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 Greater Sudbury
Real companies based in Greater Sudbury, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here.
See all Greater Sudbury installers →
Common questions
Does living this far north change the Greater Sudbury solar rebate amount?
No — the Home Renovation Savings Program pays the same $1,000/kW, up to $5,000, whether you're in Sudbury or downtown Toronto. What does change up here is the math around net metering: Greater Sudbury Hydro runs 1:1 net metering with credits banked for 12 months, which matters more in a place with a shorter solar season than in southern Ontario.
Is solar worth it in Greater Sudbury?
Greater Sudbury's five-year average (2020-2024) is 3.65 peak sun hours a day — the lowest of any of the Ontario cities in this comparison, reflecting its northern location. Solar still works here, but expect payback timelines to run toward the longer end of the typical 10-15 year range without a rebate.
One of the few cities north of the Alectra/Hydro One patchwork
Greater Sudbury Hydro still operates as its own municipally-owned utility, distinct from both the merged southern-Ontario giants like Alectra and the rural Hydro One footprint that covers much of the rest of northern Ontario. That's just a fact of who bills you — the provincial rebate amount is identical regardless. What it does mean practically is that net metering credit rates and how unused credits roll over are decided locally by Greater Sudbury Hydro, not by a distant head office, so a call to them gets you a direct answer.
What the north's lower sun numbers actually mean
At 3.65 peak sun hours and 13.14 MJ/m² of daily radiation (2020-2024 average), Greater Sudbury trails the southern Ontario cities in this batch by roughly half an hour of peak sun a day. That's a real but modest gap — it stretches payback somewhat rather than ruling solar out, and a slightly larger system or steeper roof pitch can help close some of the difference.
Sudbury's net-zero push, and who to actually call
The city's Community Energy and Emissions Plan sets a 2050 net-zero target and leans on rooftop solar as part of the pathway, and residents have been able to comment on it through the city's Over To You engagement portal, which is worth a look if you want the actual reasoning behind the targets rather than a summary. For net metering forms and account setup, Greater Sudbury Hydro's site is the direct source.
Next steps
View all Greater Sudbury rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.