Saanich-based renewable energy company High Tide Energy is facing a major financial setback after B.C. Premier David Eby abruptly removed Tesla products from BC Hydro’s rebate program, effective March 12, 2025. The sudden policy shift, which industry members were informed of via email at 4 p.m. on the day of implementation, has left businesses scrambling to adjust to a new reality.
No Notice, Massive Impact
High Tide Energy’s general manager, Josh Shepherd, expressed frustration over the unexpected decision. “We got an email at the end of a business day – giving no notice,” he said. The renewable energy company, which specializes in battery storage and solar panel installations, is now struggling with a massive surplus of Tesla Powerwall inventory that was purchased based on anticipated rebate-driven demand.
BC Hydro’s rebate program, which provides substantial incentives between $10,000 and $20,000 for energy storage and solar solutions, has been a key driver for clean energy adoption in residential and commercial projects. According to Shepherd, many of their customers signed up for Tesla’s Powerwall installations solely because of these rebates.
Tesla Cut Over Political and Trade Tensions
Premier Eby cited trade tensions and Tesla CEO Elon Musk as primary reasons for the decision, stating, “It’s just for Tesla and it’s because of Elon Musk.”
While Tesla vehicles had already been excluded from CleanBC Auto Program incentives due to their price point, Tesla’s Powerwall and energy storage solutions were still eligible for substantial government rebates—until now.
“I think that if British Columbians heard that $10,000 of taxpayer money was going to Elon Musk, they’d want to throw up, so we removed them from the program,” Eby said at a press conference on March 13.
Inventory Nightmare for High Tide Energy
High Tide Energy, a Tesla Certified Installer, has invested heavily in Powerwall units and related installation materials. “We have inventory that’s not going to move easily. Not just Powerwalls – wiring harnesses, mounts, so that we order and stock, and don’t have to order each time,” Shepherd explained. The company now has approximately $200,000 worth of Tesla products that may be difficult to sell without the financial incentive that customers were counting on.
Customers Left in Limbo
Shepherd estimates that 70% of High Tide Energy’s clients are residential homeowners, while 30% are commercial customers and remote Indigenous communities. Many clients had already made down payments for installations that factored in the rebate, leaving them in a difficult position.
While BC Hydro has stated that customers who submitted their rebate applications before March 12 will still qualify, Shepherd is concerned about unclear language that could lead to applications being denied. “This short-sighted, knee-jerk decision has made it so that businesses are impacted but before that, the clients that are halfway through an install are basically shutting down and that’s awful. There’s no window. This doesn’t affect Elon,” he said.
B.C. Prioritizing Canadian-Made Products
The Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions confirmed that the move is part of a broader effort to prioritize Canadian-made products in government rebate programs. “Starting March 12, 2025, Tesla chargers, batteries, and inverters will still be available to British Columbians but won’t qualify for CleanBC or BC Hydro rebates,” a ministry spokesperson said.
BC Hydro’s website now states: “The Government of B.C. and BC Hydro are taking action to prioritize Canadian goods in our rebate programs and to exclude U.S.-produced goods where practicable.”
Fallout and Future Uncertainty
Shepherd acknowledges the trade challenges between Canada and the U.S. but believes businesses deserved more time to adjust. “Politically, we don’t like Tesla, but give us a month,” he said. High Tide Energy is now left scrambling to offload expensive inventory while finding alternative battery storage solutions that meet both customer needs and government rebate requirements.
With Tesla out of the equation, businesses and consumers will now need to explore alternative energy storage solutions, while companies like High Tide Energy struggle to navigate the fallout of this sudden policy shift.
