Solar Power Systems Installation for Ontario
Once the decision to switch to solar power has been made, the next is to look into the installation process of the solar system itself. For residents, homeowners, and businesses in Ontario, the MixShop does not only supply solar systems but also offer solar system installation services.
The solar system installation experts at MixShop understand that people and businesses may have choices on how they want the solar panels mounted on their buildings or homes. That is why you can request a customized installation of the panels with or without any personalized solar panel aesthetics as long as it stays within the Ontario's solar panel installation regulation guidelines.
The Provincial Government of Ontario has made changes in the rules and regulations relevant to solar panel installation for residential. If you are paying the residential rates for hydro. The following are the regulation you have to keep in mind: You are not allowed to install ground-mounted solar panels, and all solar panels in Ontario must be mounted on the roof or the walls of the building.
Consult MixShop to know about the allowable installation options that are available for your house or building. Below is the step-by-step process of how you can have a solar power system installed at your Ontario residence with MixShop.
Table of Content
- Initial Consultation
- Site Assessment
- Quotation and System Design
- Applications for permissions for permits
- Installation of the System
- ESA Inspection and Certification of your Solar Power System
- Final Building Inspection and Net-metering Contract.
- Enjoy the Cheap Electricity and Get Credit
- Installation FAQs
The Steps to Installing Solar Panels
Step 1.Initial Consultation
After making the most important decision to switch to solar power, the very next important decision you should be making is to contact MixShop. You can call +1 (877) 565-5888 to speak to an expert who will walk you through the options available for you.
During this initial consultation, make sure you have the receipts for your most recent 3 months electricity bill. This will be used to make an accurate estimation of your electricity consumption and will help the solar power system installation expert recommend the right equipment for your home. This consultation service is free.
A free consultation can also be booked through the websiteor by contacting the team at MixShop by email or phone. You will also be required to provide the location address of your home so that installers can come and assess your home.
Step 2. Site Assessment
Having done the first consultation step, MixShop will use the address you provided to come and do a site assessment. A team of experts will come to determine where and how the solar panels and all other equipment will be installed keeping in mind the Ontario Provincial Government regulations on solar power installation.
The team will measure the roof and wall dimensions, depending on which surface they have found to be suitable for the solar panels and other equipment. They will also consider whether there is any shade to limit sunlight and the amount of sunlight that will e accessible to the solar panels' site.
Step 3: Designing the system and quotation
After all the information about the site has been collected, the team at MixShop will design a suitable solar power system tailored for your house and your electricity needs. If you requested any customizations and aesthetics on your solar panels, the solar panel designer will take them into consideration during this step.
For residents living in a custom-built home, providing the diagrams and blueprints of your house will be helpful in the design stage.
A design of the system will be produced with the quotation for both the equipment and installation. You will not be charged for the quotation.
Step 4: Applications for permissions for permits
The next step is to apply for installation permits from the authorities. MixShop takes this burden away from you by completing all paperwork on applications for permits on your behalf.
Permits that are needed before installation is done are the electrical permit, the building permit, and the development permits. If you are planning to connect to the main power grid for Net-metering, MixShop will add the application for a permit to the list.
Step 5: Installation of the System
After all the permits have been granted by the authorities, MixShop will contact you to pick a day and plan for the solar power system installation. Highly qualified solar power system installers will arrive at your home on the agreed date and will install the solar panels and any other equipment.
The team is highly skilled and will complete the job as quickly as possible leaving your home without any damage.
Step 6: ESA Inspection and Certification of your Solar Power System
The next step is for the Electrical Safety Authority to send an inspector who will check if the installed solar power system meets the standards of the Ontario Electrical Code.
Inspection will be done on components like the solar power equipment, the wiring, the electrical tubings, the grounding, the system's ability to disconnect, and many other important inspections.
The inspection should not take long with the excellent work that MixShop installers always do.
After the system review has been done and passed, the ESA will issue a Certificate of Acceptance to MixShop, being the ones who filled the permit applications. MixShop will provide you with a copy of the certificate. It is an important document for insurance and resale purposes.
Step 7: Final Building Inspection and Net-metering Contract.
If you opt to connect to the main grid for Net-metering, a building inspector from the municipal will schedule a visit to inspect the solar power system installed in your home. The inspector will check the solar panel connections to the roof or on the walls in detail.
Once the inspection is done, the building inspector will sign off with the final permit
When the final permit has been given, and your solar power system installed and connected, your local electric utility company will send you a Net-metering contract to review and accept.
Step 8. Use Cheap Electricity and Get Credit
Finally, reaching this step means that you have completed the process of solar power system installation with Net-metering. You can enjoy cheap electricity and get some electricity credit by selling excess energy to the grid through Net-metering.
What Are The Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you have any questions, feel free to contact MixShop on the number provided earlier. We have also compiled some of the frequently asked questions and their answers:
Does my solar power system require extra batteries?
For most of the residents of Ontario, adding what is known as a solar-plus-storage, is not necessary. Most solar power systems are connected to the grid for Net-metering. Systems that are connected to the electric utility grid, do not require a battery or solar-plus-storage to be added.
A solar power system that includes solar batteries is a power storage device with a high energy storage capacity. When your home is connected to the main grid for Net-metering, the utility company acts as the battery at an affordable connection fee of approximately $30.00 per month.
What is the average duration it takes to install a solar power system?
Normally it should take anywhere between one to two weeks to have a standard solar power system installed. However, the time it takes to install solar panels is dependent on the number of panels to be installed. The number of customizations and aesthetics that are added will also affect the duration of the installation.
There are other factors that might also affect the duration of the whole installation such as the lengthy process of getting inspections and permits from authorities.
What is the average cost of installing a solar power system?
Nationally, the average cost to install a solar power system at your home stands at $18,500.00 for a 6-kW solar power system of a 1,500-square foot home, with a consumption of about 7,200.00 kWh per year or approximately about $125.00 in electricity bill a month.
Bearing that in mind, the price per watt for installing solar panels can change depending on the geographical location of your house. Most residential solar panels range from 3 kW to 10 kW in size. That means the average cost for a system of that size can be anywhere between $15,000 and $27,000 for a full installation exclusive of taxes, rebates, grants, interest-free loans, credits, or discounts.
On the MixShop website, there is a solar power system cost calculator that will help you determine the average cost of a solar panel system according to its size. Use it to provide a more accurate picture.
Does solar power installation require permits in Ontario?
You need a permit to install solar panels in Ontario. That is in accordance with the Ontario Building Code requirements. The permit is required for all solar power system installations that are mounted on a building and has a face area equal to or greater than 5 square meters (50 square feet).
However, with MixShop, the team will take care of all permissions and paperwork requirements for you.