Solar panels in Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Hydro, Time-of-Use, and the HELP Loan
Ontario has the 5th highest potential to produce solar energy out of Canadian provinces. Southern Ontario gets some of the best sunlight in the country, making Toronto a great place for home solar. Solar installations in Toronto are highly efficient, overperforming to an average of 1,163 kWh of electricity per year for every 1 kW installed. The more you pay for electricity, the more you benefit by going solar. Choosing solar energy allows you to save money by avoiding these high electricity rates. With energy prices expected to continue rising over time, going solar protects you from increasing costs by generating your own power.
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Real Xolar installs in Toronto
Completed systems across the Toronto service area — first-hand specs, not industry averages.
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Vaughan — 10.6 kW rooftop
South-facing asphalt shingle · completed May 2022 · 27 progress photos on file
What 17 real Toronto installs tell us
Aggregated from completed Xolar systems in Toronto — first-hand data, not industry averages.
Toronto energy & net metering
What Toronto Hydro charges here, and how surplus solar is credited in Ontario.
Toronto Hydro bills on Ontario’s Time–of–Use schedule – 9.8 cents off–peak, 15.7 mid–peak and 20.3 on–peak under the OEB’s regulated price plan. Solar generates hardest through the middle of the day, against the mid and on–peak bands, so what your panels displace is the expensive end of the schedule rather than an average rate. That is why an 8 kW Toronto system returns about $2,400 a year on 1,163 kWh/kW – more than cities with better sunshine but flat rates.
How your system works behind the meter
Most of a Toronto 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 Toronto Hydro for net-metering credit.
Rebates & incentives in Toronto
Every active local, provincial, federal and Xolar program a Toronto homeowner can stack.
- Up to $125,000Toronto HELP 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)
Ontario's New HRSP Program - Up to $10,000 for Solar + Battery
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP), launched January 2025, is the most significant solar incentive Ontario has ever offered:
- Up to $5,000 for solar panel installation ($1,000/kW)
- Battery storage at $300/kWh up to $5,000 (requires approximately 13.3 kWh to reach the cap)
- Stackable with Toronto HELP Loan ($125,000 property-tax financing) or Better Homes Ottawa Loan
- 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 panels installed under HRSP must be sized for load displacement only – they supply electricity strictly for on-site use. Net metering is NOT permitted under HRSP. Customers must choose: take the HRSP rebate (no net metering) OR skip HRSP and keep 1:1 net metering credits. Work with your installer to determine which option delivers the best ROI for your usage pattern.
Toronto-Specific Solar Programs
Toronto Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
Up to $125,000, repaid through your property tax at low interest. Combined with HRSP, you can go solar with zero upfront cost.
HRSP
Up to $5,000 for solar + battery at $300/kWh up to $5,000 – see above for details.
Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
The former Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program closed in February 2024 and was replaced by the Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) above, delivered by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy. HER+ is no longer a separate rebate and cannot be stacked with HRSP.
Note: The Canada Greener Homes Grant (closed March 2024) and Greener Homes Loan (closed October 2025) are no longer available. HRSP and the HELP Loan are the primary programs available to Toronto homeowners.
Combined, Toronto has the strongest solar financing stack in Canada.
Time-of-Use Advantage
Toronto Hydro’s Time-of-Use pricing means solar panels earn maximum credits during the most expensive hours:
- Off-peak (overnight): 9.8¢/kWh
- Mid-peak: 15.7¢/kWh
- On-peak (daytime): 20.3¢/kWh
- Ontario Electricity Rebate: 23.5% discount on total bill
Solar generates most during on-peak hours (11am-5pm), earning you credits at 20.3¢/kWh – the highest rate tier. This makes solar more valuable in Ontario than the average rate suggests.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Toronto?
A typical Toronto home requires a 7-10 kW system, costing $23,000 to $29,500 before HST and rebates (about $2.95-$3.30 per watt, with larger systems costing less per watt).
After HRSP (solar + battery): net cost varies based on system size and battery capacity chosen. With the HELP loan, zero upfront cost. Payback depends on your rate plan and whether you choose the HRSP rebate or net metering. 25-year savings: $35,000+.
Toronto receives about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year and produces approximately 1,170 kWh per kW of solar capacity annually.
Ontario Net Metering
Ontario’s net metering program credits excess solar at the full retail rate. Credits roll over for 12 months. As of May 1, 2026, the residential net metering threshold was raised to 12 kW. You only pay for the net electricity you consume from the grid.
With Time-of-Use billing, on-peak credits at 20.3¢/kWh are worth more than twice the off-peak rate, making proper system sizing essential to maximize your return.
17 installs in Toronto · 264 across Ontario · 534 nationwide
Completed Xolar installations — each dot represents a city where we've installed solar.
Areas We Serve in Toronto
Professional solar panel installation available in these Toronto neighborhoods and communities:
What Toronto homeowners say
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"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 was interested and curious in solar panels. I had researched and had quotes from a few providers. Xolar took the time to explain to me the process (without talking down to me), and clearly laid out how to manage the Canada Green Homes Loan. I never had to wait more than a day to an answer to any question I had during the installation process. I found Xolar to be professional and competent, and the organization cared more about quality of product then just making a profit."
"Part one- the quote: Dylan was friendly, communicates clearly, promptly, and through convenient methods. His quote and explanations are precise and transparent. A good experiencePart two- installation in update post"
"phenomenally informative without aggressive sales or pushiness. really excited to get my solar panels!"
"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!"
Toronto solar questions
What is Ontario's HRSP program?
The Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) launched January 2025 offers up to $5,000 for solar panels ($1,000/kW) and battery storage at $300/kWh up to $5,000.
Important: HRSP solar must be sized for load displacement only – net metering is NOT permitted under HRSP.
Customers must choose between the rebate or net metering.
Can be combined with the Toronto HELP Loan for financing.
The federal Greener Homes Grant and Loan programs are both closed.
How much does solar cost in Toronto after rebates?
A 10 kW system costs $27,200-$29,500 before HST.
After HRSP ($5,000 for solar + battery at $300/kWh), the net cost depends on battery size chosen.
The Toronto HELP Loan covers the remainder at low interest, repaid through property tax.
What is the Toronto HELP Loan?
The Home Energy Loan Program provides up to $125,000 at low interest for energy improvements including solar.
Repaid through your property tax bill.
Combined with HRSP, you can go solar with zero upfront cost.
Who provides electricity in Toronto?
Toronto Hydro distributes electricity.
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.
Solar generates most during on-peak, earning maximum credits.
What is Ontario's net metering program?
Ontario net metering credits excess solar at the full retail rate.
Credits roll over for 12 months.
As of May 1, 2026, systems up to 12 kW are eligible under the standard residential threshold.
You only pay for the net electricity you consume from the grid.
How much does a Toronto solar system produce, and what size is typical?
Toronto produces about 1,163 kWh per kW a year, and a typical install here is 8 kW – so roughly 9,300 kWh annually.
What makes Toronto unusually good is not the sunshine but the rate structure: Ontario’s Time-of-Use pricing runs from 9.8 cents off-peak to 20.3 cents on-peak, and solar generates hardest during the middle of the day when rates are highest.
Because your production offsets the expensive hours rather than the cheap ones, a Toronto system saves about $2,400 a year – more than cities with better sunshine but flat rates – with payback in 9 to 11 years.
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