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Solar in Ontario

Solar in Ontario: Rebates, Export Rules and Quotes

NRCan puts yearly output at 1,142 kWh to 1,200 kWh per kW of panels across 6 cities. Here is what pays for solar, how exports are credited, and how to compare quotes.

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Enter your full address to begin a property check. An account is needed to continue the property plan; personalized rebate matching requires premium access. This does not apply for a rebate or request quotes.

  • Find relevant rebates and understand how to apply
  • Compare solar options
  • Compare installation quotes as installers respond
Solar panels in Ontario
a year per kW of panels (NRCan)
1,142–1,200 kWh
open province-level solar programs we have read
2
how exports are credited
12 months
options before choosing work
Compare

Compare solar options

Quick answer

Start with the scope that suits your property, then compare written proposals using the same assumptions. These are project options, not a catalogue of available models or a promise of eligibility.

Compare suitability and ask the same questions of each provider. Final design requires a site assessment.
OptionWhen to consider itWhat to request
Roof or ground mountCompare usable area, shade, roof condition and land access.Request layout, roof or foundation work, permits, electrical scope and interconnection conditions.
System size and inverterMatch generation and export assumptions to site use and the utility tariff.Compare kW-DC and kW-AC, annual production assumptions, inverter design and warranties.
Storage or off-grid designCompare backup needs and usable battery capacity; off-grid needs a separate load and autonomy design.Ask what stays powered, for how long, and whether controls, backup generation and service are included.

Before you hire: compare the full scope

Panel and inverter models, layout, production assumptions, roof/electrical work, interconnection and storage scope. Ask each provider to itemize equipment or materials, labour, extras, permits, exclusions, warranty and responsibility for rebate documents. Confirm eligible equipment, pre-approval and stacking with the program administrator before signing.

Budget separately: project cost → confirmed grant support → remaining cost. Any borrowing is repayable, with its own interest, fees and approval. Unconfirmed rebates are not awarded savings.

Should I Take the Ontario Rebate or Use Net Metering?

Quick answer

In Ontario you choose. The Home Renovation Savings solar rebate pays $1,000 per kW, up to 50% of cost and $5,000, and $300 per kWh for a battery paired with new solar, up to the same caps. Taking it rules out net metering, so size the system for your own use.

  • Rebate path

    Up to $10,000 for solar and a battery together. Projects are for load displacement only, and recipients can't sign a net-metering agreement with their utility.

  • Net-metering path

    Exports earn credits that carry to later bills for up to 12 months and offset energy used, not fixed monthly charges.

  • Who qualifies for the rebate

    Owners of single detached, semi-detached, row, townhome or mobile homes connected to Ontario's grid, who pay for the purchase and installation.

  • Businesses

    Business solar uses the Save on Energy Retrofit program instead: $770 per kW-AC over 10 kW-AC, up to 1 MW-AC.
Checked against official pages · Oct 15, 2026

Solar Rebates in Ontario

Province and utility programs, read on each official page. Federal programs are on the national solar page.

Confirm utility territory, municipal boundaries and audience eligibility. Where no municipal offer is listed, we have not verified an additional municipal rebate for this location. Program combinations need administrator confirmation; do not add maxima together.

Source: each program's official page (linked) · as of Sept 23, 2026. Amounts change often, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
ProgramForAmountStatus
Home Renovation Savings (Save on Energy)Homeowners

Owners of single detached, semi-detached, row, townhome or mobile homes connected to Ontario's grid

Solar: $1,000 per kW, up to 50% of cost and $5,000. Battery: $300 per kWh, up to 50% of cost and $5,000, and only with new solar. Taking the rebate rules out net meteringOpen

Open

Save on Energy Retrofit ProgramBusinesses

Ontario businesses. Your local utility must confirm the system can connect

$1,000 per kW-DC for systems up to 10 kW-DC; $770 per kW-AC for systems over 10 kW-AC, up to 1 MW-ACOpen

Open

How Ontario Credits Solar Exports

The credit rule can matter more to payback than the rebate. This is the rule we read on the utility or regulator page.

Source: each utility or regulator page (linked) · as of Oct 15, 2026. Terms change with rate cases, so confirm with your utility before you size a system.
Utility and programHow exports are creditedSystem size
Your local distribution company: Net metering (O. Reg. 541/05)Exports earn a credit that carries forward to later bills for up to 12 months. Credits offset energy used, not fixed monthly chargesSet by your local distributor and what the local grid can host

How to Finance Solar

Some cities and utilities lend for solar and collect the repayment on your property tax or utility bill. A loan has to be paid back with interest, so check the rate and the fees first.

Toronto, ONOpen

Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)

Most you can borrow
The lesser of $125,000 or 10% of the property's assessed value
Rate
Fixed rates valid through December 31, 2026: 3.83% (5 years), 4.43% (10), 4.85% (15), 5.12% (20). A 2% administration charge is added; confirm current terms before borrowing.
Term
5, 10 or 15 years. 20 years for windows, heat pumps, solar and geothermal only
Repaid through
Property tax bill, in 11 monthly instalments a year

Open to applicants Confirm approval before work, current fees and any unknown terms with the administrator. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Ottawa, ONOpen

Better Homes Loan

Most you can borrow
The lesser of $125,000 or 10% of the property's assessed value, and at least $10,000
Rate
4.33% fixed, plus a 4% administration fee added to the loan
Term
20 years
Repaid through
Property tax bill, as a Local Improvement Charge. Borrowers enrol in the City's pre-authorized debit plan

Open to applicants Confirm approval before work, current fees and any unknown terms with the administrator. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Source: each loan's official page (linked) · as of Oct 23, 2026. Loans are repaid with interest, and they're separate from the rebates above. Local eligibility, current terms and approval need confirmation with the named administrator.

