Customer demand was unprecedented so SaskPower has had to change its plans for the Net Metering program which offers rebates for solar installations and premium credits for surplus power. The program began in November of last year and originally the Crown Corporation wasn’t expecting to reach the 16-megawatt capacity limit for another 2 years, but it is getting close already.

SaskPower says the average size of applications into the Net Metering Program has increased by 80 per cent since July. President and CEO, Mike Marsh, believes the demand is driven in part by federal funding that applies to large Net Metering projects.

Once the cap is reached in the coming days, SaskPower won’t be accepting new applications until a review is done to see how the program can be offered in a fiscally sustainable way.

Net Metering allows customers to generate up to 100 kilowatts of power, usually solar, to lower their monthly power bills and get credit for the excess power they generate.