Written by the Solar X Engineering Team. Reviewed by the Solar X licensed electrical team, ECRA/ESA Licence 7017538. Published . Last verified .
Key facts
- Utility: Elexicon Energy, fourth largest municipally owned distributor in Ontario.
- Program: Ontario net metering under O. Reg. 541/05, one to one credit, 12 month rollover.
- Cost: 18,000 to 32,000 dollars installed for a 6 to 10 kW system before incentives.
- Rebate: the Home Renovation Savings solar rebate is up to 5,000 dollars. The battery rebate is a separate up to 5,000 dollars, only if you add a battery.
- Choice: net metering or the rebate path, not both on the same system.
Going solar is two decisions. One is the system on your roof. The other is how it connects to your local utility. In Durham Region that utility is usually Elexicon Energy, and its rules shape your system size, your timeline and your savings. Here is all of it in plain language.
Who is Elexicon Energy
Elexicon Energy was formed on April 1, 2019 by the merger of Whitby Hydro Electric Corporation and Veridian Connections. It is the fourth largest municipally owned electricity distributor in Ontario. It is owned through Elexicon Corporation by five municipalities: Whitby, Pickering, Ajax, Belleville and Clarington. Elexicon Group is a separate non regulated sibling company, not the owner. You can confirm this on the Elexicon About Us page.
For a solar project the practical points are simple. Elexicon owns the wires and the meter in its territory. It is regulated by the Ontario Energy Board. It processes every solar connection under Ontario's micro embedded generation framework. Its electricity rates follow the same Regulated Price Plan the OEB sets for all Ontario homes.
Cities Elexicon Energy serves
If your address is in one of these municipalities, Elexicon is your utility for solar interconnection. Confirm your own coverage on the Elexicon coverage page or the utility name on your bill.
- AjaxDetails
- WhitbyDetails
- PickeringDetails
- Clarington, urban service areas onlyDetails
- UxbridgeDetails
- ScugogDetails
- BrockDetails
- BellevilleDetails
- Port HopeDetails
- GravenhurstDetails
Clarington note. Elexicon serves the urban areas of Clarington such as Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle and Orono. Rural Clarington addresses fall under Hydro One. Check your bill before assuming coverage.
Ontario rate plans through Elexicon and what they mean for solar
Elexicon does not set the electricity commodity rate. The OEB sets it under the Regulated Price Plan. Every Ontario home picks one of three plans. The plan decides when your solar is worth the most.
Time of Use
Three bands: off peak 9.8 cents per kWh, mid peak 15.7 cents, on peak 20.3 cents. On peak is weekdays 11 AM to 5 PM in summer, and 7 to 11 AM plus 5 to 7 PM in winter. This is the default plan and it gives the cleanest solar only payback without a battery.
Ultra Low Overnight
Four bands: overnight 3.9 cents per kWh from 11 PM to 7 AM, weekend off peak 9.8 cents, mid peak 15.7 cents, and on peak 39.1 cents on weekdays 4 to 9 PM. The 39.1 cent block is the highest regulated residential rate in Ontario. A solar plus battery system that discharges during those five hours effectively powers the home at 39.1 cents per kWh of avoided cost. This is where a battery pays for itself fastest.
Tiered
Flat pricing by volume: 12.0 cents per kWh up to the threshold, then 14.2 cents above it. The threshold is 1,000 kWh per month in winter, November 1 to April 30, and 600 kWh in summer, May 1 to October 31. Same price at any hour, so there is no premium rate for solar to displace.
The cent values above are the OEB Regulated Price Plan rates in effect from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026. The OEB switches the time of use hour windows and the tiered threshold on May 1 and November 1, so those windows change with the season even while the cent values hold. Confirm current values on the OEB electricity rates page. Add the Ontario Electricity Rebate, 23.5 percent as of November 2025, up from 13.1 percent, as a credit before HST when you model a real bill.
Net metering with Elexicon, step by step
Net metering is Ontario's core home solar mechanism, set by O. Reg. 541/05: a one to one credit at your retail rate, a 12 month rolling carryover of unused credits, and a system sized to serve your own annual use. A 2018 amendment removed the earlier 500 kW output cap on the equipment side, so residential sizing is now driven by your annual consumption rather than a fixed nameplate limit. Ontario also raised the residential micro embedded generation cap from 10 kW to 12 kW AC effective May 1, 2026, so larger homes on the net metering path can size up to 12 kW AC. Elexicon runs the mechanics in its territory.
Two details every homeowner should know before signing. First, the credit only offsets the electricity portion of your bill. It does not offset delivery charges, regulatory charges or HST, so even a heavy net exporter still pays those line items each month. Second, unused credits carry forward on a 12 month rolling window and then expire. They are not paid out in cash, which is why Solar X sizes the system to your annual use rather than oversizing to build a balance.
- 1
Site assessment and design
Solar X reviews 12 months of usage, measures the roof, models shading, checks the panel, and sizes the system to your annual use.
