Solar panels in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
The lowest sun in Ontario, and the fourth-highest saving in the province.
Sault Ste. Marie is modelled at 1,030 kWh per kW a year — the lowest figure of any Ontario city on this site. And yet the average saving quoted here, about $2,380 a year, is the fourth–highest of any Ontario city, behind only Thunder Bay, Huntsville and Toronto. Payback runs 10 to 14 years on a 10 kW system. Both facts are true at once, and understanding why is the most useful thing on this page.
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Xolar installs across Ontario
264 completed Xolar systems across Ontario. Sault Ste. Marie is in our service area — yours could be the first one we publish here.
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 ★★★★★Sault Ste. Marie energy & net metering
What PUC Services 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). Sault Ste. Marie electricity is distributed by PUC Services. 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.
PUC Services Time-of-Use rates in Sault Ste. Marie
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.
PUC Services 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 Sault Ste. Marie buys.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Sault Ste. Marie 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 PUC Services for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Sault Ste. Marie
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario - Northern Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie produces 1,030 kWh per kW annually – the lowest of Ontario cities tracked, but solar remains viable. PUC Services distributes electricity. Higher electricity costs in northern areas can offset lower production. HRSP ($10K) helps the economics.
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.
Ontario's Weakest Sun, and One of Its Largest Savings
Sault Ste. Marie is modelled at 1,030 kWh per kW a year. That is the lowest figure of the 35 Ontario cities on this site — below Thunder Bay, Sudbury and Huntsville at 1,050, and about 15 per cent behind Chatham-Kent at 1,210.
So it is worth explaining why the average saving quoted here, $2,380 a year, is higher than in Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton or Guelph, all of which get better sun.
The answer is that a saving is production multiplied by consumption displaced, and northern households consume more. This page assumes a 10 kW system as typical, the same as the GTA despite weaker sun, because the bill being offset is larger — longer heating seasons, more lighting through dark winters, and more electric load generally. A 10 kW system at 1,030 produces about 10,300 kWh a year, which is a great deal of electricity to take off a bill.
What weaker sun does affect is the payback, which runs 10 to 14 years here against 7 to 10 in the southwest. The system is not cheaper to buy just because the sun is weaker, so a longer wait is the price of the larger annual saving.
The practical reading: if you are staying in the house, Sault Ste. Marie is a better place to own solar than its position at the bottom of the Ontario sunshine table suggests. If you are likely to move within a few years, the southwest of the province recovers its cost considerably faster.
Your Distributor Is PUC Distribution, and the City Owns It
Electricity in Sault Ste. Marie is distributed by PUC Distribution Inc., the licensed local distribution company. It is worth naming precisely, because the group has more than one entity and they do different things.
PUC Inc. is a holding company registered under the Ontario Business Corporations Act and wholly owned by the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. PUC Distribution Inc. is the LDC — it distributes electricity to homes and businesses within the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Batchewana First Nation at Rankin Reserve, Prince Township and parts of Dennis Township. PUC Services Inc. is a utility services company, also city-owned, which supplies drinking water and electricity and operates wastewater treatment.
For a solar customer that distinction matters mainly when you are filling in forms or chasing a connection: the net metering agreement is with the distributor.
What municipal ownership does not change is the rules. Time-of-Use pricing is set provincially by the Ontario Energy Board. The 12 kW threshold that decides whether your project takes the simplified micro-embedded generation route was raised from 10 kW by the OEB on 1 May 2026 and applies here as everywhere else. 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.
What a small municipally-owned utility does affect is the practical side — who answers the phone about your connection, and how quickly the offer to connect and the meter arrive.
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What Sault Ste. Marie homeowners say
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"Loved the information that was shared during the process. Xolar was better right from the start. They provided more information about the entire process then the other two businesses that I received quotes from. Installation was quicker than expected there was a couple small issues but they were looked after quickly. Solar has now been running for 4 months and starting to see reduced energy bills. Very impressed!"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Sault Ste. Marie solar questions
Is solar worth it in Sault Ste. Marie?
Production is lower (1,030 kWh/kW) but still viable.
HRSP ($10K for solar + battery) helps the economics.
Payback: 10-14 years.
Higher electricity costs in northern Ontario offset lower production.
What solar rebates are available in Sault Ste. Marie?
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 Sault Ste. Marie?
PUC Services 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 Sault Ste. Marie?
PUC Services 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.
If Sault Ste. Marie has Ontario's weakest sun, why is the saving so high?
Because the saving depends on the bill as much as the sunshine.
At 1,030 kWh per kW a year this is the lowest modelled figure of any Ontario city on this site — but the average saving quoted here, about $2,380, is the fourth-highest of any Ontario city, behind only Thunder Bay, Huntsville and Toronto.
Northern households consume more electricity through longer, darker, colder winters, so the systems built here are sized to displace more: this page assumes 10 kW, the same as the GTA, despite the weaker resource.
The trade-off shows up in the payback rather than the saving — 10 to 14 years here against 7 to 10 in southwestern Ontario.
Who actually connects a solar system in Sault Ste. Marie?
PUC Distribution Inc., the licensed local distribution company.
The group is city-owned: PUC Inc. is a holding company wholly owned by the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste.
Marie, PUC Distribution is the electricity distributor, and PUC Services Inc. is a separate utility services company supplying water and electricity and running wastewater treatment.
Your net metering agreement is with the distributor.
PUC Distribution serves the City of Sault Ste.
Marie, the Batchewana First Nation at Rankin Reserve, Prince Township and parts of Dennis Township — so addresses outside the city proper may still be on the same system.
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