How much you get
The net-metering tradeoff
You can't take this rebate and also sign a net-metering agreement with your local utility. The rebate is for "load displacement" — using the power you generate yourself, not exporting surplus.
How to claim it
- Confirm eligibility via a quick form
- Select a contractor and get written pre-installation approval
- Installation is completed
- Contractor handles utility interconnection approval
- Rebate arrives after documentation is submitted
Solar installers in Burlington
Real companies based in Burlington, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here.
See all Burlington installers →
Common questions
Do I have to pick between the solar rebate and net metering in Burlington?
Yes. The Home Renovation Savings Program (up to $5,000 for solar, $1,000/kW capped at 50% of cost) is for load displacement — using the power yourself, not exporting it. If you'd rather bank surplus generation as credit through Burlington Hydro's net metering program, you give up the upfront rebate. Most Burlington homeowners come out ahead taking the rebate first and sizing the system for their own daytime use.
Is solar worth it in Burlington?
Yes — Burlington averages 3.91 peak sun hours a day (2020-2024), among the better numbers in southern Ontario, helped by its position right on Lake Ontario. Without a rebate, payback typically runs 10–15 years depending on system size and your local electricity rates.
Burlington Hydro sets the export credit, not Queen's Park
Burlington still runs its own utility rather than sitting inside one of the larger merged players like Alectra that cover most of the region around it. The rebate math above doesn't change because of that — it's the same provincial program regardless of who bills you — but the net metering credit for power your panels push back to the grid is entirely Burlington Hydro's to set, and being a smaller utility, some installers report faster turnaround on the paperwork than bigger providers manage.
The lake effect shows up in the sun numbers too
Burlington's 2020-2024 average of 3.91 peak sun hours and 14.06 MJ/m² of daily radiation puts it among the sunnier cities in this batch — Lake Ontario's moderating effect cuts down on the cloud cover that plagues some inland cities in shoulder seasons. It's not a dramatic edge over its neighbours, but every bit of sun exposure shortens the payback clock on a system this size.
Local groups worth a look before you sign a contract
The City's Climate Action Plan, adopted after council declared a climate emergency in 2019, sets a net-zero target for 2050 and leans on home retrofits — solar included — to get there. BurlingtonGreen, a local environmental charity that's been active since 2007, fields exactly the kind of questions this page can't answer for your specific property. And Burlington Hydro's own site has the current net metering and interconnection forms if you go that route instead of the rebate.
Next steps
View all Burlington rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.