Installing solar in Ontario is not just “mount panels and turn them on.” A compliant, high-performing system requires engineering design, utility interconnection approvals (Offer to Connect / microgeneration connection), Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permitting and inspection, and final commissioning for monitoring and verification.
Solify delivers fully engineered, code-compliant, turnkey solar installations across Ontario—with a documented workflow designed to reduce risk, avoid delays, and ensure long-term performance.
Below is Solify’s end-to-end process, from first assessment to monitoring activation.
Quick Summary: Solify’s Ontario Solar Installation Workflow
- Feasibility assessment (site + bills + financial model)
- Engineering and system design (layout, electrical single-line, structural considerations)
- Utility application / Offer to Connect (your local distribution company)
- ESA Notification (electrical “permit”) and any required municipal permits
- Installation by licensed professionals
- ESA inspection and connection authorization
- Utility meter exchange / connection agreement (as applicable)
- Commissioning + monitoring activation + handover
- Warranty, service, and ongoing performance support
1) Feasibility Assessment
Every Ontario solar project begins with a technical and financial feasibility review. This step determines whether your home or facility can support solar safely and whether the economics make sense under Ontario billing rules.
What Solify reviews
Site and structure
- Roof type, age, and condition (including mounting zones)
- Attic/joist access where feasible, or structural documentation for engineered truss systems
- Setbacks, fire access pathways, and roof obstructions
Solar production potential
- Orientation and tilt
- Shading analysis (trees, chimneys, neighboring buildings)
- Weather normalization for Ontario climate conditions
Electrical and utility fit
- Main panel rating/available breaker space
- Service type and constraints (e.g., older services may require upgrades)
- Your local distribution company requirements (Hydro One, Toronto Hydro, Alectra, etc.)
Bill and rate analysis
- 12+ months of electricity usage (seasonality matters)
- Rate plan impacts (e.g., TOU vs Tiered vs ULO where applicable; some distributors explicitly support net-metered customers choosing among plans) Hydro One
- Load profile (daytime vs overnight usage) to size the system appropriately
Deliverables you receive
- Recommended system size range (kW DC) and production estimate
- Payback/ROI model based on your billing and expected generation
- Clear assumptions (shading, roof azimuth, rate plan, escalation sensitivity)
2) Engineering & System Design
Once you approve the project to proceed, Solify’s team develops a complete design package focused on compliance, performance, maintainability, and inspection readiness.
What is designed
Mechanical / layout
- PV array layout (roof or ground mount)
- Racking approach, attachment methods, and waterproofing details
- Conduit routing plan and equipment placement for serviceability
Electrical
- String configuration or microinverter layout
- Inverter specification (SolarEdge, Enphase, Sol-Ark, etc.)
- AC/DC disconnect strategy and labeling plan
- Single-line diagram and interconnection details (critical for ESA and utility submission)
Ontario PV work is governed by Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirements and ESA guidance bulletins—e.g., ESA Bulletin 64-5-4 (Issued May 2025) clarifies PV installation rules, including single-line diagram and labeling expectations. Esasafe
Equipment compliance
Solify specifies equipment that meets applicable certification requirements. For example, ESA bulletins address PV grounding/bonding and note standards such as UL 2703 for mounting systems as permitted in Ontario contexts. Esasafe
3) Utility Approvals (Offer to Connect / Microgeneration Connection)
Before a system can legally operate in parallel with the grid, you must complete your local utility’s connection process.
This is where “Offer to Connect” comes in (terminology and steps vary by utility/LDC).
What utilities typically require
- Connection application (often “Form C – Micro Generation Connection Application” for ≤10 kW programs, depending on utility)
- Technical documents (single-line, equipment specs)
- Confirmation of project type (net metering vs load displacement, etc.)
