during his install.

Yes. MAG Solar offers $0-down financing through partners like Financeit, with terms typically 10–15 years and competitive interest rates. In most cases your monthly loan payment is less than the hydro bill you're replacing — so you save money from day one, with nothing to pay upfront.

In Alberta we also offer Calgary CEIP financing (up to $50,000), and in Nova Scotia, Halifax's Solar City program offers 4.75% fixed financing for 10 years.

The Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CT-ITC) is the federal government's biggest commercial solar incentive: a 30% refundable tax credit on eligible solar and battery storage equipment for Canadian businesses.

"Refundable" is the key word — if your credit exceeds taxes owed, the CRA refunds the difference to your business. On a $400,000 commercial solar system, that's up to $120,000 back. Combined with Class 43.2 accelerated depreciation, businesses can write off most of the system in the first year. The CT-ITC is available at 30% through December 31, 2033. Read our full CT-ITC guide →

Modern solar panels are warrantied for 25 years and typically continue producing well beyond that — often 30–40 years total. Production does degrade slowly over time (about 0.5% per year), so a 25-year-old panel still produces around 87% of its original output.

Inverters have shorter lifespans (10–15 years) and may need replacement once during the system's life — typically a $2,000–$4,000 expense. We factor inverter replacement into long-term savings estimates so there are no surprises.

Rarely. Rain naturally cleans your panels — and in Canada, we get plenty of it. Snow slides off as panels warm up. The only times cleaning matters: extended dry/dusty periods, heavy pollen seasons, or if birds become a regular issue.

Most homeowners never clean their panels and don't need to. If you do want a clean, we recommend hiring a professional rather than going on the roof yourself — most panel manufacturers also void warranties if abrasive cleaners are used.

In Canada, your existing homeowner's insurance policy usually extends to cover roof-mounted solar panels as part of the home structure — but you must notify your insurer when the system is installed. Premiums typically increase $50–$150/year because the system raises your dwelling replacement value.

Most major Canadian insurers (Intact, Aviva, Co-operators, TD) cover solar without issue. We provide all the documentation your insurer needs as part of your install. Read our complete guide on solar and home insurance →

Yes. The system stays with the house and transfers to the new owners just like any permanent fixture. Manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters transfer with the property. If you have a financing balance, you can either pay it off at closing or transfer it to the new owner (with their consent).

The good news: solar-equipped homes typically sell faster and for 3–5% more, so the system usually pays for itself even if you sell early.

MAG provides a 5-year workmanship warranty covering everything we installed — wiring, mounting, electrical work. Panel manufacturers provide 25-year performance and product warranties. Inverters typically carry 10–12 year warranties.

If anything goes wrong, just call us at 604-723-1222. We monitor most systems remotely and often catch issues before homeowners notice. As Martino in Delta put it: "Taylor gave us excellent support" — we're known for after-sale service, not just installation.

For most businesses, yes — and the math is even better than residential. The federal 30% Clean Technology ITC alone cuts capital costs significantly, and the Class 43.2 accelerated depreciation lets you write off most of the system in Year 1. Combined, the effective payback period drops to 4–6 years on most commercial systems.

Add lower operating costs, ESG/sustainability marketing benefits, and protection against rising commercial electricity rates, and commercial solar becomes one of the highest-ROI capital expenditures a business can make. See our commercial incentives guide →

Three main differences:

1. Scale. Commercial systems are typically 30 kW to several megawatts, vs. 6–10 kW for residential. We've installed systems up to 100+ kW (like the 100.8 kW Lytton project).

2. Incentives. Commercial customers get the federal 30% CT-ITC plus Class 43.2 depreciation — neither available residentially. This often makes commercial payback faster.

3. Engineering. Larger systems involve more complex grid interconnection, demand-charge analysis, and often custom mounting solutions for flat commercial roofs. Our commercial team handles every step. Commercial cost breakdown →

Yes — agricultural solar is one of our specialties. Farms have unique advantages: large barn/equipment shed roofs, available ground-mount land, and high electricity usage for irrigation, drying, and ventilation. Many farms also qualify for the same 30% federal CT-ITC available to commercial businesses.

We've installed 35+ agricultural solar systems totaling 1.6 MW across BC, AB, MB, and NS — from greenhouse operations to grain farms to dairy operations. Read our complete farm solar guide →

Large flat roofs on warehouses and industrial buildings are ideal for solar — they offer unobstructed solar exposure and accommodate high-capacity systems (often 100kW+). Industrial customers also benefit most from demand charge reduction — solar production during peak business hours offsets the most expensive part of commercial electricity bills.

Combined with the 30% CT-ITC and Class 43.2 depreciation, industrial solar projects often pay back in under 5 years.

Typical commercial solar ROI in Canada:

Payback period: 4–6 years with the CT-ITC + Class 43.2
IRR (internal rate of return): 12–18% annually
System lifespan: 25–30+ years of free electricity production
Bill reduction: Often 70–100% of electricity costs eliminated

For a $400,000 system: roughly $120,000 back through the CT-ITC, plus first-year depreciation savings, plus $18,000–$28,000+/year in bill savings. See real commercial numbers →

Yes — commercial solar financing options include traditional business term loans, equipment financing leases, and the federal Clean Technology ITC which effectively returns 30% of capital to your business. We work with several Canadian commercial lenders to structure financing that matches your cash flow.

For businesses, the combination of 30% ITC + accelerated depreciation often means your cash outlay in Year 1 is dramatically lower than the sticker price — frequently 40–50% lower. Commercial incentives overview →

Yes — MAG Solar is fully licensed, insured, and bonded in every province we operate in. Our installers carry NABCEP certifications (the leading North American credential for PV professionals), and our electrical work is done by licensed electricians registered with each province's regulatory body. We carry full liability insurance and WCB coverage on every project. You can request our certification and insurance documentation any time.

MAG Solar installs across four provinces with local teams:

British Columbia: Lower Mainland, Okanagan, Vancouver Island. BC service area →

Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, and surrounding regions.

Manitoba: Winnipeg and surrounding region. Winnipeg service →

Nova Scotia: Halifax and surrounding HRM. Halifax service →