The Prince Edward Island government’s decision to halt new applications for its solar rebate program has sparked concerns among businesses that install solar panels.
At the end of February, Efficiency P.E.I. informed installers that it would no longer process new pre-approval letters.
Gilles Arsenault, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, stated that the program is currently “oversubscribed” and requires a pause to reassess its structure.
“Everybody that’s been pre-approved is gonna be serviced, and the ones that are applying as new customers will be paused at the moment until we redefine what we’re going to do with the program,” he told CBC News.
Arsenault said new applications will not be accepted until late summer as the province evaluates the program’s administration, fiscal responsibility, and eligibility criteria.
The revamped program could include battery storage and possible income-based eligibility limits.
According to the Efficiency P.E.I. website, the rebate program was designed to make solar power more accessible by offering financial incentives for homeowners, farms, and businesses to install solar photovoltaic panels. It covers up to 40% of installation costs, with a maximum rebate of $10,000.
In 2024-25, 979 applications were processed, distributing over $9.2 million in rebates. Since its launch in 2019, the program has handled 4,197 applications, awarding $38.6 million in rebates.
Concerns from Businesses
Darcie Lanthier, sales manager at Renewable Lifestyles Ltd. in Summerside, said her company has been signing customers throughout the winter with the expectation of rebate availability. Now, with the program on hold and no clear timeline, both her business and customers face uncertainty.
“We don’t know what to tell our customers. We don’t know how many panels to order. We don’t know how many people to hire,” Lanthier said. “It just leaves us in this space of not knowing anything.”
Path to Net Zero
Lanthier, a former federal Green Party candidate, criticized the government’s decision, arguing it contradicts prior commitments to renewable energy.
“On one hand, you have the province putting a chill on the solar industry; on the other hand, you have Maritime Electric asking for half a billion dollars worth of infrastructure that’s just going to burn fossil fuels to make power,” she said.
“It doesn’t really make sense. It’s 2025. We should be spending our money on solar and wind and renewable energy and efficiency and storage.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