- Commissioning verification and connection agreement steps (utility-specific)
For example, Alectra outlines a micro generator connection process that includes preliminary consultation, a connection application, issuance of an Offer to Connect, then design/build, ESA inspection, commissioning verification, and a connection agreement prior to energization. Alectra Utilities
Toronto Hydro similarly publishes a structured “generation and storage connection process” for DER projects (solar and batteries), including steps and forms depending on system size/category. Toronto Hydro
Hydro One’s net metering guidance cautions applicants not to incur expenses until the utility approves the connection, and it references the required application forms by system size. Hydro One
4) Permits: ESA Notification and Municipal Requirements
ESA Notification (“electrical permit”)
In Ontario, most electrical work requires filing a Notification of Work (often called a permit) with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) before electrical work begins. Esasafe
ESA’s homeowner guidance also outlines the core flow: file notification → request inspection → obtain ESA certificate. Esasafe
Building permit (when required)
Some municipalities require building permits for:
- Structural alterations
- Certain roof modifications
- Ground mounts or ancillary structures
- Specific local zoning / setback requirements
Solify aligns the permitting path to the municipality and the system type, and coordinates requirements so you avoid rework later.
5) Installation by Licensed Professionals
Solify installations are completed by trained, insured professionals and are structured to pass inspection efficiently.
Typical installation scope
Roof work
- Layout verification
- Racking installation and roof sealing/flashing
- Panel installation and wire management
Electrical
- Inverter(s) installation and labeling
- AC/DC disconnects and protection devices
- Conduit runs and breaker integration
- Monitoring hardware and communications setup
- Battery integration (if included), including backup/critical loads configuration where applicable
Why this step is more technical than most people expect
PV systems introduce:
- Continuous power sources (panels generate whenever illuminated)
- Specialized labeling and disconnect expectations (referenced in ESA PV bulletins) Esasafe
- Interconnection constraints and utility-visible safety requirements
Solify’s process is designed so the system is not merely functional—it is inspection-ready and utility-ready.
6) ESA Inspection & Approval
ESA conducts electrical inspections to verify compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Esasafe
What Solify prepares for inspection
- Filed ESA Notification of Work
- Single-line diagram / electrical drawings
- Equipment specs and certifications
- Interconnection method documentation
- Battery/backup schematics (if storage is included)
Once the electrical installation is reviewed and passed, ESA issues documentation confirming compliance (your contractor should provide a copy for your records). Esasafe
7) Net Metering vs Load Displacement (Critical Ontario Decision)
Many Ontario customers search “net metering Ontario” because it’s one of the main ways solar economics work here.
The Ontario Energy Board explains that under net metering:
- Excess generation flows to the grid
- The utility measures electricity sent/received
- Credits offset eligible consumption charges
- Credits can generally carry forward for up to 12 months (then reset) Ontario Energy Board
Important: Some rebates restrict net metering
If you use Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings incentives for solar PV and battery storage, the program page states participants are not eligible to participate in a net-metering agreement with their LDC; incentives are for load displacement only. Home Renovation Savings
The Home Renovation Savings solar page also specifies rebate amounts (up to $5,000 for solar and up to $5,000 for battery, with program caps and per-unit rates). Home Renovation Savings
Solify helps you choose the path that matches your goals:
- Net metering (optimize ROI via bill credits where eligible)
- Load displacement (use solar primarily on-site; may align with certain rebate structures)
8) Commissioning & Monitoring Activation
After ESA approval and required utility steps:
- Inverter configuration is completed (grid profile, safety settings, export settings)
- Monitoring is activated (e.g., SolarEdge, Enphase, Sol-Ark)
- Production verification is performed against expected commissioning values
- The client receives real-time access and a walkthrough of:
- Production and consumption views (if supported)
- Alerts and maintenance indicators
- Shutdown and safety basics
- Warranty documentation and service channels
9) Warranty & Support (Long-Term Reliability)
A solar system’s value is realized over decades, so the process must include documentation, monitoring, and service readiness.
Solify typically provides (product terms vary by manufacturer and configuration):
- Long-term PV module performance coverage
- Inverter warranty (often 10–12 years, product-dependent)
- Workmanship warranty
- Monitoring support and service triage