Microfit in Ontario Canada questions.

[canadachris]

First post here folks. I did some research on this microfit program a few years ago. At that time we applied and was told there was no room on the grid in our area. My friends south of the border probably have similar programs whereas the government agrees to pay a fixed rate per kWh over 20 years. The home owner has the system installed at their expense.

We have recently moved into an area where there is room on the grid so we just started looking back into the program. From what I am understanding most homeowners hire a company that takes care of everything from A to Z. Application to permits to install and hook up. They are not doing this out of the goodness of their heart.

20 years ago I was an electrical apprentice before moving onto another career. I have kept up with local code and have done extensive electrical to my own properties all with the blessing of the "ESA" here in Ontario. I have also built additions, garages, cottages etc. I am inclined that way. So to make a short story long, what Is stopping me from doing all the paperwork, installation myself? If you have done this I would love to hear your story, feed back etc. I am looking at a 6kw-10kw roof mount system. Cheers.

[inetdog]

As far as I know there are no POCO or state programs in the US that work the way you describe. The best you can hope for is net metering with a payment for your surplus over a 12 month period or one time incentives for installation of a renewable energy system.
Private companies may go the opposite route and install a system "free" if you sign a fixed price contract to buy the power it produces for you.

[canadachris]

No, in Ontario Canada where I live they pay me $0.30 per kwh and I pay them the going rate for what I use. Around $0.12 per kwh

[inetdog]

No, in Ontario Canada where I live they pay me $0.30 per kwh and I pay them the going rate for what I use. Around $0.12 per kwh

And you are in North America, but not in the US. You are very fortunate to have the Provincial government giving away other people's tax money so generously, It does not happen down here, so I cannot recount any US experiences with programs like that.

[canadachris]

Yes. Our government throws away money like crazy. People that signed these 20 year deals back in 2009 are being paid 90 cents a kwh. Probably one of the reasons we have the highest hydro rates in North America. I dont want to get side tracked though. I could bitch forever.

The point of my post, was hoping to hear from other Canadians that took part in the microfit program. Even better if they installed their own hardware. The companies that do this will charge the home owner $30000 for a 6kw system when the cost of components is half that. Id like to do my own and finally take advantage of this program

[peakbagger]

Ontario just put a freeze on all new renewable generation contracts. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/28/ontar...le-energy.html The generous subsidies they were paying have come home to roost and the ratepayers are revolting. I expect that if they are doing if for large scale project, small scale projects will follow soon.

Vermont has a fairly generous FIT program. The solar owner gets a premium rate for all production (including any power they use that isn't exported to the grid) and then buys all their usage back at standard rates. Its such a good deal that there are long waiting lists to get on the program. The legislation behind these program generally are ghost written by a third party that then sets up a entity to harvest the rewards.

I work on the border of the larger scale renewable industry and is quite apparent that the developers just follow the subsidies. They move in quick to get the unsustainable subsidy in a particular area and then sell their shares to a financial institution before the subsidies get yanked.