By the Solar X Team. Published November 13, 2026. Updated November 13, 2026. Program status can change without notice, so check the official pages linked below before you decide.
Quick answer: As of November 2026, the Durham Greener Homes Loan is fully subscribed and closed to new applicants. The main Durham Greener Homes Loan alternatives for solar are the Home Renovation Savings rebate, net metering, a home equity line of credit, a bank loan, or cash. Each one changes how your system should be designed.
Can You Still Apply for the Durham Loan?
Not right now. According to the official Durham Greener Homes Loan page, as of November 2026 the program is fully subscribed and no longer available to new applicants. The page invites residents to sign up for updates when loan applications reopen. It gives no reopening date.
If you already have an application in progress, the notice does not say what happens to it. Ask your Greener Homes Coach for your file status in writing.
We cover the loan itself in our guide to how the Durham Greener Homes Loan works. This article is about what to do without it.
Solar X is a Canadian solar installation company. We install solar and battery systems across Durham Region: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby. We are the installer, not a lender, and we do not approve any loan or rebate.
What Are Your Options for Paying for Solar in Durham Region?
For Durham Region homeowners, there is currently no direct replacement for a low-interest municipal loan. What remains is one provincial rebate, one billing arrangement, and ordinary ways of paying.
| Option | What it is | Status as of November 2026 | Who it suits | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Renovation Savings, solar | Rebate of $1,000 per kW, up to $5,000 | Open, terms can change | Homes that use most of their solar power themselves | No net metering, capped at 50% of total costs |
| Home Renovation Savings, battery | Rebate of $300 per kWh, up to $5,000 | Open, terms can change | Homes adding storage with new solar | Must be paired with a new solar system |
| Net metering | Bill credits for surplus solar power sent to the grid | Offered through your local utility | Homes that would send a lot of power to the grid | Cannot be combined with the rebate |
| Home equity line of credit | Revolving credit secured by your home | Through your lender, on approved credit | Owners with equity | Your home secures the debt |
| Bank or credit union loan | Personal, renovation, or green loan | Through your lender, on approved credit | Owners without much equity | Terms differ by lender |
| Cash | Paying from savings | Always available | Owners with savings set aside | Large amount paid up front |
| Durham Greener Homes Loan | Municipal loan repaid on the property tax bill | Closed to new applicants | Not available now | No reopening date published |
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | Federal loan program | Closed | Not available | Funding fully committed, new applications cannot be approved |
Sources: Durham Greener Homes, Home Renovation Savings, Government of Canada, and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, checked November 13, 2026.
The federal program is a separate loan from the Durham one. The Government of Canada confirms the Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed: its funding is fully committed and new applications cannot be approved. We explain what replaced it in our guide to Canada Greener Homes Loan alternatives.
How Much Does the Ontario Rebate Take Off the Cost?
Home Renovation Savings is delivered by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy. According to the program's solar and battery page, as of November 2026:
- Rooftop solar panels earn $1,000 per kW, up to $5,000.
- Battery storage earns $300 per kWh, up to $5,000.
- Each rebate is limited to 50% of total costs.
- A battery qualifies when it is paired with a new solar system.
- Nothing should be bought or installed before written pre-approval from the program and your local utility.
That makes the combined maximum $10,000 for solar plus a battery. As a registered Save on Energy contractor, we manage the application for you. The program decides approval. It is never guaranteed, and we do not control how long it takes.
A rebate is not financing. It lowers what you need to pay or borrow. It does not spread the cost over time.
Rebate or Net Metering: Why Can't You Have Both?
The program rules say so. Homeowners who receive the solar or battery incentive are not eligible for a net metering agreement with their local utility.
- Net metering is an agreement with your utility that credits surplus solar power you send to the grid against your bill.
- Load displacement means the power your panels make is used to meet your own home's needs.
The rebate path fits homes that use their solar power as it is made, or store it in a battery. Net metering fits homes that would export a lot of power during the day. The choice comes before design, because it changes the size of the system.
Book a free solar consultation for your Durham Region home
We show you the numbers on each payment path. No obligation.
Book a Free Consultation →Is a HELOC or Bank Loan a Good Fit for Solar?
A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is revolving credit secured by your home. According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, you may borrow up to 65% of your home's value this way, then repay and borrow again.
