What Is CEIP?
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is an Alberta municipal financing framework authorized under the Municipal Government Act. It allows participating municipalities to lend money to property owners for clean energy improvements — including solar photovoltaic systems — and recover the loan through the property's annual tax bill.
Because repayment is tied to the property rather than the individual, CEIP is sometimes described as "on-title" or "property-assessed" financing. If the property is sold before the loan is repaid, the remaining balance transfers to the new owner along with the solar system — which is often a selling point rather than a liability.
CEIP is designed specifically for property owners who want to invest in solar without taking on personal debt or refinancing their mortgage. It is particularly well-suited for acreage and rural properties where system sizes are larger and upfront costs are higher.
How CEIP Works for Solar
Confirm Eligibility
Your property must be located within a participating municipality. Rocky View County and Mountain View County are among the current participants. We confirm eligibility for your specific property during the assessment.
Apply Through the Municipality
The property owner applies directly to the municipality's CEIP administrator. We assist with the documentation required for the solar system — system design, production estimates, and cost summary.
Loan Is Registered on Title
Once approved, the municipality registers a statutory lien on the property for the loan amount. This is not a personal debt — it is attached to the land title and transfers with the property if sold.
Repayment Through Property Tax
Annual repayment is added to your property tax bill. Loan terms typically range from 10 to 20 years. Interest rates are set by the municipality and are generally lower than personal or home equity loan rates.
Solar System Is Installed
Once financing is confirmed, we proceed with system design, utility interconnection application, and installation. The system begins generating electricity and offsetting your power bills immediately after commissioning.
Why CEIP Suits Acreage and Rural Properties
Rural properties typically have higher electrical loads — heated shops, outbuildings, irrigation, livestock equipment — which means larger system sizes and higher upfront costs. CEIP addresses this directly by spreading the cost over the life of the system without requiring personal financing.
No personal loan required
Financing is tied to the property, not your personal credit. No bank approval process, no impact on personal debt-to-income ratios.
Transfers with the property
If you sell before the loan is repaid, the balance transfers to the buyer along with the solar system — often treated as an asset rather than a liability.
Immediate cash flow benefit
The solar system begins offsetting your power bills the day it is commissioned. In many cases, monthly electricity savings exceed the monthly tax payment from day one.
Combines with other incentives
CEIP can be used alongside the federal Investment Tax Credit for eligible businesses and farm operations, reducing the effective cost of the system further.
Participating Alberta Municipalities
CEIP participation is determined at the municipal level. The following municipalities have adopted CEIP frameworks that include solar installations. Program terms, loan limits, and interest rates vary by municipality.
Rocky View County
Acreages and rural residential
Mountain View County
Farms, acreages, rural properties
Other municipalities
Program adoption is ongoing — we confirm current participation for your property
If your property is not in a currently listed municipality, contact us — we track program adoption across our service area and can confirm whether CEIP is available for your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Out If CEIP Is Available for Your Property
We confirm program eligibility, model the combined effect of CEIP and available incentives, and provide a clear picture of what solar costs and saves for your specific property.