If you're financing solar in Alberta, you have two main options: CEIP (the Clean Energy Improvement Program) or a regular solar loan from a bank, credit union or specialty lender.
Both work. Neither is right for everyone. Which one fits depends on your situation, and we'll tell you when each makes sense, including when we'd suggest a loan over CEIP.
The quick comparison
Where you apply. CEIP: your municipality, through Alberta Municipalities. Loan: a bank, credit union or solar lender.
What approval is based on. CEIP: the property and its tax history. Loan: your credit and income.
Interest rate. CEIP: a fixed rate set by your municipality (Edmonton and Calgary set 6% for 2026). Loan: depends on the lender and your credit.
How much. CEIP: often up to $50,000 for a home. Loan: varies by lender.
Term. CEIP: up to 20 years in most municipalities. Loan: usually shorter.
How you repay. CEIP: on your property tax bill. Loan: a separate monthly payment.
If you sell. CEIP: can stay with the home or be paid off at closing. Loan: yours to pay either way.
Where it's available. CEIP: only where your municipality takes part and intake is open. Loan: anywhere in Alberta.
Upfront steps. CEIP: often an EnerGuide home evaluation, which you pay for. Loan: usually none.
When CEIP is the better option
You qualify, your municipality takes part, and intake is open. If all three are true, CEIP is usually worth the application time.
You want a low monthly cost. The long term keeps the monthly charge low, and it's paid through your property taxes rather than as a separate bill.
You don't want it tied to your personal credit. CEIP is approved on the property, not on your credit and income, and there's no personal loan application.
You're staying in the home a long time. CEIP's strength is the long term. If you'll be there for years, you get the full benefit.
Your municipality offers rebates. Some add rebates on top of CEIP financing. A regular loan has no equivalent.
When a solar loan is the better option
CEIP isn't available to you right now. Your municipality may not take part, or its intake may be paused or closed. A loan doesn't wait on a program window.
You're planning to sell within a few years. CEIP can stay with the home, but not every buyer wants to take it on. A shorter loan that's clearly paid off can be simpler.
You want it paid off faster. A shorter-term loan can match a faster timeline. CEIP can usually be paid off early, but check your municipality's terms.
Your property doesn't fit the program. Condos and some shared or complicated ownership situations may not qualify for residential CEIP. A personal loan doesn't have those restrictions.
Your project is over the CEIP cap. If you need more than the cap, you'd combine CEIP with a loan for the rest. Compare that against a single loan for the whole project.
A few honest things to know
CEIP isn't free money. You pay interest. Compare the rate and total cost against a loan, not just the monthly amount.
CEIP isn't instant. There's municipal paperwork, often an EnerGuide evaluation, and several steps before work starts. Expect weeks to months.
A solar loan can be fast. Some lenders approve solar loans in days. If timing matters, that counts.
Rates change. Both CEIP rates and loan rates move. We confirm current numbers before we quote.
How we suggest deciding
Check whether your municipality offers CEIP and whether intake is open. If yes, it's usually worth the application time.
If CEIP isn't available or you need to move faster, get loan quotes. Specialty solar lenders sometimes beat your home bank, so compare two or three.
Compare total cost over the life of the system, not just the monthly payment. A lower monthly payment doesn't mean a cheaper system.
Factor in whether you're staying or moving. It changes the math.
For how CEIP works step by step, see our CEIP financing guide. If you'd like help running the comparison for your home, we'll lay out both options in your proposal, with real numbers and no spin.
Rates and program terms change. For current CEIP status in your municipality, check Alberta Municipalities.