Three years ago I installed a 9.6 kW solar system on my North York semi. Posting real-world results to help others make the decision.
My System
- 24 x 400W panels (9.6 kW total)
- South-facing roof, 25 degree pitch
- SolarEdge inverter with optimizers
- No battery storage (Hydro Toronto grid connection)
- Installed October 2023
Cost
Total installed: $19,400 after all fees and permits. No significant rebates available at time of install.
3-Year Production Reality
Year 1: 10,280 kWh generated
Year 2: 10,650 kWh generated
Year 3: 10,440 kWh generated
My average annual consumption is about 11,200 kWh so the system offsets roughly 93% of my usage. Net metering credits carry forward and I get a small payment at year end for any balance.
Net Financial Impact
Annual electricity cost savings: approximately $1,450/year at current Toronto Hydro rates.
Simple payback: 19,400 / 1,450 = 13.4 years.
Remaining useful life of panels (25-year warranty): still 22+ years.
Lifetime savings at current rates: $30,000+.
What I Would Change
Battery storage. In Ontario’s net metering setup, the grid acts as your battery so it is not financially essential - but the two 2022 ice storms that knocked out power for 2-4 days each made me wish I had backup capacity.
Anyone else with real production data from Ontario? Curious how north-facing or east/west-split roof orientations perform.