Solar panels in Burlington, Ontario
Lake-moderated, 1,160 kWh/kW, and one of the last independent city utilities in the area.
Burlington is modelled at 1,160 kWh per kW a year — level with Oakville, Brampton and Hamilton — with a payback of 8 to 12 years on a 10 kW system saving about $2,250. It is also one of the few cities in this part of Ontario not served by Alectra: Burlington Hydro is the local distributor, while Oakville, Milton and Hamilton next door are all Alectra. That changes less than you would expect, and the reasons are worth setting out.
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Real Xolar installs in Burlington
Completed systems across the Burlington service area — first-hand specs, not industry averages.
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Burlington — 12.2 kW rooftop
South-facing asphalt shingle · completed January 2023 · 11 progress photos on file
What 3 real Burlington installs tell us
Aggregated from completed Xolar systems in Burlington — first-hand data, not industry averages.
Burlington energy & net metering
What Burlington Hydro charges here, and how surplus solar is credited in Ontario.
Ontario’s Time–of–Use electricity rates range from 9.8¢/kWh (off–peak) to 20.3¢/kWh (on–peak), with mid–peak at 15.7¢/kWh (OEB RPP, Nov 2025–Oct 2026). Burlington electricity is distributed by Burlington Hydro. Solar panels generate most during daytime on–peak hours, earning you credits at the highest rate. The Ontario Electricity Rebate provides a 23.5% discount on your bill.
Burlington Hydro Time-of-Use rates in Burlington
What a kilowatt-hour costs at each tier, and the hours each one applies — OEB Regulated Price Plan, Nov 2025 – Oct 2026. Rates are set province-wide by the Ontario Energy Board, so they are the same whichever utility bills you; only delivery charges differ.
Burlington Hydro peak hours, by season
The tiers hold all year; the hours switch twice a year. Weekends and statutory holidays bill at the off-peak rate all day, in both seasons.
On-peak power costs 2.1× what the same kilowatt-hour costs off-peak. At the Ontario Energy Board's benchmark of 700 kWh a month, that is the difference between $68.60 and $142.10 on the electricity line alone — delivery and regulatory charges are billed separately, and the Ontario Electricity Rebate then takes 23.5% off the total.
This is why solar pays better here than a flat rate would suggest. A rooftop array produces most between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. — precisely the summer on-peak window — so the power it offsets is the most expensive power Burlington buys.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Burlington system's value comes from power used behind the meter — electricity your panels make and your home uses on the spot, offsetting energy you'd otherwise buy at 9.8¢/kWh. Only the surplus flows past the meter to Burlington Hydro for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Burlington
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Burlington homeowner can stack.
- Up to $7,500Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) – Heat Pump
- Up to $5,000Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) – Solar
- Up to $5,000Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) – Battery
- Up to 30% of eligible costsClean Technology Investment Tax Credit (Commercial ITC)
Solar Panels in Burlington, Ontario
Burlington produces 1,160 kWh per kW annually. Burlington Hydro distributes electricity. Located between Hamilton and Oakville with solid southern Ontario sunshine.
Ontario’s net metering program credits excess solar at the full retail rate. HRSP ($10K for solar + battery) or net metering available – but not both.
Ontario HRSP - Up to $10,000 for Solar + Battery
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP), launched January 2025, offers:
- Up to $5,000 for solar panels ($1,000/kW)
- Battery storage at $300/kWh up to $5,000
- HRSP maximums are per category rather than one shared pot: up to $10,000 for solar and storage, up to $12,000 for heat pumps, up to $7,700 for insulation
Important – HRSP vs. Net Metering: Solar installed under HRSP must be sized for on-site load displacement only – net metering is not permitted under HRSP. If you prefer net metering (earning 1:1 credits for excess solar), you would not apply through HRSP. Your Xolar advisor can help determine which option provides the best return.
Note: The Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs are now closed.
A Different Utility From Your Neighbours, and Almost Identical Rules
Burlington Hydro distributes electricity here. Cross into Oakville, Milton or Hamilton and you are on Alectra Utilities, which serves twelve of the cities on this site. Burlington is one of the few municipalities in this stretch of the province still on its own local distributor.
It is a reasonable thing to wonder about when comparing quotes with someone one town over, so it is worth saying plainly what it does and does not change.
What it does not change is essentially everything financial. Time-of-Use pricing — 9.8 cents off-peak, 15.7 mid-peak, 20.3 on-peak — is set by the Ontario Energy Board and applies identically. The 12 kW threshold that decides whether your project follows the simplified micro-embedded generation route was raised from 10 kW by the OEB on 1 May 2026 and applies through every distributor in the province. Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program, worth up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together, is provincial. So is the 23.5% Ontario Electricity Rebate. Net metering credits at the full retail rate, carried forward twelve months, are the provincial framework rather than a Burlington Hydro policy.
What it does change is administrative and practical: whose forms you complete, who reviews the connection, who installs the meter, and how quickly. Those differences are real but they are about timeline and service rather than about what a system is worth.
So when comparing a Burlington quote against an Oakville one, the utility is not the variable. At 1,160 kWh per kW both cities model identically, and the difference will come from the two roofs.
Lake Ontario Moderates the Weather. It Does Not Move the Production Much.