How Much Power Does Solar Make in Ontario?

NRCan puts yearly output at 1,142 kWh to 1,200 kWh per kW of panels across 6 cities.

Source: NRCan photovoltaic potential, municipality database. South-facing panels tilted at the site's latitude, grid-tied, no batteries, typical losses included · read Sept 23, 2026
CityProvinceYearly output per kWGuide
OttawaON1,200 kWhSolar in Ottawa
KingstonON1,194 kWhSolar in Ontario
TorontoON1,163 kWhSolar in Toronto
MississaugaON1,159 kWhSolar in Ontario
LondonON1,151 kWhSolar in Ontario
GuelphON1,142 kWhSolar in Ontario

Solar in Ontario Cities

City pages carry what is local to them: the utility's connection rules and any municipal financing.

Solar in TorontoSolar in Ottawa

Find rebates, compare options and plan your next step

Start with public guidance and a property check. Confirm your property and choose upgrades before requesting quotes from installers serving your area. Availability varies; Solenery does not install equipment or decide government eligibility.

  1. 1

    Find relevant rebates

    Read public program information, then check your property. Confirm eligibility, pre-approval and required documents with the administrator before starting work. Entering an address does not submit an application.

  2. 2

    Compare solar options

    Use the comparison below and your property plan to discuss suitability. Compare the equipment and scope proposed by providers; this is not a live model catalogue.

  3. 3

    Choose upgrades, then request quotes

    Confirm your property and choose the work before requesting detailed quotes. Compare scope, equipment, exclusions and price as installers serving your area respond. Availability and response times vary.

Illustration of home upgrades including solar and a heat pump

Illustration: plan equipment and supporting work together

What is Solenery?

A short explainer on how Solenery matches your rebates and helps you compare contractor quotes.

Solar in Ontario: Common Questions

Answers checked against government and official program pages.

Solenery helps you find relevant programs, understand how to apply and compare solar options. After property confirmation and upgrade selection, you can request installation quotes and compare them as installers respond; local availability varies.

Plan a quote request

Service guides, comparisons and program information on this page are public. Enter your full address to begin a property check. An account is needed to continue the property plan; personalized rebate matching requires premium access. This does not apply for a rebate or request quotes.

About personalized matching

The administrator decides eligibility and stacking. Confirm who submits each application—you or your provider—and obtain any required approval before work. Keep itemized quotes, eligible model evidence, invoices and receipts. Solenery does not automatically apply or reserve funding, and program maxima cannot simply be added together.

Review program conditions

Request the same scope from each provider: panel and inverter models, layout, production assumptions, roof/electrical work, interconnection and storage scope, plus labour, extras, permits, warranty, exclusions and who prepares rebate documents. Compare confirmed support separately from project cost and repayable loans.

Compare project options

Yes. We have read 2 open province or utility solar programs for Ontario: Home Renovation Savings (Save on Energy) (Solar: $1,000 per kW, up to 50% of cost and $5,000. Battery: $300 per kWh, up to 50% of cost and $5,000, and only with new solar. Taking the rebate rules out net metering); Save on Energy Retrofit Program ($1,000 per kW-DC for systems up to 10 kW-DC; $770 per kW-AC for systems over 10 kW-AC, up to 1 MW-AC).

NRCan puts yearly output at 1,142 kWh to 1,200 kWh per kW of panels across 6 cities. Ottawa: 1,200, Kingston: 1,194, Toronto: 1,163, Mississauga: 1,159, London: 1,151, Guelph: 1,142 kWh per kW a year. Shade and roof direction change your result.

Your local distribution company: Exports earn a credit that carries forward to later bills for up to 12 months. Credits offset energy used, not fixed monthly charges. System size: Set by your local distributor and what the local grid can host.

No. Recipients of the Home Renovation Savings solar rebate aren't eligible for a net-metering agreement with their utility. You choose one or the other.

Yes. The federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit applies in every province: up to 30% of eligible solar and battery cost for taxable Canadian corporations, or 20% if the labour requirements aren't met. Homeowners can't claim it.

Commercial incentives in detail

No. Solenery is a marketplace: it helps you discover potentially relevant incentives and connects you with vetted local installers so you can compare quotes. Public guides are available before sign-up. Continuing the property plan needs an account; personalized rebate matching requires premium access.

See what solar looks like for your Ontario property

Begin with your full address, confirm your property and choose upgrades before requesting solar quotes. Compare equipment, scope and price as installers serving your area respond.

Check rebates for your project

Enter your full address to begin a property check. An account is needed to continue the property plan; personalized rebate matching requires premium access. This does not apply for a rebate or request quotes.

Cutaway illustration of a home with a heat pump and solar panels

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How We Research This Page

Last updated: .

Every rebate amount, status and deadline on this page was read on the program's official page and is dated next to it. Program amounts and deadlines change. Use each dated source and confirm current terms with the administrator before you apply.

Facts and figures come from government departments, utilities and safety regulators, linked next to each figure and listed here. We don't publish price ranges: costs depend on your home, so we explain what drives them and let contractors quote.

Solenery is a marketplace. It connects homeowners with contractors and doesn't install anything itself.

Sources