Solar panels in Chatham-Kent, Ontario
The highest modelled production of any Ontario city we serve.
Chatham–Kent is modelled at 1,210 kWh per kW a year — the highest figure of any Ontario city on this site, ahead of Windsor at 1,200 and Sarnia at 1,190. Payback runs 7 to 10 years, the shortest band we quote anywhere in the province, on a 9 kW system saving about $2,300. Warm southwestern Ontario sun and a short payback are the same story told twice.
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Real Xolar installs in Chatham-Kent
Completed systems across the Chatham-Kent service area — first-hand specs, not industry averages.
Ottawa — 14.2 kW rooftop
South-facing asphalt shingle · completed January 2024 · 11 progress photos on file
"With nearly all my household energy now coming from the sun, my monthly bills have plummeted — and it's not just about the savings, it's the positive environmental impact."
— Real Ottawa homeowner ★★★★★Chatham-Kent energy & net metering
What Entegrus Powerlines 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). Chatham–Kent electricity is distributed by Entegrus Powerlines. 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.
Entegrus Powerlines Time-of-Use rates in Chatham-Kent
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.
Entegrus Powerlines 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 Chatham-Kent buys.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Chatham-Kent 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 Entegrus Powerlines for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Chatham-Kent
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Chatham-Kent 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 Chatham-Kent, Ontario - Among the Highest Production in the Province
Chatham-Kent produces some of the highest solar output in Ontario at 1,210 kWh/kW – rivaling Windsor as the best location for solar in the province. Entegrus Powerlines distributes electricity.
Ontario’s net metering program credits excess solar at the full retail rate. Combined with strong production, payback is among the shortest in Ontario. 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.
Nowhere in Ontario Produces More, and the Margin Is Narrow
Chatham-Kent is modelled at 1,210 kWh per kW a year, the highest of the 35 Ontario cities on this site. Windsor and Ottawa are both 1,200, Sarnia 1,190, Niagara Falls 1,180, then London and Mississauga at 1,170. At the other end, Sault Ste. Marie is 1,030.
So the top of the province is a tight cluster and the bottom is a long way below it. Chatham-Kent’s advantage over Windsor is under one per cent — genuinely within the noise of how these figures are modelled — while its advantage over Sault Ste. Marie is about 17 per cent, which is real money over twenty-five years.
The honest way to use that: being first in Ontario is a nice line, but it should not change what you do. If you are comparing a Chatham-Kent quote against one in Windsor or Sarnia, the regional resource is effectively identical and the difference will come from the roof. If you are comparing against northern Ontario, the gap is substantial and worth taking seriously.
What the strong resource does buy is efficiency of equipment. This page assumes a 9 kW system as typical, smaller than the 10 kW assumed across much of the GTA, because each kilowatt here does more work. Fewer panels for the same result means less roof used, a smaller inverter and a lower installed cost.
It also produces the shortest payback band in the province, 7 to 10 years, shared only with Windsor and Sarnia. Southwestern Ontario is simply the best place in the province to put panels on a roof, and Chatham-Kent sits at the top of it.
Why Seven to Ten Years Is the Shortest Band We Quote in Ontario
Payback is not one number, it is a ratio, and Chatham-Kent happens to have both sides of it working in its favour.
On the production side, 1,210 kWh per kW a year means a smaller system covers a given bill. This page assumes 9 kW where much of the GTA assumes 10 kW — that is a system roughly ten per cent cheaper to buy, before anything else is counted.
On the value side, the electricity being displaced is priced the same as everywhere in Ontario: 9.8 cents off-peak, 15.7 mid-peak and 20.3 on-peak under the regulated Time-of-Use rates. Solar generates around the middle of the day, so what it displaces is weighted toward the expensive end of that range.
Add Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program, worth up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together, and the up-front cost falls again. A smaller system, a rebate against it, and expensive daytime power is the whole recipe.
Two things work the other way and are worth knowing. The Ontario Electricity Rebate takes 23.5% off the subtotal of an eligible bill, which reduces the value of the power you are displacing and lengthens payback rather than shortening it. And Chatham-Kent has no municipal retrofit loan of the sort London or Durham Region offer, so financing is whatever you negotiate.
Even so, 7 to 10 years is the shortest range on this site outside Alberta and the territories. If solar makes sense anywhere in Ontario, it makes sense here.
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Areas We Serve in Chatham-Kent
Professional solar panel installation available in these Chatham-Kent neighborhoods and communities:
What Chatham-Kent homeowners say
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"phenomenally informative without aggressive sales or pushiness. really excited to get my solar panels!"
"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."
"We are happy with our roof top solar panels from Xolar. Lauren was a great help as our project manager. Vivek and John also helped us with our many questions. The project was finished on time. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Xolar."
"Our solar panels were installed and are working great. Lots of great communication from Xolar throughout the process to ease our worries."
"Xolar installed panels to our home. They were very professional and excellent at getting back to us. I would definitely recommend them to others ."
"We were, overall, delighted with the solar panel solution from Xolar. The process, from first consultation, to operation and receiving the Greener Homes Loan took almost exactly 6 months, which we were very happy with given we started to process in December.We were quite concerned about the look of the panels as our South facing roof faces the street and we live in a neighbourhood with a lot of nice homes. But we were really delighted with how they look - they just blend in nicely with the roof and many of friends have said they hardly noticed them. They also present a modern appearance.As you can see, the panels are only over the garage but that is estimated to be sufficient to cover around 90% of our hydro use, and we use only electricity, with geothermal heating and cooling, and have an electric car. So far, the hydro generation matches the estimates provided by Xolar.The initial presentation of the solution, by Chris Isidori, was very thorough, and he was available to answer all of my questions. The Xolar website is also excellent and there are many customer solutions listed there to read about, and speak to their experience. The installation team were a joy to work with - they arrived on time, were extremely pleasant, completed the entire install in less than 2 days, and cleaned up very well at the end.Overall, the solution exceeded our expectations and we are very much enjoying making a contribution to the energy grid while saving money in the long term. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Xolar if you are considering installing a solar array on your home."
Chatham-Kent solar questions
Is Chatham-Kent good for solar?
One of the best in Ontario. 1,210 kWh/kW production – rivaling Windsor as the highest in the province.
Strong ROI with HRSP ($10K for solar + battery) or net metering.
What solar rebates are available in Chatham-Kent?
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 Chatham-Kent?
Entegrus Powerlines distributes electricity.
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 Chatham-Kent?
Entegrus Powerlines 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.
Is Chatham-Kent really the best place in Ontario for solar?
On modelled production, yes — 1,210 kWh per kW a year is the highest of the 35 Ontario cities on this site.
But the margin over Windsor and Ottawa at 1,200 and Sarnia at 1,190 is under one per cent, which is smaller than the difference between two roofs on the same street.
Southwestern Ontario as a region is the best part of the province for solar, and Chatham-Kent sits at the top of a tight cluster rather than standing apart from it.
Where the gap is real is against northern Ontario: Sault Ste.
Marie is modelled at 1,030, about 17 per cent behind.
Why is the payback shorter here than in the GTA?
Because you need less equipment for the same result.
At 1,210 kWh per kW a year, this page assumes a 9 kW system as typical where much of the GTA assumes 10 kW — a smaller system to cover a comparable bill, and a smaller system costs less.
The electricity you displace is priced identically across Ontario, so the difference is entirely on the production side.
That gives a payback band of 7 to 10 years here against 8 to 12 in Mississauga and 9 to 12 in Oakville or Guelph.
Ontario’s rebate of up to $10,000 for solar and storage applies the same way everywhere in the province.
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