- 2
Connection application
Solar X submits the micro embedded generation application to Elexicon with the single line diagram, equipment sheets, site plan and service size. Elexicon checks grid capacity.
- 3
ESA permit and installation
An ESA permit is opened under Licence 7017538 and the system is installed to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and UL 1741.
- 4
ESA inspection and Certificate of Acceptance
An ESA inspector reviews the work and issues a Certificate of Acceptance, which Elexicon requires before the meter change.
- 5
Meter change and energization
Elexicon installs a bidirectional meter and issues authorization to energize, after which credits begin.
Total time is about 6 to 8 weeks from signed contract to first export. This is the standard residential case. Grid capacity edge cases can extend it. No date is guaranteed until every approval is complete, and Solar X flags any risk at design rather than after contract.
HRSP rebate or net metering, pick one path before design
Under current Save on Energy rules, the Home Renovation Savings Program pays up to 5,000 dollars for solar, at 1,000 dollars per kW, and a separate up to 5,000 dollars for a battery paired with that solar, at 300 dollars per kWh. The battery rebate only exists if you add a battery, which costs more than the rebate returns. The rebate path cannot be combined with net metering on the same system. It requires a load displacement design, meaning you use your own power on site with zero export, and pre approval before any equipment is purchased. You choose one path before the system is designed. The program is funded through November 30, 2026 and can end at any time.
Path A, rebate
Up to 5,000 dollars for solar, plus up to 5,000 dollars if you add a battery. Load displacement, no export, no net metering agreement. Best fit for homes with high daytime use, homes adding an EV or heat pump, and homes pairing solar with a battery for Ultra Low Overnight arbitrage.
Path B, net metering
One to one retail credit on exported solar, 12 month rollover, no rebate, bidirectional meter installed by Elexicon, system sized to your annual use up to 12 kW AC. Best fit for larger systems, homes with lower daytime load, and homeowners who want the strongest long term return on a solar only system.
Solar X models both paths on your real 12 month data before quoting. See the HRSP versus net metering guide and the Ontario net metering explainer.
What solar costs on Elexicon Energy in 2026
Installed solar in Elexicon territory runs 2.42 to 3.50 dollars per watt before incentives. The column below removes the 5,000 dollar Home Renovation Savings solar rebate only. It does not include the separate 5,000 dollar battery rebate, because that requires adding a battery, which costs more than the rebate returns.
| System size | Panels | Installed price | After 5,000 solar rebate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | 13 to 15 | 14,500 to 21,000 | 9,500 to 16,000 | 7 to 12 years |
| 8 kW | 17 to 20 | 19,400 to 28,000 | 14,400 to 23,000 | 7 to 12 years |
| 10 kW | 22 to 25 | 24,200 to 35,000 | 19,200 to 30,000 | 7 to 12 years |
| 12 kW | 26 to 30 | 29,000 to 42,000 | 24,000 to 37,000 | 7 to 12 years |
The After 5,000 solar rebate column removes the Home Renovation Savings solar rebate, which is 1,000 dollars per kW capped at 5,000 dollars. Payback assumes standard time of use pricing. A paired battery on the Ultra Low Overnight plan can pull payback into the 5 to 8 year range, and the battery qualifies for its own rebate of up to 5,000 dollars at 300 dollars per kWh. Actual numbers depend on roof orientation, shading and your usage pattern. See the full Ontario cost guide.
Sample, 10 kW system in Whitby on time of use with net metering. A 10 kW system produces roughly 11,500 kWh per year. A home using about 12,000 kWh sees the system offset nearly all of its annual grid draw, with the 12 month rollover smoothing summer and winter production. Annual bill reduction is about 2,000 to 2,600 dollars depending on rate plan. Payback under stable rates is 7 to 12 years, and every future OEB rate increase pulls it shorter.
Why battery storage matters more on Elexicon than most people expect
Ultra Low Overnight is available to every Ontario home, not just Durham. What makes it interesting here is usage pattern. Durham has an above average share of homes with heat pumps and EV charging, and those loads land right in the 4 to 9 PM on peak window.
A home with an EV and a heat pump on the ULO plan pays 39.1 cents per kWh for the exact hours it needs the most power. A battery that covers those five hours converts 3.9 cent overnight power into 39.1 cent avoided cost. That is a roughly 10 to 1 spread, and it is what pulls solar plus battery payback into the 5 to 8 year range. Solar X sizes the battery from your actual hourly data, available as a Green Button download, not from an average. For options see the Ontario battery guide.
Why Solar X in Elexicon territory
Solar X operates under ECRA and ESA Licence 7017538. Every permit is pulled under that licence and every Elexicon application runs through the same team, from the first submission to the final meter change. Solar X has completed more than 10,000 installs and 118 MW of capacity, is NABCEP certified and Tesla Powerwall certified, holds a BBB A plus rating since 2018 with more than 648 verified Google reviews, and is a Home Depot Local Pro. See the Trust Report and how to choose an installer.
