Ontario solar rebate bars recipients from net metering, TAF says

Ontario’s rooftop solar rebate of up to $5,000 bars recipients from net metering for the life of the system, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) said.

Net metering gives homeowners bill credits for surplus power their panels send back to the grid.

TAF found that a 10 kW system with net metering pays back its cost in roughly half the time of one without, even counting the rebate. TAF said many installers advise customers against joining the program.

The program sits within the efficiency framework of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). According to the Ontario government’s Environmental Registry, that framework has up to $10.9 billion over 12 years from 2025, against over $1 billion in 2021-2024.

TAF proposes that the energy minister sign a directive saying net metering is not a government program for these purposes. Whether the minister will sign it is not yet known.

Sources: Toronto Atmospheric Fund · Environmental Registry of Ontario