EPCOR Micro-Generation Application

EPCOR Micro-Generation in Edmonton, step by step.

Every grid-tied solar install in EPCOR territory needs a Micro-Generation Agreement before it can legally export power. This is the actual process: who pulls what, what timelines are realistic, what code sections apply, and where most installers cut corners.

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Written by Dmitry Naboka · Master Electrician #13824 · Raydn Renewables, Edmonton · Last updated June 2026.

EPCOR MICRO-GEN PROGRAM

Quick facts

  • Required forAny grid-tied solar system exporting power into EPCOR's network
  • Size limit (Tier 1)Up to 150 kW generating capacity
  • Code referenceCanadian Electrical Code, Section 84 (Interconnection) · Alberta Micro-Generation Regulation
  • Typical approval time2 to 6 weeks after submission, depending on system size and EPCOR queue
  • Who submitsLicensed electrical contractor (Master Electrician oversight required)
  • Cost to homeownerNo fee from EPCOR. Contractor labor for submission is part of the install.

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What solar customers say

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What Micro-Generation actually means

Micro-Generation is the Alberta regulation that lets your solar inverter feed the grid and earn credits. Without a signed agreement, the inverter cannot legally export. EPCOR can disconnect service if it detects unauthorized export.

New to the whole idea of getting paid for exported power? Start with how net metering works in Edmonton for the plain-English version of credits, export rates, and sizing a system to zero out your bill.

Point 1

You keep your retailer

Micro-Gen does not change who bills you. EPCOR Distribution handles the wires and the agreement. Your retailer (EPCOR Energy, ENMAX, Direct Energy, etc.) is unchanged.

Point 2

Your retailer sets the credit rate

The rate you earn for exported solar depends on the plan you pick. Some pay the same rate you buy at, some pay a fixed lower rate, some pay the floating pool price.

The 4 to 7 week path, at a glance
Site assessment and design · week 1
City electrical permit · week 1 to 2
EPCOR Micro-Gen submission · week 2 to 4
Physical installation · week 3 to 5
Meter swap by EPCOR · week 5 to 6
Permission to operate · week 6 to 7
1234567
Week number after the contract is signed. Bars overlap because the permit and the utility review run at the same time as the build.
Summer queue
about 6 weeks
EPCOR Micro-Gen review only. Everything else runs in parallel.
Winter queue
about 2 weeks
Book the paperwork in winter and the queue stops being the long pole.

The 6-step path from contract to producing power

Edmonton 2026 reality: 4 to 7 weeks from signed contract to a producing system. Anyone promising faster is cutting permits or using gear EPCOR will not approve.

1

Site assessment & design · week 1

Bring 12 months of power bills. Production must not exceed annual consumption. EPCOR rejects oversized designs.

2

City of Edmonton electrical permit · week 1 to 2

Pulled by the contractor under the Master Electrician’s number. ~$250 to 400 for a 10 kW system, paid by the installer as part of the job.

3

EPCOR Micro-Gen submission · week 2 to 4

Single-line diagram, inverter spec sheets (UL 1741 SA on EPCOR’s approved list), meter assessment. Queue: ~6 weeks in summer, ~2 in winter.

4

Physical installation · week 3 to 5

22 to 28 panel job: 1 to 3 days for a single crew. System is wired but NOT energized until EPCOR returns the meter swap.

5

City inspection (pass/fail) · week 4 to 6

Safety Codes Officer checks rooftop work, disconnect, conductor sizing, bonding, labeling. Common fails: bad placard, lug torque, DC string voltage.

6

EPCOR meter swap & energization · week 5 to 7

15 to 30 min meter swap. Brief outage (<1 hour). Inverter is commissioned, first export readings verified, monitoring app handed off.

Where most installers cut corners

Three corners get cut. One defense covers all three: ask for the permit number, the EPCOR Micro-Gen Agreement number, and the inspection passing slip before paying the final invoice.

Corner #1

Skipping city inspection

Unpermitted system runs unofficially. Bites at sale, insurance claim, or a fault.

Corner #2

Submitting Micro-Gen after install

EPCOR catches the mismatch through meter data. Stop-work order lands on the homeowner.

Corner #3

Unapproved inverter

Missing UL 1741 SA certification. Agreement rejected. Inverter swap on the homeowner’s dime.

Honest Answers

The questions homeowners actually ask

From a Master Electrician's chair, not a salesperson's script.

Do I have to do the EPCOR application myself?

No. The licensed contractor submits the application on your behalf. You sign the agreement (it is between you and EPCOR), but the package and the technical filings are done by the installer's Master Electrician.

How much does EPCOR charge for the meter swap?

EPCOR does not charge the homeowner directly for the meter swap on a standard residential Micro-Gen install. The cost is folded into general distribution rates. If your install requires a service upgrade (going from 100 amp to 200 amp service, for example), that is a separate cost outside the Micro-Gen process.

Will my power bill drop to zero?

No. Distribution, transmission, and retailer fixed fees still apply. Only the energy charge drops. A 10 kW system in Edmonton typically cuts net electricity cost 70 to 90% over the year. Fixed line items remain. Our calculator models this using EPCOR RRO rates.

What credit rate do I get for exported power?

Depends on your retailer. Some pay the same rate you buy at, some a fixed lower rate, some the floating Alberta pool price. We help you pick once the system is operational and we can see your export profile.

What if I add a battery later?

The Micro-Gen Agreement does not change, but the inverter modification needs notification. AC-coupled retrofits (Powerwall, Pylontech) are minor; hybrid inverter swaps trigger resubmission. City permit applies either way under CEC Rule 64-918.

How long until I see my first export credit?

About 30 days after final energization the first credit lands on your bill. The full cycle after that gives the clean view of net usage versus net export.

Can I install solar without a Micro-Gen Agreement if I do not want to export?

Technically yes if you go fully off-grid. No connection to EPCOR’s lines. Practically no for almost any homeowner; off-grid means a much larger battery bank and full utility disconnection. Grid-tied installs (99% of residential) require the Micro-Gen Agreement.

Microgen-Ready Quote

Every Raydn quote includes the full EPCOR Micro-Gen package, no extra charge.

When you book a quote with Raydn, the permit pull, EPCOR Micro-Gen submission, city inspection coordination, and meter swap scheduling are all on us. You sign the agreement, we handle the rest. No surprise paperwork, no extra fees.

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Dmitry Naboka · Master Electrician #13824 · Raydn Renewables, Edmonton

Where these numbers come from

The sizing rule is not an EPCOR preference, it is regulation. The Alberta Utilities Commission, Micro-generation frequently asked questions, read 27 August 2026, states a micro-generation unit is intended to meet all or a portion of the customer’s total annual energy consumption, and that the distribution facility owner evaluates the application. That is why an oversized design gets sent back, and why the first thing asked for is 12 months of bills.

Every rate here is a published third party figure or is labelled as my own. If one has moved since the read date, tell me and I will correct the page.

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