Get a free Elexicon area assessment
Solar X reviews your Elexicon bill, your roof and current 2026 incentives, models both savings paths, and gives a fully loaded quote with no hidden costs. If the numbers do not work for your property, we tell you.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities does Elexicon Energy serve for solar customers?
Elexicon Energy serves ten municipalities in east central Ontario: Ajax, Belleville, Brock, Clarington urban areas only with rural addresses under Hydro One, Gravenhurst, Pickering, Port Hope, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby. For these addresses Elexicon is the local distribution company and processes every net metering application and meter change. Confirm your own coverage on the Elexicon site or your bill.
How does net metering work with Elexicon Energy?
It works like every Ontario utility under O. Reg. 541/05. When your system produces more than your home uses, Elexicon credits the surplus at your retail rate. Those credits offset the electricity portion of your bill only, not delivery charges, regulatory charges or HST. Credits carry forward on a 12 month rolling window and then expire. They are not paid out in cash. Elexicon installs a bidirectional meter so both directions of flow are measured.
How long does an Elexicon solar connection take?
About 6 to 8 weeks from signed contract to energization. Application review is 2 to 3 weeks, installation is 1 to 3 days, the ESA inspection is a few days later, and the meter change plus authorization is another 1 to 2 weeks. No date is guaranteed until all approvals are complete.
Can I stack the HRSP rebate with net metering on Elexicon?
No. Under current Save on Energy rules they are mutually exclusive on the same system. The rebate path requires a load displacement design with zero grid export, and pre approval before any equipment is purchased. Net metering forgoes the rebate but earns one to one export credits. The solar rebate is up to 5,000 dollars, and the battery rebate is a separate up to 5,000 dollars that requires adding a battery. Solar X models both paths before design.
Does the ULO rate plan help or hurt solar savings on Elexicon?
It hurts during peak hours and helps at every other hour. On ULO the weekday 4 to 9 PM block is 39.1 cents per kWh, so solar or battery discharge in that window offsets the most expensive power on the tariff. Solar without a battery earns more on standard time of use. Solar with a battery earns much more on ULO through overnight arbitrage.
What does solar cost in Elexicon Energy territory in 2026?
About 18,000 to 32,000 dollars before incentives for a 6 to 10 kW system, or 2.42 to 3.50 dollars per watt. The Home Renovation Savings solar rebate removes up to 5,000 dollars, bringing net cost to about 13,000 to 27,000. A paired battery adds a second rebate of up to 5,000 dollars, but it also adds more cost than that to the job, so it does not lower the price of a solar only system. Payback is about 7 to 12 years on time of use, or 5 to 8 with a battery on ULO.
Do I need an ESA permit for solar in Ajax, Whitby or Pickering?
Yes. Every grid connected solar install in Ontario requires an ESA permit and a passed inspection with a Certificate of Acceptance. Elexicon will not authorize the meter or interconnection without it. Solar X pulls every permit under Licence 7017538, so the homeowner never files with ESA directly.
Does Solar X handle the full Elexicon application process?
Yes. Solar X submits the micro embedded generation application, provides the single line diagram and site plan, coordinates the ESA inspection, schedules the meter change and delivers the authorization to energize. The homeowner signs the connection agreement and pays any applicable Elexicon interconnection fee, which Solar X confirms in writing in the quote.
Sources and references
- Save on Energy, Home Renovation Savings: saveonenergy.ca/homerenovationsavings
- Home Renovation Savings, solar rebate details: homerenovationsavings.ca/without-assessment/solar
- Ontario Energy Board, electricity rates: oeb.ca/consumer-information-and-protection/electricity-rates
- Ontario Energy Board, net metering: oeb.ca/consumer-information-and-protection/net-metering
- Elexicon Energy, About Us: elexiconenergy.com/about-us
- Elexicon Energy, generating your own power: elexiconenergy.com/for-home/save-energy-money/generating-your-own-power
- Electrical Safety Authority: esasafe.com
About Solar X Canada
Solar X Canada is an ESA and ECRA licensed electrical contractor, Licence 7017538, headquartered in Toronto. Solar X has completed more than 10,000 solar and battery projects totalling 118 MW across Ontario and beyond, and handles design, permits, utility interconnection, ESA inspection and monitoring on every install. Contact 1 833 376 5279 or visit solar-x.ca.
Disclaimer. Solar X Canada is an independent installer and is not affiliated with Elexicon Energy. Program rules, utility charges, connection timelines and rebate eligibility are set by third parties and can change. Rebate amounts are the Home Renovation Savings values published as of the last verified date and the program can end at any time. Rates are the OEB Regulated Price Plan values in effect for the period stated. Nothing here is a guarantee of approval, timeline or savings. Confirm figures in your written Solar X quote.