How we unlock plug-in solar across Canada

These are the regulatory levers, jurisdiction by jurisdiction, that permit certified plug-in solar without legislation. Pick a campaign to see the specific actors, mechanisms, and precedents.

Photo: Dpalma01 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Pathways

Don't need legislation

With precedent

Saskatchewan — what unlocks it

Chris Beaudry — Minister of Energy and Resources

Mechanism: Policy direction to SaskPower, coordinated with the Energy Minister

Include plug-in solar (certified, on-site-use, <1200W) as a named category in the provincial renewable energy policy framework. Directs SaskPower and TSASK to implement the operational changes in their respective domains.

Legal basis: The Minister of Energy and Resources sets provincial energy policy including renewable strategy. A provincial policy that names plug-in solar as a distinct class — separate from utility-scale or rooftop distributed generation — gives SaskPower and TSASK a coherent framework within which to implement the operational changes.

Legislature required? No

Precedent: Saskatchewan has named categories in its renewable policy (e.g., small-scale net metering, commercial net metering) that flow down into operational rules. This adds a smaller category below those.

Ken Cheveldayoff — Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety

Mechanism: TSASK variance under Saskatchewan electrical safety regulations

Issue a TSASK variance accepting UL 3700 / CSA-certified plug-in solar equipment as meeting electrical safety requirements without a licensed electrician for cord-and-outlet connection only. The variance would be conditional on certified equipment, on-site use, and anti-islanding.

Legal basis: The Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) operates under the province’s safety statutes and has authority to issue variances recognizing alternative compliance approaches. Certified UL 3700 or CSA-equivalent plug-in solar equipment can be accepted as an alternative to the standard licensed-electrician permit pathway.

Legislature required? No

Precedent: TSASK issues variances on recognized safety grounds when certified alternatives provide equivalent protection. The regulatory instrument exists.

Jeremy Harrison — Minister of Crown Investments Corporation

Mechanism: Shareholder directive to SaskPower via Crown Investments Corporation

Direct SaskPower to create a plug-in generation category for certified systems under 1200W. Exempt from net metering application, engineering review, and bi-directional meter. On-site use only, anti-islanding required.

Legal basis: SaskPower is a Crown corporation, and the Government of Saskatchewan holds all shares through Crown Investments Corporation. The Minister of Crown Investments Corporation has authority to issue shareholder directives on policy matters including tariff structure and interconnection categories. A simplified plug-in class for certified systems under 1200W can be established without legislative amendment.

Legislature required? No

Precedent: Crown Investments Corporation has directed SaskPower on rate structure, renewable procurement, and EV charging programs via shareholder instruction. The mechanism is well-established.

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