Ontario · population 1,017,000
Solar in Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa serves the urban and suburban areas, and Hydro One serves parts of rural Ottawa, so check your bill before using our estimate. Ottawa gets more sun per kW of panels than Toronto by NRCan's figures. Suburban detached homes in Kanata, Orléans and Barrhaven often have simpler, less shaded roofs than older central neighbourhoods.
- Sample system
- 8.2 kW
- 19 panels, $180/month bill
- Year-1 savings
- $1,558
- Pays back in
- 13.6 years
- Good fit
- NRCan solar potential
- 1,198 kWh
- per kW a year, ideal south array
Month by month
What a 8.2 kW system makes in Ottawa
8,809 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: Hydro Ottawa
Hydro Ottawa serves most of the city. Some rural parts of Ottawa are served by Hydro One.
Net metering, 1:1 credits, 12-month rollover. Power you send to the grid earns a credit against power you buy later.
Hydro Ottawa rates and solarWhat it costs
At $2.42–$3.05 per watt installed, the sample 8.2 kW system runs about $19,771–$24,919 before rebates. Source
Programs
Rebates and loans for Ottawa homes
Programs change often. See all incentives and what’s changed.
Questions
Solar in Ottawa: FAQ
- Is solar worth it in Ottawa?
- For our sample Ottawa home with a $180 monthly bill, solar rates as "good fit": about $1,558 saved in the first year and a payback of 13.6 years. Your roof, shade and usage decide the real answer.
- How much do solar panels cost in Ottawa?
- Installed prices in Ontario typically run $2.42 to $3.05 per watt, so a 8.2 kW system is roughly $19,771 to $24,919 before rebates.
- How much electricity do solar panels make in Ottawa?
- In our model, each kW of well-placed panels makes about 1,078 kWh a year here. Natural Resources Canada puts Ottawa’s potential at about 1,198 kWh per kW for an ideal south-facing array. Output in December is a fraction of June’s.
- Does Hydro Ottawa 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 Ottawa?
- Locally: Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program. 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 Hydro Ottawa’s default plan, sized for best payback. Solar potential: Natural Resources Canada.