Solar panels in Markham, Ontario
The highest average saving of any Alectra city we serve — on mid-table sunshine.
Markham’s average saving of $2,350 a year is the highest of the twelve Alectra–served cities on this site, even though its 1,155 kWh per kW is mid–table among them. Payback runs 9 to 11 years. The reason is consumption rather than sunshine: Markham households use more electricity, so the systems built here are sized larger and displace more — which is the single most useful thing to understand before reading a quote.
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Real Xolar installs in Markham
Completed systems across the Markham service area — first-hand specs, not industry averages.
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Markham — 12.9 kW rooftop
South-facing asphalt shingle · completed August 2022 · 49 progress photos on file
What 8 real Markham installs tell us
Aggregated from completed Xolar systems in Markham — first-hand data, not industry averages.
Markham energy & net metering
What Alectra Utilities 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). Markham electricity is distributed by Alectra Utilities. 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.
Alectra Utilities Time-of-Use rates in Markham
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.
Alectra Utilities 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 Markham buys.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Markham 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 Alectra Utilities for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Markham
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Markham 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 Markham, Ontario
Markham is one of York Region’s largest cities with growing interest in residential solar. Alectra Utilities provides distribution with solar production of 1,155 kWh per kW annually. Ontario’s Time-of-Use pricing means solar earns maximum credits during on-peak hours (20.3¢/kWh).
Ontario’s net metering program credits excess solar at the full retail rate. HRSP ($5K solar + battery at $300/kWh up to $5K) 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 (requires approximately 13.3 kWh to reach the cap)
- 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 (closed March 2024) and Greener Homes Loan (closed October 2025) are no longer available.
Markham Saves More Than Any Other Alectra City. It Does Not Get More Sun.
Alectra Utilities distributes electricity in twelve of the cities on this site. Ranked by the average annual saving each page quotes, Markham comes first at $2,350 — ahead of Richmond Hill, Oakville, Vaughan and Mississauga at $2,300, ahead of Brampton and Newmarket at $2,200, and $300 clear of Guelph at $2,050.
It is not the sunniest of them. At 1,155 kWh per kW a year Markham sits mid-table: Mississauga is modelled at 1,170, and Oakville, Brampton, Burlington and Hamilton at 1,160. On production per kilowatt installed, Markham is behind five of the cities it out-saves.
The explanation is consumption. A saving is the product of what you generate and what that generation displaces, and the second term depends on the household. Markham homes tend to be larger and to use more electricity, so the systems built here are sized larger — this page assumes 10 kW as typical, against 9 kW for Guelph and Hamilton — and a larger system on slightly weaker sun displaces more than a smaller system on slightly better sun.
This is worth holding onto because it cuts both ways. If your own consumption is modest, the $2,350 figure is not yours; it describes a household bigger than average for the city. The number that matters is on your own bill, and any installer worth using will start there rather than with the municipal average.
Payback here is 9 to 11 years, slightly tighter than most of the Alectra group, for the same reason: a larger system offsetting a larger bill.
Cold Winters Are an Argument for Doing Solar and a Heat Pump Together
Markham’s climate is continental with cold winters, and that shapes the case for solar in a way worth setting out — because the two upgrades most Markham households are weighing interact.
A solar array produces least in December and January. A house heated by gas draws little electricity in those months, so a well-sized array covers a good share of the annual bill. Put a heat pump in and the picture changes: winter electricity consumption rises sharply, exactly when generation is at its lowest. That is not an argument against either technology — it is an argument for sizing them together rather than sequentially.
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program is structured to make that possible. Its maximums are per category rather than one shared pot: up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together, up to $12,000 for heat pumps, and up to $7,700 for insulation. A household doing solar and a heat pump is drawing on two separate ceilings, not splitting one — a distinction that was misstated on this site’s Ontario pages until it was corrected, and one that materially changes what a combined project costs.
The practical sequence is insulation first, then the heat pump sized to the improved envelope, then solar sized to the resulting electricity consumption. Doing solar first and the heat pump two years later usually means an array sized for a bill that no longer exists.
Net metering credits carry forward for twelve months here, which softens the seasonal mismatch: a summer surplus can be drawn down against winter heating. It does not eliminate it, because credits do expire at the twelve-month mark.
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Areas We Serve in Markham
Professional solar panel installation available in these Markham neighborhoods and communities:
What Markham homeowners say
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"Xolar installed panels to our home. They were very professional and excellent at getting back to us. I would definitely recommend them to others ."
"Hired Xolar to install Trina solar panels with Tigo inverters and SMA inverter back in 2022 given that they offered the best return on investment based on all the quotes I had received.After a full month of solar production, very happy to see the system is working as expected. My first Toronto Hydro bill with this net meter arrangement was a credit of 41.31 (all fees included!). Like any project, there were some hiccups along the way, but the team at Xolar resolved all of them to our satisfaction. Looking forward to seeing how the system performs over the next 25-30 years!"
"I give it a 5 star"
"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."
"Had a very complex installation, quite large with lots of features, with the solar array powering two homes. Took a while to complete and there were a few technical glitches along the way but they were taken care of. Quality of product and Technicians was excellent. It would be 5 stars if there was better communications. Several times I had to repeat emails trying to get answers."
"They provided a very thorough proposal and walked us through it in detail."
Markham solar questions
Can I get solar in Markham?
Yes.
Alectra Utilities serves Markham with 1,155 kWh/kW production.
HRSP ($5K solar + battery at $300/kWh up to $5K) or net metering available.
Payback: 9-11 years.
What solar rebates are available in Markham?
Ontario’s HRSP provides up to $5,000 for solar ($1,000/kW) + battery storage at $300/kWh up to $5,000.
Important: HRSP solar cannot use net metering – customers must choose one or the other.
The federal Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs are both closed.
Who provides electricity in Markham?
Alectra Utilities distributes electricity in Markham.
Ontario’s Time-of-Use rates: 9.8¢ off-peak, 15.7¢ mid-peak, 20.3¢ on-peak (OEB RPP, Nov 2025-Oct 2026).
The Ontario Electricity Rebate provides a 23.5% discount.
How does net metering work in Markham?
Alectra Utilities 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 residential threshold is 12 kW.
Note: Solar under HRSP cannot use net metering.
Why does Markham save more than Mississauga despite getting less sun?
Because a saving depends on the bill as much as on the sunshine.
Markham is modelled at 1,155 kWh per kW a year against Mississauga’s 1,170, so it produces marginally less per kilowatt installed — but the average saving quoted here is $2,350 against Mississauga’s $2,300, the highest of the twelve Alectra-served cities on this site.
Markham households consume more, so systems are sized to displace more.
The practical implication is that neither figure is yours until someone has looked at twelve months of your own bills; a city average describes a household that may be nothing like yours.
Can I claim Ontario's rebate for both solar and a heat pump?
They are separate ceilings rather than one shared pot, which is the part people most often get wrong.
The Home Renovation Savings Program lists up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together, up to $12,000 for heat pumps, and up to $7,700 for insulation.
A household doing solar and a heat pump is therefore drawing on two different maximums.
Programme rules govern what any individual project qualifies for, so confirm eligibility before counting on a combination — but do not assume a single overall cap, and treat any quote that implies one with caution.
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