Is it worth installing solar panels on my house in New Brunswick?

Solar Panels for New Brunswick Homes: Is It Worth It?

Solar energy in New Brunswick is more viable than many residents think, but the economics are different from sunnier provinces. Here's an honest look at costs, production, and payback.

Solar Production in NB

New Brunswick receives 3.2–4.0 peak sun hours per day on average annually — less than Alberta (4.5–5.0) or Ontario (3.8–4.5), but still enough for meaningful solar production.

Typical production by system size:

| System Size | Annual Production | % of Average NB Home Use |
|-------------|------------------|--------------------------|
| 5 kW (15–18 panels) | 5,500–6,500 kWh/year | 40–55% |
| 8 kW (22–26 panels) | 8,800–10,400 kWh/year | 65–85% |
| 10 kW (28–32 panels) | 11,000–13,000 kWh/year | 80–100%+ |

Production is heavily seasonal: a 10 kW system might generate 1,500+ kWh in June but only 400–500 kWh in December. Snow cover further reduces winter output, though panels mounted at 30°+ degrees shed most snow within a day or two.

Installation Costs in NB

Solar panel costs have dropped significantly, but NB's market is smaller than Ontario or Alberta, meaning fewer installers and slightly higher prices:

| System Size | Installed Cost (before incentives) |
|-------------|------------------------------------|
| 5 kW | $12,000–$17,000 |
| 8 kW | $18,000–$26,000 |
| 10 kW | $22,000–$32,000 |

Costs include panels, inverter(s), racking, wiring, permits, and installation. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity, and equipment quality.

NB Power Net Metering

New Brunswick offers net metering through NB Power, which is the key to making solar work financially:

• Excess power your panels generate flows back to the grid
• You receive a credit on your bill at the retail rate (~$0.11–$0.14/kWh)
• Credits roll forward month to month
• At the end of your annual billing cycle, excess credits may be paid out or zeroed depending on current program rules
• System size is capped (currently 100 kW for residential, far above what any home needs)

Net metering means your summer overproduction offsets your winter underproduction. You effectively use NB Power as a free battery.

Payback Period

With NB Power's rates and current installation costs:

| Scenario | Estimated Payback |
|----------|-------------------|
| 8 kW system, all-electric home, good south-facing roof | 12–16 years |
| 8 kW system, partial offset, average roof orientation | 15–20 years |
| With federal Greener Homes Grant (if available) | 10–14 years |

Solar panels typically last 25–30 years with minimal degradation (manufacturers guarantee 80–85% production at 25 years), so you get 10–18 years of near-free electricity after payback.

Electrical Requirements

Solar panel installation requires significant electrical work:

• Inverter installation — converts DC from panels to AC for your home. String inverters ($1,500–$3,000) or microinverters ($200–$300 per panel)
• Dedicated breaker in your panel for the solar feed-in
• Production meter — NB Power requires a bidirectional meter (they install this at no charge for net metering customers)
• Rapid shutdown device — CEC requirement for firefighter safety, allows quick de-energization of roof-mounted panels
• TSANB electrical permit — required for all grid-connected solar installations
• NB Power interconnection agreement — must be approved before connecting to the grid

The electrical portion of a solar installation typically runs $2,000–$4,000, included in the total installed cost above.

Panel Capacity Considerations

Your electrical panel must have space for a solar breaker (typically 20–40A, 2-pole). The CEC's 120% rule limits how much solar you can backfeed through your panel:

• 200A panel with 200A main breaker: solar breaker can be up to 40A (200 × 1.2 = 240, minus 200 = 40A) → supports up to ~7.6 kW of solar
• To install a larger system, you may need a panel upgrade or a line-side connection (more complex but allows bigger systems)

Is It Worth It in NB?

Good candidates for solar:

• South-facing roof with minimal shading


• All-electric home (high electricity consumption = faster payback)


• Plan to stay in the home 10+ years


• Current electricity bill over $200/month


• Motivated by energy independence as much as financial return

Poor candidates for solar:

• Heavily shaded roof (trees, neighbouring buildings)


• North-facing or low-pitch roof


• Plan to move within 5 years (though solar does increase home value)


• Very low electricity consumption (small bills mean small savings)

Bottom Line

Solar in New Brunswick won't pay back as fast as in sunnier provinces, but with 25+ year panel life, net metering, and rising electricity rates (NB Power has increased rates most years), the long-term economics are positive for the right home. Get quotes from 2–3 NB solar installers, verify they handle the TSANB permit and NB Power interconnection paperwork, and ask for a site-specific production estimate based on your roof's orientation and shading.

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