The sun
Central Alberta sees about 2,300 sun hours a year — more usable light than most of Germany, where rooftop solar is everywhere. Cold air actually lifts panel output, so our long bright winters are not the handicap people expect.
Calmar · Leduc County
Solar panels in Calmar, built clean and built to last.
Calmar took its name from Kalmar, Sweden, in 1900. We bring the same plain, functional approach to solar: honest numbers, tidy hardware, and a system sized to your bill. Roughly 35 km southwest of our Edmonton shop, installing here since 2018.
500+Installs since 2018
~35 kmFrom our Edmonton shop
5.0Google rating
7–8 yrTypical payback
The case for solar here
The math is simpler than it looks.
Five things decide whether solar pays off in Calmar. Here they are, plainly.
The cost
A straightforward 7–8 kW system runs about $2.80 per watt cash — roughly $19,600 to $22,400 before any incentives. Smaller 3–6 kW systems cost a little more per watt, since the fixed setup spreads over fewer panels.
The payback
Most Calmar homes land in a 7–8 year payback window, then the panels keep producing for decades after. The LONGi modules carry a long performance warranty, so output stays close to day one well past break-even.
The goal: $0
Sized right, a system can wipe out your annual electricity charge. Summer surplus banks as credits through net metering and carries you through the dark months. The target we design toward is a roughly $0 yearly bill.
The hardware
LONGi 500W panels with APsystems DS3 microinverters — each panel works on its own, so shade on one does not drag the rest. Every roof install gets critter guard and our lifetime leak-proof roof guarantee.
Proof it works here
The arena already runs on the sun.
Calmar put a community solar array on the local arena — a clear, public sign that the panels earn their keep at this latitude. If it pencils out for a town building running ice plant and lighting, it pencils out for a house.
~429Panels on the arena
~156 kWInstalled capacity
How you pay
Three ways to fund it.
No pressure on which you pick. We price the system the same and let the numbers guide you.
Cash
The lowest total cost. Paying outright earns roughly a 10% discount against financed pricing, and the payback clock starts immediately.
$0 down financing
Financeit offers monthly terms with nothing up front, so the system can start paying for itself before the first payment. A modest rate markup applies.
Mortgage roll-in
Folding the cost into a mortgage or HELOC keeps it at the $2.80/W cash rate. Many homeowners find the monthly figure lands below their old power bill.
A note on PACE-style financing: we cannot confirm the Town of Calmar runs a Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP). Some Alberta municipalities do, repaid on the property tax bill. Check whether Calmar or Leduc County has a program open on the official CEIP locations page, or see our financing options.
The grid & the rules
Who handles what.
A short, honest map of the parties involved when you connect solar in Calmar.
- Your wires utility
- FortisAlberta. The poles, wires, and meter in Calmar belong to FortisAlberta — Leduc County is their territory, not EPCOR or ATCO. (Apex Utilities is the local natural-gas distributor, not your electricity utility.) Your micro-generation application and bi-directional meter go through Fortis. We file it and pull the permit.
- Your retailer
- Alberta's electricity market is deregulated. If you have not chosen a competitive plan, the default is the Rate of Last Resort, which replaced the old RRO on January 1, 2025. You can stay on it or shop a retailer — net metering works either way.
- Net metering
- Under Alberta's Micro-Generation Regulation, surplus power you export earns retail-rate credits. Long summer days build a credit balance that offsets the dark winter months. How net metering works →
Calmar & the surrounding county
Where we work around town.
Calmar sits on Highway 39 in Leduc County, about 2,200 people, founded by Swedish homesteaders along Conjuring Creek from 1895 — the area was once called the Swedish Settlement.
In-town roofs
The older town core and the newer streets are mostly clean, simple roof shapes — good candidates for a tidy rooftop array. We assess pitch, orientation, and your panel before quoting.
Leduc County acreages
Acreages ringing Calmar and out toward Conjuring Creek often suit a ground-mount better than a roof — ideal tilt, easy maintenance access, and room to size the array to a larger rural load.
