More Canadians are producing their own electricity and getting closer to covering the cost of their investment, according to new data from Schneider Electric and HEC Montréal. The study highlights that combining technologies such as solar panels, electric vehicles, and home battery storage is helping households reduce electricity bills and reshape their relationship with the grid.
The analysis examined household energy usage across major Canadian cities including Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, and Edmonton. It found that pairing rooftop solar with electric vehicle charging provides the highest financial returns, although results vary depending on local electricity rates and climate conditions.
Frederick Morency, vice president of sustainability and innovation at Schneider Electric Canada, said the findings indicate Canada has “the ingredients to unlock a strong prosumer economy.” He added that clearer policies and simplified processes are needed to allow households to sell surplus power back to the grid efficiently.
The report noted that local conditions affect how much households can benefit. In some cities, solar generation and smart charging strategies are highly profitable, while in others, current electricity rates and technology costs still make the break-even point harder to reach.
Beyond cost savings, the study emphasized additional advantages of becoming an “energy prosumer.” These include reduced carbon emissions, increased resilience during power outages, and lower demand pressure on utility infrastructure. Schneider Electric estimates that outage protection is valued by customers at roughly $4.50 to $4.94 per kilowatt hour.
Schneider Electric concluded that, with supportive policies such as simple sell-back rules and dynamic rate designs, Canadian households could play a larger role in the country’s energy transition. Prosumers, the report suggests, could become key assets for the grid rather than challenges to integrate.