A bank or credit union loan is simpler. You borrow a set amount and repay it on a schedule. Some lenders market renovation or green loans. Terms differ by lender, so ask for the total cost of borrowing in writing.
Three things to weigh against a municipal loan:
- The debt belongs to you, not the property. It does not pass to a buyer if you sell.
- A line of credit rate can change over time.
- Approval depends on your lender and your credit. It is never automatic.
When Does Paying Cash Make Sense?
Cash has no borrowing cost, so more of your bill savings stay with you. It suits owners who have savings set aside and plan to stay in the home. If you use the rebate, it is paid after your contractor submits the required documents and your application is approved, so you carry the full amount until then.
What Does Solar Cost in Ontario Right Now?
Ontario installed prices typically run about $2.42 to $3.50 per watt in 2026 (market estimate). Our Ontario solar panel cost guide is the source for that range and shows how it changes with system size.
Your price depends on system size, roof layout, equipment, and whether you add a battery. Savings and payback depend on your usage, your rate plan, and the path you choose. Every home is different. You can run rough numbers in our solar savings calculator before talking to anyone.
What If You Live in Pickering?
The Durham program page states that its loan is not available for properties in the City of Pickering. So Pickering homeowners were already choosing among the options above. If that is you, our Pickering solar installation page covers local details.
What Happens After You Book a Consultation?
Here is the order of work. No dates are promised at any stage, because approvals belong to other parties.
We review your electricity use and your roof.
We design the system and give you a written quote.
You sign a contract when the numbers make sense to you.
Rebate approval and utility connection approval are requested where they apply.
The building permit is requested.
Our crews install the system.
The Electrical Safety Authority inspects the work.
Your local utility completes its steps and the rebate paperwork is submitted.
Our workmanship is covered by a 5-year workmanship warranty. Panel and battery warranties are separate and belong to the manufacturer.
The low-interest loan is closed for now, but the right mix of Durham Greener Homes Loan alternatives can still make a project work. We will show you the numbers on each path and tell you plainly if solar does not fit your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Durham 2% solar loan still taking applications?
No. As of November 2026, the official Durham Greener Homes page says the loan program is fully subscribed and no longer available to new applicants. The page invites residents to sign up for updates when loan applications reopen. It does not give a reopening date, so plan around the options that are open today.
Can I take the Ontario solar rebate and still sell power back to the grid?
No. Under the Home Renovation Savings rules, as of November 2026, anyone who receives the solar or battery incentive is not eligible for a net metering agreement with their local utility. The rebate is for systems designed for load displacement, which means the power is used in your own home. You choose one path before design.
Is a HELOC a smart way to pay for solar panels?
It can be, if you have equity and are comfortable with a rate that can change. A home equity line of credit is secured by your home, and approval depends on your lender and your credit. Compare the total cost of borrowing against your expected bill savings, which vary by home, before you sign anything.
Does a loan on my property tax bill make my house harder to sell?
A local improvement charge is attached to the property, so the remaining balance generally stays with the home and passes to the next owner when it sells. Some buyers are fine with that and some are not. A bank loan or line of credit stays with you instead. Talk to your real estate lawyer before choosing either route.
I live in Pickering. What can I use instead?
The Durham program page states its loan is not available for properties in the City of Pickering. Pickering homeowners can still look at the Home Renovation Savings rebate or net metering, and can pay with a home equity line of credit, a bank loan on approved credit, or cash. Rebate approval is never guaranteed.
Should I wait for the loan to reopen or go ahead now?
That depends on how much the low-interest rate matters to your budget. No reopening date has been published, and rebate terms can also change. If the numbers work with the options open today, waiting has a cost too, because you keep paying full electricity bills. If they do not work, waiting is reasonable.
Book a Free Solar Consultation for Your Durham Region Home
We review your usage and roof, show you the numbers on each payment path, and tell you plainly if solar does not fit your home.
Sources
- 1Durham Greener Homes, Durham Greener Homes Loandurhamgreenerhomes.ca
- 2Home Renovation Savings (Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy), solar panels and battery storagehomerenovationsavings.ca
- 3
- 4
This article is for general information only and reflects program details checked on November 13, 2026. Program terms, rebates, and eligibility are set by the program administrators and can change. Solar X is a solar installer, not a lender or program administrator, and does not approve or guarantee financing or rebates. Prices are market estimates, not quotes. Last updated: November 13, 2026.
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