How much you get
Alectra Utilities is Guelph's electricity provider, having absorbed Guelph Hydro on January 1, 2019. Net metering through Alectra lets you bank solar credit against future bills, but you have to pick either that or the upfront HRSP rebate below — not both.
Solar panel installation
$1,000/kW installed, capped at 50% of total project cost.
Solar + battery combined
Stack the solar rebate with the battery storage rebate on the same project.
Rebate or net metering — not both
Guelph homeowners choose between the HRSP solar rebate above and net metering with Alectra Utilities. Net metering banks your excess solar generation as a credit against future bills instead of paying you an upfront rebate. Which one nets out better depends on your system size and how much power you use on-site versus export — Alectra can walk you through the net metering math for your specific setup.
Solar installers in Guelph
We're still building our verified installer network for Guelph specifically. In the meantime, browse our full directory of vetted installers across Ontario — many serve the Guelph area.
Browse the installer directory →
Local context
Utilities: Alectra Utilities (electricity) and Enbridge Gas (natural gas). Alectra took over Guelph's electricity system when Guelph Hydro merged in on January 1, 2019.
Typical heating: Mostly natural gas, which affects which heat pump tier a household lands in.
Permits & timeline: 6–10 weeks quote to installation for solar, faster for a heat pump swap. City building permit and ESA electrical inspection where required.
Common questions
How much is the solar rebate in Guelph?
Up to $5,000: the Home Renovation Savings Program pays $1,000 per kW of installed capacity, capped at 50% of your total project cost. Combined with the battery storage rebate, a Guelph household can net up to $10,000 for solar plus battery together.
Can I get the solar rebate and net metering in Guelph?
No. Alectra Utilities, Guelph's electricity provider, requires you to choose one or the other — the upfront HRSP rebate or ongoing net metering credit — not both on the same system.
Guelph Hydro's name lives on, but it's Alectra territory now
Guelph Hydro merged into Alectra Utilities on January 1, 2019, so while people still say "Guelph Hydro" out of habit, Alectra is who actually bills you and who sets net metering terms for solar exports today. None of that changes the provincial rebate amount above. It matters most because, as noted in the FAQ, Alectra requires Guelph homeowners to pick either the upfront rebate or ongoing net metering credit — not both — so the choice is worth thinking through with Alectra's current terms in hand before you commit either way.
Guelph's sun resource, by the numbers
Averaged over 2020-2024, Guelph gets 3.87 peak sun hours a day and 13.95 MJ/m² of daily solar radiation — right in the middle of the pack for southern Ontario, not a standout in either direction. For a typical 6 kW rooftop system, that translates to solid, predictable output rather than either an unusually fast or unusually slow payback compared to nearby cities.
Guelph's own retrofit push, separate from the province
The city runs its Community Energy Initiative toward a net-zero-by-2050 target, and the practical arm of that for homeowners is Guelph Greener Homes, a zero-interest loan program that can cover a solar install alongside insulation or a heat pump — worth stacking against the provincial rebate rather than choosing one or the other. For net metering and interconnection paperwork now that billing runs through Alectra, Alectra's site has the current forms.
Next steps
View all Guelph rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.