Solar panels in Toronto, Ontario: 15 Xolar installs in Toronto
Toronto Hydro, Time-of-Use, and the HELP Loan
Toronto roofs are smaller and busier than most in Ontario: semis, row houses and older detached homes, often under a mature tree canopy. That shapes how solar gets built here. Systems tend to be sized to the roof rather than the bill, and optimizer–based inverters are common because they stop one shaded panel from dragging down the rest, the approach the City of Toronto itself recommends. What makes the numbers work is the local stack: Toronto Hydro’s time–of–use rates, the City’s HELP loan on your property tax bill, and Ontario’s HRSP rebate. Every home system also needs a City building permit, which we handle for you.
Updated
Get Your Free Solar Quote
Custom solar solutions for Toronto, ON
Prefer to discuss your project first?Contact usor view ourdetailed quote form
Toronto — 10.5 kW rooftop
Completed December 2022
Real Xolar installs in Toronto
Completed systems across the Toronto service area — first-hand specs, not industry averages.
Swipe for more installs →
What 15 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 9.8–20.3¢/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
- Free heat pump install (valued up to $25,000) in Ontario, income-eligibleOil to Heat Pump Affordability (Ontario, via Save on Energy)
- Up to $7,500 (air-source) / $12,000 (ground-source)Home 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 $1625Fall 2026 Sale – Battery
- Up to $2550Fall 2026 Sale – Solar
- Up to $475Fall 2026 Sale – Heat Pump
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 (about 16.7 kWh of storage reaches 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 (or 10% of your home’s assessed value, if lower), repaid through your property tax bill over up to 20 years for solar. 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 February 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, systems up to 12 kW qualify for Ontario’s simplified micro-embedded connection process (up from 10 kW); larger systems can still net-meter through the standard connection process. 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.
Toronto Solar Permits, Handled for You
Every home solar system in Toronto needs a City of Toronto building permit. The City requires one for rooftop solar larger than 5 m², which covers any residential array, and the permit includes a structural review to confirm your roof can carry the panels (typically 2–4 lb per square foot).
- Heritage homes: if your house is listed or designated on the City’s Heritage Register, a heritage permit review runs alongside the building permit. The City’s Heritage Planning team supports solar on heritage buildings as long as the panels are minimally visible from the street.
- Zoning: rooftop solar installed to the Building Code is exempt from zoning by-laws under Ontario Regulation 508/18, so no variance is needed.
- Electrical and grid approval: the system needs a Connection Authorization from the Electrical Safety Authority, and Toronto Hydro has to approve the connection before it switches on.
Xolar prepares and submits all of it. Toronto building permits expire 12 months after they’re issued and work has to start within six months, so we book your installation inside that window. Source: City of Toronto, solar permitting & regulations.
Is Your Toronto Roof Ready for Solar?
The City of Toronto’s own guidance for homeowners lines up with what we check on a site visit:
- Roof age: the City doesn’t recommend installing on a roof more than about 10 years old, depending on its condition. If yours is due, it costs less to re-roof before the panels go on than after.
- Orientation and slope: south-facing is best. East- or west-facing roofs produce about 15% less. Slopes between 10 and 45 degrees work well.
- Shade: Toronto’s tree canopy, neighbouring houses, chimneys and dormers all cast shade. Small amounts can be handled with power optimizers or microinverters, which is why optimizer-based systems are common on the Toronto roofs we install.
- Electrical panel: older homes sometimes need an electrical panel upgrade before solar, a battery or an EV charger can be added. We check your panel on the site visit. What an electric panel does.
- Condos and multi-unit buildings: the board has to agree on roof space, ownership and how the system is metered before anything is installed.
Check Your Roof on the SolarTO Map
The City of Toronto’s free SolarTO Map estimates the solar potential of any Toronto address: system size, a cost estimate, payback, savings and emissions reduction. It’s a useful first look before you ask for quotes.
Through SolarTO, the City also points homeowners to the Home Solar Accelerator, run by The Atmospheric Fund, which offers a free assessment, an independent advisor and quotes from vetted installers. Whichever route you take, compare quotes sized from your actual roof and hydro bills. Get a free Xolar quote.
15 installs in Toronto · 270 across Ontario · 549 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
Swipe for more reviews →
"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!"
"The Representative was very helpful. Not pushy. Explained everything and sent me everything I need to proceed. Hopefully, I will be getting Solar in the near future."
"Great service from Vivek. Was a pleasure talking to him about the future of my home ."
Hear from Toronto homeowners
A Xolar customer in Toronto on going solar, in their own words.
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 City of Toronto’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) lends up to $125,000, or 10% of your home’s current value assessment if that’s lower, for energy upgrades including solar and battery storage. Solar projects qualify for terms up to 20 years. You repay through your property tax bill and can pay it off early; a 2% administration charge is added. Detached, semi-detached and row houses qualify, as do duplexes, triplexes and low-rise buildings up to three storeys. Rates are set by the City and change periodically, so check the current HELP rates. 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 qualify for Ontario’s simplified micro-embedded connection process (up from 10 kW); larger systems can still net-meter through the standard connection process.
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.
Do I need a building permit for solar panels in Toronto?
Yes.
The City of Toronto requires a building permit for rooftop solar larger than 5 m², which covers any home system, and the permit includes a structural review of your roof.
You also need a Connection Authorization from the Electrical Safety Authority and Toronto Hydro’s approval to connect.
Heritage-listed or designated homes get a heritage review as well.
Xolar handles every application.
Can I put solar panels on a heritage home in Toronto?
Usually, yes.
If your home is listed or designated on the City’s Heritage Register, a heritage permit review runs alongside the building permit.
The City’s Heritage Planning team supports solar on heritage buildings as long as the panels are minimally visible from the street, which usually means using roof faces that can’t be seen from the front.
Does Toronto have its own solar program?
Yes: SolarTO.
It includes the free SolarTO Map for checking your roof’s potential and the Home Solar Accelerator, which offers free assessments and independent advice.
For financing, the City’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) covers solar and battery storage, repaid through your property tax bill.
The separate $1,000 HELP incentive for solar closed in January 2025, but the loan itself is still available.
Get your free Toronto solar quote
A personalized proposal in 24 hours — system size, real pricing, and every rebate you qualify for. No pressure, no obligation.
Takes about a minute — no pressure, no obligation.
Solar system packages
All include install, permits & 25-yr warrantyMost popular choice for average Canadian homes
Solar installation across Ontario
We serve homeowners province-wide. View all Ontario service areas →