Ontario · population 2,794,000
Solar in Toronto
Toronto Hydro serves the whole city. Much of the housing is semis, row houses and older detached homes on narrow lots, so roof size and shade from trees and neighbours often set the system size. The city runs its own low-interest loan for energy upgrades, including solar.
- Sample system
- 7.3 kW
- 17 panels, $180/month bill
- Year-1 savings
- $1,471
- Pays back in
- 11.9 years
- Good fit
- NRCan solar potential
- 1,161 kWh
- per kW a year, ideal south array
Month by month
What a 7.3 kW system makes in Toronto
7,938 kWh a year, kWh per month. Summer covers far more than you use; winter covers little. Credits from summer carry into winter (12 months).
Your utility: Toronto Hydro
Net metering, 1:1 credits, 12-month rollover. Power you send to the grid earns a credit against power you buy later.
Toronto Hydro rates and solarWhat it costs
At $2.42–$3.05 per watt installed, the sample 7.3 kW system runs about $17,690–$22,296 before rebates. Source
Programs
Rebates and loans for Toronto homes
Programs change often. See all incentives and what’s changed.
Questions
Solar in Toronto: FAQ
- Is solar worth it in Toronto?
- For our sample Toronto home with a $180 monthly bill, solar rates as "good fit": about $1,471 saved in the first year and a payback of 11.9 years. Your roof, shade and usage decide the real answer.
- How much do solar panels cost in Toronto?
- Installed prices in Ontario typically run $2.42 to $3.05 per watt, so a 7.3 kW system is roughly $17,690 to $22,296 before rebates.
- How much electricity do solar panels make in Toronto?
- In our model, each kW of well-placed panels makes about 1,086 kWh a year here. Natural Resources Canada puts Toronto’s potential at about 1,161 kWh per kW for an ideal south-facing array. Output in December is a fraction of June’s.
- Does Toronto Hydro credit solar power I send to the grid?
- Net metering, 1:1 credits, 12-month rollover. Power you send to the grid earns a credit against power you buy later.
- Are there solar rebates or loans in Toronto?
- Locally: Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). Provincially: Home Renovation Savings Program — solar, Home Renovation Savings Program — battery. Check each program’s current status before you sign.
Savings use the SolarMyBill model for a sample home with a $180 monthly bill on Toronto Hydro’s default plan, sized for best payback. Solar potential: Natural Resources Canada.