Burlington’s climate is moderated by Lake Ontario, which makes for milder winters and later autumns than inland Ontario at the same latitude. It is worth being clear about how much that affects a solar system, because the answer is: less than people expect, and not in the direction they assume.
Milder temperatures are not themselves a production benefit. Photovoltaic panels convert light, not heat, and they are marginally more efficient when cool — so a mild winter is close to neutral. What the lake does supply is cloud, particularly in the late autumn and early winter when relatively warm water sits under colder air. That is a small cost rather than a benefit.
The evidence is in the number. Burlington models at 1,160 kWh per kW a year, exactly level with Oakville and Brampton and Hamilton, and just behind Mississauga at 1,170. Lake proximity has not separated it from its neighbours in any way this modelling can see. The whole western-lakeshore group sits inside about one per cent.
Where the lake genuinely helps is snow. Milder winters mean less accumulation sitting on panels than an equivalent roof in Barrie or Huntsville would see, and a panel under snow produces nothing. That is a real if modest advantage, and it is one of the few places the climate difference shows up on a bill rather than in a brochure.
The practical conclusion is the same as everywhere in this part of the province: the roof decides. At 1,160 kWh per kW, Burlington’s resource is good, unremarkable among its neighbours, and not the thing that will determine your result.
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Areas We Serve in Burlington
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What Burlington homeowners say
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"Our solar panels were installed and are working great. Lots of great communication from Xolar throughout the process to ease our worries."
"Installed 47 solar panels for an excellent price. No issues."
"Abe was very attentive to my needs, he thoroughly explained the proposal he sent, and answered all my questions in detail. We chatted about a few other subjects and I discovered that he is a pleasant and knowledgable person to deal with."
"I had my solar system installed by Xolar and I’m extremely satisfied with both the hardware and the overall setup. The system delivers immediate savings on my Hydro bill and is performing better than I expected, even under winter conditions. The hardware layout is clean, thoughtfully designed, and integrates seamlessly with my existing electrical system.The project timeline was solid: I placed my order in August, the installation took place over the winter, and everything was fully completed by April, including all permits and approvals from the city. The only hiccup in the entire process was a hardware shortage during the ordering phase, which required me to follow up a few times. That delay was frustrating, but ultimately handled well.A special mention goes to Lauren, who has been a great point of contact from start to finish. She is responsive, clear in her communication, and consistently advocated on my behalf to resolve issues and push past any delays. Having someone like Lauren to talk to made a big difference and kept my confidence in the project high.Overall, I would definitely recommend Xolar to anyone considering a solar installation. Once the hardware arrived, everything moved smoothly, the system was set up correctly the first time, and the performance and savings so far have exceeded my expectations."
"I had a call today with Spencer, he was extremely helpful."
"phenomenally informative without aggressive sales or pushiness. really excited to get my solar panels!"
Burlington solar questions
How much does solar cost in Burlington?
A 10 kW system costs $28,000-$32,000 before incentives.
HRSP rebate of $5,000 for solar reduces net cost.
Burlington produces 1,160 kWh/kW annually.
Payback: 8-12 years.
What solar rebates are available in Burlington?
Ontario’s HRSP provides up to $5,000 for solar + battery storage at $300/kWh up to $5,000 (heat pumps carry a separate $12,000 maximum).
Important: HRSP solar cannot use net metering – customers must choose one or the other.
The federal Greener Homes programs are now closed.
Who provides electricity in Burlington?
Burlington Hydro distributes electricity in Burlington.
Ontario’s Time-of-Use rates: 9.8¢ off-peak, 15.7¢ mid-peak, 20.3¢ on-peak.
The Ontario Electricity Rebate provides a 23.5% discount.
How does net metering work in Burlington?
Burlington Hydro offers 1:1 net metering – excess solar earns credits at the full retail rate.
Credits roll over for 12 months.
As of May 1, 2026, the net metering system size threshold was raised to 12 kW for residential customers.
Note: Solar under HRSP cannot use net metering.
Does it matter that Burlington has its own utility rather than Alectra?
Not for what a system is worth.
Burlington Hydro is the local distributor here while Oakville, Milton and Hamilton next door are on Alectra, but the financial framework is provincial: Time-of-Use rates, the 12 kW simplified-connection threshold, net metering at the full retail rate with a twelve-month carryforward, the Home Renovation Savings Program worth up to $10,000 for solar and storage, and the 23.5% Ontario Electricity Rebate all apply identically.
What the utility affects is administrative — whose forms you file, who reviews the connection, who installs the meter and how quickly.
Worth knowing for the timeline, not for the arithmetic.
Does being on the lake help or hurt solar production in Burlington?
Neither, by much.
Burlington models at 1,160 kWh per kW a year — exactly level with Oakville, Brampton and Hamilton, and within about one per cent of Mississauga at 1,170 — so lake proximity has not separated it from its neighbours in any measurable way.
Milder temperatures are not a production benefit in themselves, since panels convert light rather than heat and are slightly more efficient when cool.
The lake does add cloud in late autumn, which is a small cost, and it reduces snow accumulation compared with inland cities like Barrie or Huntsville, which is a small benefit.
Your roof will matter far more than the water.
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