Beyond panels
Battery and EV charging too.
Home battery
Pair solar with storage to keep the lights on through a rural outage and to lean on your own power in the evening peak. Quick fit-check on our battery page.
EV chargers
A Level 2 charger installed by the same crew, so your car runs on sunshine you already generate. See EV charger packages.
What customers say
In their own words.
Up to this point we would highly recommend Stellar Upgrades if you are considering solar panels.
My house looks more advanced, and it really makes a difference in appearance.
I highly recommend Stellar Upgrades to anyone considering going solar. Their commitment to quality, customer service, and transparency truly sets them apart.
Free assessment for Calmar
15 minutes. No obligation. If solar doesn't make sense for your place, we'll say so.
No spam. Every Calmar request goes straight to PJ, who replies within a day.
✓ We're on it.
We'll get back to you within one business day.
Common questions
Solar in Calmar, answered.
Yes. Calmar is about 35 km southwest of our Edmonton shop, a 30–35 minute drive. We install rooftop and ground-mount solar, home batteries, and EV chargers across Calmar and the surrounding Leduc County acreages. Work is done by our in-house crew, supervised by a Master Electrician.
Your wires utility is FortisAlberta. The poles, wires, and meter in Calmar are theirs — Leduc County is FortisAlberta territory, not EPCOR or ATCO. (Apex Utilities handles natural gas, not electricity.) Your micro-generation application and bi-directional meter go through Fortis; we file the paperwork and pull the permit.
A typical 7–8 kW system runs about $2.80 per watt cash — roughly $19,600 to $22,400 before incentives. Smaller 3–6 kW systems cost a bit more per watt because fixed setup costs spread over fewer panels. The cash rate includes critter guard and our lifetime leak-proof roof guarantee. Want a number for your roof? Try our calculator →
Most Calmar homes see a 7–8 year payback, after which the system keeps producing for decades. Sized correctly, it can bring your annual electricity charge close to $0. The exact figure depends on your usage, roof, and how you fund the system.
It does. Central Alberta gets around 2,300 sun hours a year, and cold temperatures slightly improve panel efficiency. Production dips with short December days, but net metering credits banked over summer carry you through. Calmar's own arena array is a working local example. More on winter solar →
Under Alberta's Micro-Generation Regulation, the surplus your panels export to the FortisAlberta grid earns retail-rate credits on your bill. Long summer days build a credit balance that offsets winter usage. It works the same on the Rate of Last Resort or a competitive retailer plan.
Yes, and for many acreages around Calmar a ground-mount is the better choice. It lets us set the ideal tilt and orientation, keeps panels easy to clear and service, and gives room to size the array to a larger rural load. We assess the site during your free visit.
Yes. You can pay cash (about a 10% discount), take $0-down monthly financing through Financeit, or roll the cost into a mortgage or HELOC at the cash rate. Some Alberta towns also run a property-tax-based CEIP — we can't confirm Calmar has one, so check the official CEIP locations page. See our financing options.
Our own in-house crew, supervised by a Master Electrician. We don't subcontract the install out. We've completed 500+ installs since 2018 and handle the FortisAlberta paperwork, the permit, and the inspection for you.
References
Official Calmar solar resources.
Verify any of this yourself. These are the primary sources we work from.
- Town of CalmarMunicipal services, bylaws, and contacts.
- FortisAlberta — Micro-GenerationYour wires utility's connection process.
- Government of Alberta — Micro-GenerationThe regulation behind net metering.
- Utilities Consumer Advocate — Rate of Last ResortWhat you pay without a chosen retailer.
- CEIP program locationsCheck if Calmar or Leduc County has a program.
- Stellar Upgrades — FinancingCash, $0-down, and mortgage roll-in details.
Calmar · Leduc County
Let's find out if it pencils for your place.
A 15-minute assessment, on your roof or your acreage. We check your panel, your orientation, and your bill — then give you the real numbers. If the math doesn't work, we'll tell you.