Toronto Hydro Offers Net Metering for Solar
All About Hydro Net Metering in Toronto, Ontario
What is the Net Metering program?
Homeowners with Hydro can now get more out of their solar systems with Toronto Hydro’s net metering policy. If you’ve seen an energy bill, you’re probably familiar with the peaks and valleys of energy production. Hydro’s Net Metering program can help you manage your electricity and reduce your hydro costs. Here’s what you need to know and how to become a participant.
The Net Metering program gives GTA homeowners the power to better manage energy costs. When you’re producing more renewable electricity than you can use, Hydro will take the surplus supply back to the grid. In return, the utility will give you a credit on your bill to help pay for those times when you’re not generating enough power and drawing from the grid.
How does the Net Metering program work?
Ontario homeowners receive a credit or an adjustment on their monthly hydro bill for the energy exported, up to a maximum of the value of electricity consumed from their grid.
What are the eligibility requirements?
You can apply for the Net Metering program if you’re a Toronto Hydro customer and meet the following conditions:
1) You generate electricity primarily for your own use. You aren’t party to a contract or agreement (outside of the Net Metering Agreement) to sell electricity, in whole or in part, to Toronto Hydro’s distribution system
Your electricity is solely generated from a renewable source, such as drop in water elevation, solar radiation, agricultural biomass or a combination of these2) You agree to export all electricity that’s in excess of what you consume to Toronto Hydro
3) You don’t rely on Toronto Hydro to deliver the electricity you generate to your consumption point
4) You satisfy all of the technical requirements outlined in the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) Process and Technical Requirement for Connecting Embedded Generation Facilities document
Here at Terawatt, nearly all of our homeowner customers qualify for net metering.
More About Net Metering
Net metering is an electricity billing mechanism which facilitates freedom for consumers who produce some/all of their electricity, so that the consumers may use that electricity anytime rather than solely when it is generated.
Regulations
Existing regulations allow homeowners in Ontario to use rooftop solar panels to produce electricity for their own use to reduce the amount they have to pay to the utility.
Definition
The definition of Net Metering on Alectra Utilities website is similar to other Ontario utilities and reads as follows:
“If you generate electricity from renewable sources, you may take advantage of Ontario’s “net metering” initiative. Net metering allows you to send excess electricity generated from renewable resources to the distribution system for a credit toward your energy costs.”
No Batteries required
Net metering enables home and business owners to have access to an uninterrupted supply of electricity without incurring the expense of batteries.
Bi-Directional flow
With net metering, solar electricity in excess of immediate household requirements is allowed to pass though the bi-directional meter into the electrical grid. At night or whenever there is insufficient solar production, electricity from the grid flows through a bi-directional meter into your home’s circuits to provide continuous service.
Right-Sizing
The regulations allow for monthly settlement (debit or credit) Any credit at the end of 12 months is reset to zero, so it is important that rooftop solar power systems be “right sized”.
(To allow for rate increases early in the year as well as panel degradation, your installer may recommend oversizing your solar power system by 5-10% if the roof can accommodate more panels.)
Minimum Monthly Fees
NOTE: Your Hydro Bill will never be zero. Even if your solar power system produces the same or more kWh as you consume, there will still be a delivery fee. After all, the utility is allowing you to use their grid as a battery and they have overheads to pay such as reading the meter and sending out a monthly bill.
Using the bill calculator at the Ontario Energy Board website the monthly minimum charge for example in Alectra Utilities Corporation-Enersource Rate Zone would be $21.04 if there is zero usage for the month.
It is essential that users transition to energy efficient renewable options like solar, to provide net metering. Consequently, electricity prices are going up every year, with the last increase being 2% as of yesterday. If consumers invest in energy every year, why not invest in renewable energy? The possibilities remain endless.
BENEFITS TO YOU AND THE COMMUNITY
Gain Energy Independence
You will generate your own power and export the excess to the grid; for which you will receive a credit.
Increase home value
Installing a solar system makes your home more sellable, easier to mortgage, and increases your property value.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
Solar can provide for the electricity needs of an entire home with about 80% lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.
CREATING A GREEN COMMUNITY
Our unique Neighborhood Advantage program encourages homeowners to benefit by referring friends, family and fellow business owners in their communities to adopt solar, using the referral program. Customers can feel satisfied knowing that they are helping to build a green energy community by reducing, not only their own carbon footprint, but encouraging others to do so as well.
GET YOUR FREE SOLAR ANALYSIS
Although there are currently no government rebates or incentives in Ontario aside from Net Metering and a $5000 home retrofit grant, by joining together we have the power to reduce the upfront costs significantly and going solar with our neighbors helps develop support networks that are vital to a healthy, sustainable community.
Get control over energy costs and save on your monthly bill while making your planet a better place with clean, renewable energy.
