Today the price of electricity has become one of the largest input costs farmers have. Farm operations are becoming more energy intensive and electricity has doubled in the last decade. For example, peak electricity prices jumped Nov 1 , 2019 from $0.134/kWh to $0.208 kWh in Ontario at peak, a jump of 36%.

Solar is helping farmers significantly reduce the cost of electrical bills. Today we have over 200 farmers who have microFIT, FIT and Net Meter systems and are harvesting sunshine and reaping solar rewards.

Most farmers buying solar today are installing Net Meter systems that allows them to produce their own power and store excess energy on the grid as a credit. The payback is quick and soon while everyone else is watching electrical bills climb our farmers are watching the sun save them more money everyday while it generates free electricity.

2017 was the last year to get paid to generate solar through the IESO microFIT/FIT program. However, if you have a large power bill, the Climate Action Incentive Fund and the 100% tax depreciation of your system can give you significant advantages. Your savings from your electrical bill pay for the system.

Most farmers buying solar today are installing Net Meter systems that allows them to produce their own power and store excess energy on the grid as a credit.

We can help you significantly lower your energy bill and protect yourself from future rate increases. Scroll down to learn more.

Farm families are installing solar to protect their operations from rising electrical costs. When measured in context Solar Energy is now the lowest cost energy source. Solar panels have 25 year warranties and we design and build systems that when properly maintained last decades.

This graph from the Ontario Energy Board ( OEB Historical Consumer Electricity Prices) shows Tiered Rate electricity charges have doubled from Nov. 2008 to May 2016 and jumped 36% at peak on Nov 1, 2019.

Which type of solar program is right for your farm depends on your objectives are:

1. Reducing your electrical bill – Net Metering < 10 kW
2. Generating your own power – Net Metering > 10 kW

See the table below to see which is right for you:

The Climate Action Incentive Fund is available in only four provinces including Ontario. The program allows Small to Medium Enterprises to get up to 25% of the money they spend on solar projects back (up to $250,000 per entity).

iSolara has managed the process for over 28 clients ranging from 70 kW to 500 kW to help large energy users get rid of large electrical bills. The CAIF program is still open for applications at the time this was written. If not, talk to us about preparing for the next round of funding.

In the past we have helped our customers apply to government programs. With our experience we noted we were able to get more than 90% of our clients through the application process while clients on their own are successful 1 in 3 times. We don’t charge for assisting with the application so why risk missing out?

Can we help you with your application?

With a net-metering system you can use the electricity produced from your solar system to power your farm. Any electricity you don’t use will be exported to the power grid for a credit that can be applied against your bill. Then later you can use a credit from the summer months to lower your winter bill!

As the de facto replacement for the microFIT and FIT programs, Net Metering was originally legislated in Ontario in 2006. Net Metering regulation (Ontario Regulation 541/05) states that the electricity you return to the grid must be calculated in the same manner as the electricity you consume from the grid. The current regulation allows credits to be carried for 11 months and in July 2017 this is expected to increase to 12 months.

Net Metering is simple. We install the solar and connect the power directly into your farm electrical grid. When the sun is shining you use the solar power first before using power from the grid. If the solar is not bright enough you will use power both from solar and the grid. When there is more solar than load on the farm you export power to the grid as a credit.

During the day you export excess power for use at night, and in the summer you export excess power for use in the winter.

In the end, you could have virtually no power bill except the usual customer charges such as load meter fee. It is great having a low power bill while having the reliability and instantaneous power capability of the grid.

iSolara Solar Power is the largest Net Meter installer in Eastern Ontario and we have a very solid process to deliver that out. We take one year of your power bills, check your hydro capacity, calculate your annual use, design a system to displace it (or as much as possible) and then provide you a proposal that details what your savings are. Once installed your power bills will be under your control.

Protect yourself from rising energy costs today.