What Home Renovation Savings pays for solar and batteries in Peterborough
We re-read the program's solar page and its October 2025 requirements on October 3, 2026. The rebate comes with conditions that change how the system is designed, so read them before you ask for quotes.
Solar panels
Paid on installed DC capacity, capped at 50% of eligible costs. Rooftop systems only, including a garage roof on the same meter.
Battery storage
Only with a new solar system, also capped at 50% of eligible costs. Combined solar and battery rebates reach $10,000.
No net metering
A system under an Ontario net metering agreement is not eligible. The system must be sized for load displacement only.
Approvals before you buy
The contractor files the pre-installation application with a quote dated within 60 days. You cannot buy or install before IESO pre-approval and your local utility's approval.
Finish within 12 months
The project must be complete within 12 months of approval, with the ESA certificate and the connection agreement filed within 30 days of installation.
First-time installs only
Homes that already have solar or storage are not eligible. Leases, rentals and lease-to-own arrangements are excluded.
The requirements document gives no end date for this stream, and funding conditions can change, so confirm on the program page before you sign. The IESO has no pre-qualified contractor list for it.
Hydro One
Hydro One is the distribution company, since it took over Peterborough Distribution in 2020. Ask it about the connection process and maximum capacity, and get its approval in writing before you buy.
Older houses
64% of households live in homes built before 1981 and 6.1% report needing major repairs. Check the roof first.
Sizing
The system must be sized for load displacement. A Peterborough household should ask for its annual use in kWh, and ask the installer to show how the proposed output compares.
Why net metering matters here
Many Ontario solar quotes assume net metering, where extra power sent to the grid earns bill credits. This program does not allow it: a system under a net metering agreement is not eligible, and the system must be sized for load displacement, meaning it should match what the home uses. A Peterborough owner who wants the rebate should tell every installer up front, because a system designed to export will not qualify.
What counts as a cost
The rebate is capped at 50% of eligible costs, which cover equipment, permits, approvals and labour. HST, financing costs, insurance, maintenance and spare parts are not eligible costs. A quote should therefore show the pre-HST price and separate any financing, so the program can check that $1,000 per kW does not exceed half.
Timing of the project
The order matters. The contractor submits the pre-installation application with a quote dated within 60 days, you receive written pre-approval and your utility's approval, and only then do you buy and install. The system must be finished within 12 months of approval, and the contractor files the post-installation application within 30 days of installation.
Owners only
You must own the home and be the person paying for the system. A tenant cannot apply for the owner. In Peterborough, 41% of households rent, and only eligible house types qualify: single detached, semi-detached, row, townhome or mobile home on a permanent foundation.
How to claim in Peterborough
- Confirm you own an eligible house type with a roof or garage that suits panels.
- Talk to Hydro One about the connection process and the maximum system size allowed before you sign anything.
- Choose a licensed electrical contractor and ask for a quote that shows the DC capacity in kW and the eligible costs without HST.
- Let the contractor file the pre-installation application, and wait for written IESO pre-approval and utility approval before buying or installing.
- After the install, check that the post-installation application is filed within 30 days with the ESA certificate and connection agreement.
Common questions
Who is the utility?
Hydro One, which took over Peterborough Distribution in 2020.
Is the roof important?
Yes.
Can I over-size?
Not and keep the rebate.
What is the cap?
$5,000 each.
What to do next
See Peterborough insulation rebates, heat pump rebates and the Ontario rebate calculator.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 11, 2026: Home Renovation Savings: solar and battery, Solar and Storage stream requirements (PDF), Save on Energy: Home Renovation Savings, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01, Hydro One: acquisition of Peterborough Distribution, August 1, 2020. All Peterborough rebates → Every Home Renovation Savings rebate →
