Home solar guide
Ontario
Home solar in Ontario: rebate or net metering, and how to choose
A step-by-step guide to going solar at home in Ontario: the $10,000 solar and battery rebate, net metering, rate plans and the order to do things in.
The full walk-through
A step-by-step guide to going solar at home in Ontario: the $10,000 solar and battery rebate, net metering, rate plans and the order to do things in.
Solar + battery rebateup to $10,000Pre-approval required
Net metering credits12 monthsCarry forward
Ultra-low overnight3.9¢/kWhvs 39.1¢ on-peak
Step by step
- Pull 12 months of usageDownload your hourly data from your utility's portal (Green Button). It shows when you use power, which matters more in Ontario than how much.
- Pick a path: rebate or net meteringThe Home Renovation Savings rebate pays up front but the system is set up to power your home, not to export. Net metering pays nothing up front but banks credits for 12 months. You can't take both.
- Get pre-approvalIf you're going the rebate route, pre-approval comes before you sign for or order equipment.
- Design and permitsWe size the array, file with your local distribution company and pull the electrical permit (ESA).
- Install and inspectMost homes take one to three days on the roof, then an ESA inspection.
- Connect and claimYour utility connects the system. Submit the rebate claim with final invoices.
How the money stacks
| Program | What it's worth |
|---|---|
| Ontario solar rebate | $1,000/kW, up to $5,000 (max 50% of cost) |
| Battery rebate | $300/kWh, up to $5,000, paired with solar |
| Heat pump rebate | Up to $7,500 air-source, $12,000 ground-source |
| Toronto HELP / Ottawa Better Homes | Property-tax loans up to $125,000 |
| Net metering | Bill credits for 12 months (no rebate on the same system) |
Sizing your system
On the rebate path, size the panels to what your home uses in daylight, since the system isn't built to export. On net metering, you can size to your yearly use and let summer surplus carry you through the darker months.
Batteries
Ontario is the province where a home battery makes the most sense. On the ultra-low overnight plan, you charge at 3.9¢ and avoid 39.1¢ on-peak power. The battery rebate covers up to $5,000 of it.
Questions to ask any installer
- Is the system sized to my last 12 months of usage, or to the roof?
- Which incentive are you counting in the price, and is it open today?
- Who files the utility application and the rebate paperwork?
- What are the panel, inverter and workmanship warranties, in years?
- What does the payback look like if export credits or rates change?
Our take
Model all three rate plans (time-of-use, tiered, ultra-low overnight) with solar, and with solar plus a battery, before you commit to a path. The best plan often changes once panels are on the roof.
Sources · checked October 2026
For homes
Rates and programs at a glance
Electricity rates for homes
How homes pay for power
Every Ontario utility charges the same electricity prices, set by the Ontario Energy Board each November 1. What changes from town to town is the delivery charge your local utility adds on top.
Tiered plan12.0 / 14.2¢Lower price up to your monthly threshold
Ontario Electricity Rebate23.5%Taken off the bill before tax
Next price resetNov 1, 2026New prices announced in October
What this means for solar
Solar makes the most power in the middle of the day, which lines up with mid-peak and on-peak hours on time-of-use. The bigger story is the ultra-low overnight plan: the gap between 3.9¢ overnight and 39.1¢ on-peak is what lets a home battery earn its keep in Ontario.
Our take
Pick your rate plan after you know your system design, not before. We model your last 12 months of usage on all three plans and show you which one wins with solar, and with solar plus a battery.
Sources · checked October 2026
Home solar programs
The short version
Ontario homeowners can get up to $10,000 back on solar and a battery, but the rebate and net metering don't mix. You choose one path, and that choice decides your payback.
Solar rebate$1,000/kWUp to $5,000, max 50% of cost
Battery rebate$300/kWhUp to $5,000 when paired with solar
Heat pumpup to $12,000$7,500 air-source, $12,000 ground-source
| Path | How it pays | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Home Renovation Savings rebate | Cash back up front; system set up to power your home (load displacement), not to export | Homes that use most power in the day, or adding a battery |
| Net metering | No rebate; exports earn bill credits that carry forward up to 12 months | Larger systems that send a lot back to the grid |
Programs open now
Ontario Solar & Battery RebateUp to $10,000Read the program →Ontario Heat Pump RebateUp to $12,000Read the program →Free heat pumps (Energy Affordability Program)Free for income-eligible homesRead the program →Ontario net metering12-month bill creditsRead the program →National Heat Pump RebateUp to $10,000 for below-median incomes, $2,000 for other households. Applications expected early 2027.Read the program →
City financing
Toronto (HELP, up to $125,000) and Ottawa (Better Homes, up to $125,000 or 10% of home value) offer loans repaid through your property tax bill. They stack with the provincial rebate.
Pre-approval is required before you buy anything. Order equipment first and the rebate is gone.
Sources · checked October 2026
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