Ontario net metering: confirm the current rules and connection path with the distributor serving the address.VIEW ALL GUIDES →

Home/Guides/Ontario

ONTARIO · COMMERCIAL · FAQ

Ontario commercial net metering FAQ.

A commercial project must connect the net-metering regulation to the actual rate class, measured demand and the distributor’s connection process.

ES
EnerSolaris
Regulatory desk
Reviewed July 12, 20269 min read
Ontario commercial flat-roof solar installation with electrical service equipment
EnerSolaris regulatory FAQ · Ontario
Who this guide is forFor businesses, multi-unit properties, farms and institutions served by an Ontario distributor.
Scope and limits: This guide summarizes current primary sources. It is not a connection approval, legal opinion or tariff guarantee. Confirm the current distributor requirements before ordering equipment.

Minimum technical file

  • Twelve months of bills and, ideally, interval load data.
  • AC rating, single-line diagram, protection, transformer, control mode and maximum export.
  • Preliminary consultation and an impact assessment when the project exceeds the micro category.
  • A financial model that separates energy, demand, fixed, connection and metering charges.

Do businesses use the same regulation as homes?

Yes. Ontario Regulation 541/05 applies to eligible distributor customers, residential and commercial. The rate class, load shape, facility size and technical connection process make commercial analysis materially more complex.

Do credits reduce demand charges?

Not directly. Exported energy is valued against consumption-based charges without a credit for demand. A project may reduce measured demand only when solar production actually coincides with the building’s billing peak.

When is a Connection Impact Assessment required?

At Hydro Ottawa, projects above 12 kW AC begin with preliminary consultation and then a Connection Impact Assessment. Required drawings must be signed by a professional engineer licensed in Ontario. Details vary by the local distributor.

Does a positive preliminary response reserve grid capacity?

No. Hydro Ottawa states that capacity is reserved only after a successful Connection Impact Assessment under the Distribution System Code and DER Connection Procedures. A favourable preliminary report is not permission to build.

Can a business use a lease or power purchase agreement?

Qualifying third-party structures are possible. The regulation requires an eligible agreement and specified disclosures covering ownership, payments, warranties, costs, estimated production, estimated savings and termination rights.

What costs can remain with the customer?

A distributor may charge incremental metering and connection costs. Larger projects should also budget for studies, engineered drawings, protection equipment, service modifications, distributor work and commissioning.

Can a system be oversized to sell large surpluses?

The program is for renewable generation produced primarily for the customer’s own use. Credits offset future consumption charges and are not paid or refunded in cash, so sizing should follow the actual load and the 12-month credit rule.

Official sources and review date

Rules, forms and tariff conditions can change. These primary sources were checked for this guide:

Last reviewed: July 12, 2026.

Apply the rules to your building.

Start with the address, electricity bill and proposed system size so the connection path can be identified.

Start my assessment →