Solar in Toronto: A Bright Idea That Needs a Clearer Path

Homeowners want in. Now policy needs to catch up.

When hydro owes you!

If you’ve ever looked at your hydro bill and thought, “hmmmm, how do I take back some control over this?” and, just so you know, you’re not alone. Beyond running after your kids and yelling for them to turn the lights off, or forgetting to start your dishwasher after 11pm because you feel asleep on the couch, there are alternative solutions that work with your daily processes rather than adding more work to your already busy life schedule.

In Toronto, interest in on-site renewable energy creation through rooftop solar is on the rise. We’ve got the roof space, we’ve got the sun (we do... really, well...in the summer), and thanks to Ontario’s Net Metering program, you can generate your own electricity and earn credit for any extra power you send back to the grid.

As a homeowner who has taken on this challenge, what do you guess the issues are with adoption?

The short answer: barriers—technical, financial, and bureaucratic.

Free clean energy makes sense in supporting your home needs, especially for homeowners who can curb up to 30% of our carbon emissions directly with these types of interventions. It lets you use your roof to lower your bills, and offsets the cost of electricity between seasons. But here are some challenges to this program: without energy storage, like a home battery system, most of that solar power goes to the grid, and you’re left relying on Hydro when the sun’s not shining, or the winter months when there is less sun available. Ontario’s policies don’t really support  solutions for storage yet. There are no incentives, little to no education, and complex language rebates, and little guidance during installation unless you’re already an energy expert.

This means homeowners miss out on the benefits of self-sufficiency and resiliency—two key reasons people go solar in the first place.

Other countries like Germany got it right: they paired solar programs with battery incentives and clear, long-term policies. In Spain, the government changed the rules halfway through, pulling support for homeowners who had already invested. That kind of policy flip-flop kills trust—and that’s something we all worry about when the make the big ticket investment for a system.

So, what can be done?

🔧 Here’s how we fix it:

• Guarantee Net Metering credits for at least 10–15 years to build investor confidence.

• Support energy storage with rebates or low-interest loans. Second-life EV batteries are a great, low-cost option for storing energy at home.

• Educate homeowners early in the process—especially during system design—on how storage affects long-term savings.

• Simplify rebates and applications. The Canada Greener Homes program changed from a grant to a loan, and many found it confusing. Streamlining these programs would help.

• Promote energy equity. Affordable households often face the biggest barriers. Offering free consultations, technical support, and targeted subsidies can make clean energy accessible for all.

Adopting solar can feel daunting. It’s a mix of tech jargon, upfront costs, and policy fine print. But the payoff is worth it: lower bills, greater energy independence, and a smaller carbon footprint.

Toronto has already taken some great steps. The city fast-tracks rooftop solar permits and supports green roofs. But to truly bring solar home, we need stable, smart policy that reflects the long-term benefits for homeowners, the grid, and the environment.

The sun’s already shining. Let’s make sure the path to solar power is just as clear.