Why This Energy Pro is Against Rooftop Solar and You Should Be Too

Recently, I installed a whole swath of heat pumps in my new home, easily convinced by the payoff period from getting off heating oil. Part of this endeavour included upgrading my home’s electrical service from 100 to 200 amps, and it only took a few texts back and forth with my electrician before the topic of rooftop solar arose.

It’s a familiar pitch. Rooftop solar has become shorthand for clean energy and self-reliance. But as someone who works on utility strategy and energy equity, I was quick to answer.

"I'm not putting solar panels on my roof at the expense of others who cannot."

We debated for a while. Him, advocating for getting off of the grid and being a greener citizen of the earth. Me, monologuing about the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, meaning a city dweller like me can never actually go off-grid. Eventually, I changed his mind, promising to let him know when I needed a generator or an electric car charger.

Want to know my argument? Let's break it down.

Solar Doesn’t Align with When We Actually Use Power

I'm a pretty standard energy user. My peak energy times are in the morning and evening, aligned with my families needs. Conversely, solar energy would give peak production midday, when the sun is strongest. But that’s not when most households need electricity.

So while my potential solar panels are generating, my home isn't consuming that much. And there is only one place for that surplus energy to go, which is back on the grid.

Net Metering Shifts Costs

Compensation for energy that must be sent back to the grid is varied among regions, but in my area, if I generate more electricity than I use in a billing period, surplus energy will be “banked” and applied to my next bill to offset any electricity drawn from the grid. This usually results in residents being in credit positions in the summer, which offset their winter bills. One form of net metering.

In theory, it sounds fair. Contribute power, get credit. But here’s the catch: utilities end up buying power at a premium during times when wholesale prices are lowest (midday). This is because utilities are essentially paying residents retail rates for their rooftop solar, not wholesale.

Meanwhile, the fixed costs of maintaining poles, wires, and backup generation don’t go away. They just get redistributed to the rest of the utility's customer base, including customers who don’t have, or cannot get solar. Because ultimately, if the sun isn't shining, the utility is responsible for delivering power. And grid's must be built to the standard of a stormy day, to have enough for when everyone needs it.

Rooftop Solar Isn’t Equitable

Rooftop solar is largely accessible to homeowners with capital and credit. Renters and lower-income families are often excluded. Either because they don’t own their roofs or can’t afford the upfront costs, even with incentives.

So while wealthier households lock in lower bills, others face rising rates. It’s a system that unintentionally widens the energy affordability gap.

In effect, net metering creates a cost shift that’s regressive. It’s a subsidy that flows upward.

Batteries Could Change My Mind, But Not Today

If solar came bundled with affordable, widespread battery storage, I would have had a different conversation with my electrician. Batteries could shift that midday generation into the evening peak, aligning supply with demand. But right now, there is no payoff period on batteries (I did the math of course) and so adoption is limited.

Without affordable batteries, rooftop solar doesn’t solve the grid’s biggest challenges, it compounds them.

The Counterintuitive Truth: Solar Can Raise Prices

Here’s what most people don’t realize: without residential solar and net metering, electricity prices would likely be lower overall, depending on the level of solar penetration in the specific utility.

A utility could plan more efficiently, avoid paying retail for wholesale supply, and spread infrastructure costs more evenly.

Rooftop solar might feel like a win for individual households, but it’s often a loss for the system—and for affordability.

Where We Should Be Investing Instead

I’m not anti-renewables. I’m pro-strategic (and equitable) deployment. Here’s where I believe we should focus:

• Distribution and Demand Side Improvements that allow me to understand my energy deeply and make smart choices about when and how I consume power.

• Utility-scale renewables like solar farms and wind projects, which deliver lower costs per kilowatt-hour.

• Grid-scale storage that can balance supply and demand reliably.

• Energy efficiency upgrades and programs that reduce consumption across the board, especially at the peak.

• Targeted programs for low-income households to ensure the clean energy transition is inclusive.

These are investments that reduce both carbon and costs. Equitably.

My Final Opinion? Rooftop Solar Isn't for Me.

As a homeowner, I could go solar. It would reduce my bills. But as someone who works in energy strategy and cares deeply about equity and affordability, I can't do it knowing the impact on the grid and those that ultimately pay for it.

So yes, I’m skeptical of rooftop solar, at least in its current form in Nova Scotia. Ask me again in five years. Maybe batteries will change my mind by then.