Generation Solar Renewable Energy Systems

Ontario Standard Offer Program



	Premier McGuinty Announcing SOC Program

Dalton McGuinty announces leading solar program

On March 21st, 2006, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced North America's most progressive program to support solar energy. The program, called an advanced feed-in tariff, also called a Standard Offer Contract (SOC), will pay individuals, businesses, co-ops, municipalities, First Nations, etc. 42 cents for every kWh of solar electricty produced. We were fortunate to be there. Click here for details from the March announcement.

Update: January 2007

At the end of November the OPA released its final rules and contract for the SOP in Ontario. Solar is in the program at 42 cents. Many of the administrative details have been left to the Local Distribution Companies (LDCs). Here's our summary report (pdf, 16k). You can read all the official documents at the OPA SOC website.

Hydro One Net Metering Rules

Net Metering is another method of connecting renewables to the grid and has been the only way for several years. LDCs may offer connection under the SOP and/or Net Metering. Here are the highlights of Hydro One's net metering rules, as one example...

Net Metering measures the energy you use against the energy you generate (with Renewable Energy equipment) resulting in a 'net' energy total from which your bill is calculated.
Net Metering excesses cannot be carried forward beyond 1 year; Hydro One does not pay for excess generation.
Your installation must be inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority and requires special plan approval. This approval can take as little as a few days, or as much as a few weeks.
You are required to install an isolation switch (visible, accessible, lockable) located between the meter and your equipment. It's small and inexpensive.
If your system is rated at less than 10kW you must install a 'dual register meter' which measures consumption independently from generation. Hydro One will pay for this.
If your system is rated greater than 10kW but less than 50kW you must install, at your expense, an interval meter and supply a phone line to it.
You must enter into a Connection Agreement with Hydro One stipulating a bunch of legal details.

Hydro One Net Metering Information Line

Call 1-866-280-7712 for more information or visit the Hydro One Net Metering Web Site.

Your local utility may or may not develop its own set of rules and agreement. We suspect that most utilities will simply copy the Hydro One documents, or use them directly. It's unlikely that any local utility will be proactive in doing this so, if you're considering a grid tie system, send copies of these documents to your utility for their education and to speed up your approval!

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