Overview: Solar Panel Installers
In Canada, a solar install is roofing, electrical work and utility paperwork rolled into one. Panels like cold, bright days. Snow is another matter. It sits on a low-pitch array until it slides or melts, so the racking has to carry snow as well as wind.
Start with the roof. If the shingles are near the end, replace them first, since pulling the array off later means paying for that labour again. Insurance won't bail out a worn roof either. The Insurance Bureau of Canada reminds owners that home insurance doesn't cover a roof that has simply reached the end of its life.
In Ontario, anyone you hire for the wiring must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and the ECRA/ESA licence number should appear on the truck and the estimate. The contractor files the permit with the ESA, and you should get a copy of the Certificate of Acceptance once the work passes. Your local utility handles the connection itself. Quebec electrical contractors are licensed through the CMEQ, the province's corporation of master electricians.
Our listings show what each solar contractor states on its own website. The province and city lists lead to installers who mount panels on roofs in your area.
What rooftop solar costs in Canada
Compare the installed cash price before incentives for the same DC capacity. Batteries and electrical upgrades should appear separately.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 6 kW DC system price | C$15,000–C$22,500per 6 kW DC system | A straightforward 6 kW DC grid-connected rooftop installation, cash price before incentives.Equivalent to C$2.50–C$3.75 per DC watt for this 6 kW example. This is the same budget, not an additional charge. Battery, roof work and service upgrades are extra.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Panels, inverter, mounting, wiring and normal installation; Permit/interconnection application coordination and commissioning Budget separately or confirm: Battery storage, roof repairs and service upgrades; Financing costs and separately charged utility work |
| Single home battery, about 13.5 kWh | C$14,000–C$24,000per specified battery system | One complete 13.5 kWh-class residential battery with the required control equipment and ordinary installation, before any incentives.Confirm whether the quote is standalone or discounted with new solar. Whole-home backup, service upgrades and outage duration are not guaranteed by battery capacity alone. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Battery, compatible switching/backup equipment and installation; Ordinary permit and commissioning allowance Budget separately or confirm: Additional batteries, main-service upgrades and new solar array |
| Electrical or service upgrades | Scope-based quoteper assessed upgrade | Only upgrades required for the proposed site and connection.PV system itself; unlisted utility charges Panel capacity, service equipment and utility connection requirements need a site review. Ask which upgrades and utility fees sit outside the solar price. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified electrical work Budget separately or confirm: PV system itself; Unlisted utility charges |
| Roof repairs or re-roofing before solar | Scope-based quoteper assessed roof | Work needed to make the roof suitable before mounting the solar array.Separate from the solar installation budget; coordinate roof and solar warranties. Ask whether the roof should be repaired or replaced before installation, and who pays to remove and reinstall panels if roof work is needed later. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Only the roof work agreed after assessment Budget separately or confirm: The solar system and any battery |
What changes the price
- DC system size, inverter choice, roof access and layout
- Electrical capacity, connection scope and utility requirements
- Battery capacity, backup design and cash versus financed pricing
Ask before accepting a quote
- What is the cash price before incentives, and which approvals or connection charges are excluded?
- What annual output is modelled for my roof, shading and location?
- Does the battery quote include the equipment needed to power my chosen loads during an outage?
Compare gross installed cost first
- Request the cash installation price, financing cost and any incentive separately; do not subtract a rebate until eligibility is confirmed
- Compare expected annual production using the same roof, shading, electricity usage and rate plan; a single national payback period would be misleading
Canadian context
Solar yield and utility compensation vary by location; national sunshine or electricity-price assumptions do not establish your payback.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does my roof need work before panels go on?
Probably, if the covering is past middle age. An array can outlast a tired roof by years, and taking panels down to reroof costs real money. The framing also has to carry the array plus the snow that drifts onto it. Ask how the mounts are spaced across the rafters and who checked the load, especially on an older house or a low addition.
What happens to the solar power I don't use?
In Ontario, net metering sends it to the grid in exchange for a credit on your bill, and your local utility runs the program. Credits roll forward to later bills for a limited time, then expire. Fixed monthly charges still apply. That's why a system sized well beyond what the house uses can simply give power away. Other provinces set their own rules.
Will the roof mounts leak?
Not if every penetration is flashed properly. Each mount should land on a rafter, with a flashing tucked under the shingle course above, because sealant alone cracks after a few rounds of freeze and thaw. Ice damming pushes water uphill at the eaves, so keep mounts out of that zone where you can. Ask whether the workmanship warranty covers the roof or only the electrical.
What does adding a battery change?
It stores your daytime surplus for the evening, and with the right wiring it keeps chosen circuits running in an outage. Plain grid-tied solar shuts down when the grid does, to protect line crews, so backup comes from the battery. Placement matters in this climate. A battery in an unheated garage may sit below its working temperature for much of the winter.
Who honours the warranty if the installer closes?
The makers still stand behind panels and inverters, and another contractor can file the claim if you hold the registration and serial numbers. Workmanship coverage dies with the company that promised it. Keep the permit, the ESA Certificate of Acceptance if you're in Ontario, the utility connection papers and the design drawings together with your house documents.
