Solar panels in Pickering, Ontario
The one place in Durham the 2% loan does not reach — and what to compare instead.
Pickering produces 1,150 kWh per kW a year and pays back in 8 to 11 years, among the shorter ranges in Ontario. One local detail matters more here than anywhere else in Durham: the region’s 2% Greener Homes Loan is currently not available for properties in the City of Pickering, so a Pickering quote should be compared against ordinary financing rather than a subsidised municipal rate. Ontario’s rebate of up to $10,000 for solar and battery storage still applies.
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Real Xolar installs in Pickering
Completed systems across the Pickering 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 ★★★★★Pickering energy & net metering
What Elexicon Energy 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). Pickering electricity is distributed by Elexicon Energy. 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.
Elexicon Energy Time-of-Use rates in Pickering
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.
Elexicon Energy 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 Pickering buys.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Pickering 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 Elexicon Energy for net-metering credit.




Rebates & incentives in Pickering
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Pickering homeowner can stack.
- Up to $125,000 at 2%Durham Greener Homes Loan
- 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 Pickering, Ontario - Durham Region
Pickering in Durham Region produces 1,150 kWh per kW annually. Elexicon Energy distributes electricity. 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.
Durham Region Programs in Pickering
One important exception applies here. Durham Region states that the Greener Homes Loan is currently not available for properties located in the City of Pickering. Pickering residents can subscribe for programme updates, but cannot borrow under it today — so a Pickering quote should be compared against ordinary financing rather than assuming the 2% rate. Ontario’s HRSP is unaffected and still applies.
Two further Durham rebates — the Deep Retrofit Rebate and the Weather-ready Rebate, each up to $5,000 — are open but restricted to Whitby residents only, so they are not available in Pickering.
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.
What to Compare When the Municipal Loan Is Not Available to You
Durham Region’s Greener Homes Loan lends up to $125,000 at 2% over fifteen years, and it is one of the best financing offers available to a homeowner anywhere on this site. Durham states that it is currently not available for properties located in the City of Pickering.
That single fact changes what a Pickering homeowner should be comparing. Elsewhere in Durham the sensible question is whether to use the municipal loan or pay cash. Here the question is which ordinary financing to use, and that deserves more scrutiny than it usually gets.
Three things are worth checking on any offer put in front of you. First, the rate, and whether it is fixed for the full term or resets. Second, whether the interest is calculated on a declining balance or added up front, because an advertised rate can describe very different total costs. Third, whether there is a penalty for repaying early, which matters if you might sell or refinance.
It is also worth asking whether dealer financing is being bundled into the system price. A quote with attractive financing and a higher headline cost can be worse than a plainer offer, and the only way to see it is to ask for the cash price and the financed price separately.
None of this changes the underlying case. Pickering produces 1,150 kWh per kW a year with a payback of 8 to 11 years, and Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program still pays up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together. Durham also invites Pickering residents to subscribe for programme updates, so the position may change.
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Areas We Serve in Pickering
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What Pickering homeowners say
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"They provided a very thorough proposal and walked us through it in detail."
"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!"
"Xolar rep is very knowledgeable about solar product and the government rebates that can help make the project happen. Spencer was able to answer all my questions and made the decision to proceed with the application an easy one."
"Installed 47 solar panels for an excellent price. No issues."
"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."
"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."
Pickering solar questions
What Durham Region programs can a Pickering homeowner use?
Partly.
The Durham Greener Homes Loan is open across the region, but Durham states it is currently not available for properties in the City of Pickering — so Pickering homeowners cannot borrow under it at present, and should compare quotes against ordinary financing rather than the 2% rate.
The Deep Retrofit and Weather-ready rebates are open but restricted to Whitby residents.
Ontario’s HRSP is unaffected: up to $5,000 for solar and $5,000 for battery storage.
Who provides electricity in Pickering?
Elexicon Energy distributes electricity in Pickering.
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 much does solar cost in Pickering?
A typical 10 kW system costs $27,200-$35,000 before incentives.
With HRSP ($5,000 solar rebate), net cost starts at $22,200.
Pickering produces 1,150 kWh/kW annually.
Payback: 8-11 years.
How does net metering work in Pickering?
Elexicon Energy 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 can't Pickering homeowners use the Durham Greener Homes Loan?
Durham Region states that the loan is currently not available for properties located in the City of Pickering.
It does not give a reason on its programme page, and the word to note is “currently” — Pickering residents are invited to subscribe for programme updates, so the position may change.
In the meantime a Pickering quote should be compared against ordinary financing rather than against the 2% municipal rate available elsewhere in Durham, and it is worth asking any lender for the cash price and the financed price separately.
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program is unaffected and still pays up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together.
Is solar still worth it in Pickering without the municipal loan?
Yes, on the numbers.
Pickering is modelled at 1,150 kWh per kW a year with a payback of 8 to 11 years, among the shorter ranges in Ontario, and Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program pays up to $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage together.
What the missing loan changes is the cost of borrowing, not the value of the electricity.
If you are paying cash, the absence of the Durham loan makes no difference to your return at all.
If you are financing, it is the single number worth negotiating hardest, because over fifteen years the gap between a 2% rate and a typical dealer rate is larger than most equipment differences.
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