The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is the City of Calgary's low-interest financing program that lets homeowners fund energy upgrades, including rooftop solar, and repay the cost through their property tax bill.
Applications are closed right now, and the City has confirmed the next intake opens on September 22 at 9 a.m.
The spring 2026 intake filled its first round of just 75 applications quickly, so the homeowners who got in were the ones who had their paperwork ready before the portal opened. This guide covers what changed since spring, who qualifies, how the eight-step application process works, and a preparation checklist you can start today.
If you want the full picture of every program available to Alberta homeowners, our Alberta solar rebates and incentives guide and our live incentives tracker cover the rest of the landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Calgary's CEIP reopens for applications on September 22, 2026 at 9 a.m., after closing its spring intake.
- The City estimates the new fixed interest rate at 5.66 to 5.75 per cent, up from 3.75 per cent in the spring rounds, locked in when you sign.
- Financing covers up to 100 per cent of project costs to a maximum of $50,000, repaid over up to 20 years through your property tax bill.
- Projects started before your application is approved are not eligible, so the order of operations matters.
- You can prepare almost everything in advance: quotes, an EnerGuide evaluation plan, owner signatures, and your solar production calculation.
What is Calgary's Clean Energy Improvement Program?
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is a financing tool, not a rebate. The City of Calgary, working with program administrator Alberta Municipalities, lends you up to 100 per cent of the cost of eligible energy upgrades. You repay it through a dedicated charge on your property tax bill over a term of up to 20 years, with the rate fixed at signing.
Because the repayment is attached to the property rather than a personal loan, CEIP is one of the few ways Calgary homeowners can finance rooftop solar without touching their mortgage or taking on an unsecured line of credit. There is no penalty or discharge fee if you decide to pay off the balance early.
Eligible upgrades include solar photovoltaic systems, and the program requires a production calculation from an electrician, designer or engineer as part of a solar application. A qualified installer prepares this for you; it is a standard part of how Firefly Solar scopes a Calgary system.
When does the next CEIP intake open?
Applications open September 22, 2026 at 9 a.m. As of mid-July 2026, the City's program page lists applications as closed between intakes.
The program runs in limited intakes rather than continuous enrolment. The first spring 2026 round accepted just 75 applications, and the City opened a second round on March 31 after the first filled. If you are planning solar for late 2026 or spring 2027 energization, this September intake is the one to prepare for.
What changed since the spring intake?
Two things matter for anyone comparing notes with a neighbour who applied in February or March:
| Program detail | Spring 2026 rounds | September 22 intake |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed interest rate | 3.75% | Estimated 5.66% to 5.75% (City estimate, locked at signing) |
| Intake opening | Feb 17 and Mar 31, 2026 | Sept 22, 2026, 9 a.m. |
| Maximum financing | $50,000 | $50,000 (unchanged) |
| Repayment term | Up to 20 years via property tax | Up to 20 years via property tax (unchanged) |
The rate increase is the headline change. The City publishes the estimate on its CEIP program page and you lock in your fixed rate when you sign your agreements. Whether 5.66 to 5.75 per cent is attractive depends on what your bank offers you for the same money; for many homeowners the draw is that CEIP requires no home equity and ties repayment to the property.
Who is eligible?
The residential program covers single-detached and semi-detached houses, row houses and townhomes, plus the residential portion of small mixed-use or multi-unit buildings under three storeys with a footprint of 600 square metres or less.
Two requirements catch people off guard:
- All listed property owners must sign the application forms and agreements. If the title lists two owners, both sign, so get everyone available around the September date.
- Projects started before application approval are not eligible. Signing an installation contract is fine; starting the physical work before the City approves you is not. Sequence your project accordingly.
How does the application process work?
The City's process has eight steps. Here is what each one means in practice:
- Pre-qualification. You submit the initial application when the intake opens. This is the step where speed matters.
- EnerGuide evaluation. A registered energy advisor assesses your home under Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide rating system. Booking an advisor early avoids a bottleneck here.
- Project application. You submit your upgrade details and quotes. For solar, this includes the production calculation from an electrician, designer or engineer.
- Agreements. You sign the financing agreement and lock in your fixed rate. Every listed owner signs.
- Installation. Your contractor completes the work. This is when a company like ours actually puts panels on your roof.
- Completion forms. You and your contractor confirm the work matches the approved application.
- Post-evaluation. A follow-up EnerGuide evaluation documents the improvement.
- Repayment. The charge appears on your property tax bill for the term you chose.
How to get application-ready before September 22
Work backwards from the 9 a.m. opening:
- Get your solar proposal now. A serious proposal takes a site assessment, roof and shading analysis, and system sizing. Our Calgary team models your system from your actual usage and roof, and you can book a free consultation to start. If you are comparing companies, our guide on how to choose a solar installer in Calgary covers the questions worth asking.
- Line up the production calculation. Confirm your installer will provide the electrician, designer or engineer calculation the program requires for solar.
- Shortlist an EnerGuide advisor. Evaluation demand spikes when intakes open.
- Gather owner information. Every person on title needs to be available to sign.
- Decide your term. Up to 20 years is available; shorter terms mean less interest paid, and there is no penalty for lump-sum payments later.
- Understand the grid connection side. CEIP finances the system; exporting power is governed by Alberta's micro-generation rules. Our Alberta net metering guide explains how export credits work on your ENMAX bill.
Is CEIP the right way to pay for solar?
It depends on your alternatives, and an honest comparison beats a sales pitch. CEIP's strengths are the property-tax repayment structure, no requirement for home equity, terms up to 20 years, and no prepayment penalty. Its constraints are the limited intake windows, the rate (now estimated at 5.66 to 5.75 per cent, higher than spring), and the process overhead of two EnerGuide evaluations.
If you have access to cheaper capital, cash or a low-rate secured line may cost less over the term. If you value spreading the cost over a long horizon without touching your mortgage, CEIP is built for exactly that. We model both paths against your actual usage, rates and roof before you commit, so the numbers you decide on are yours, not a template.
For a broader view of what is available across the province, see our Alberta solar rebates and incentives guide, and if you are still choosing who to work with, our Calgary solar companies overview is a reasonable place to start.