What is Net Metering?
Net Metering is a program that allows eligible customers to send surplus electricity generated from renewable resources to the utility distribution system and to receive credit towards the energy the customer consumes from the distribution system.
For more information, review Ontario Regulation 541/05.
- Renewable energy systems generate electricity from renewable sources. For example, solar panels convert energy from the sun into electricity.
- Your home or business uses electricity from the renewable energy system and your utility’s electricity grid when needed.
- When the renewable energy system produces more electricity than you can use, the excess electricity flows into your utility’s grid.
- Canadian Niagara Power measures the electricity you use from, and send to, their grid.
- you are billed for the electricity you consume from their grid, and gives you a credit on your electricity bill in return for the renewable electricity you sent to the grid. If you have credits left over, they can be carried over to future bills for up to 12 months.
ImageFor applications and associated agreements please reach out to customer service via one of the following methods:
- email: customer.service@cnpower.com
- phone: (905) 871-0330 or (905) 835-0051
Some months you might generate more than you consume. This might occur in the summer months when sunshine is in abundance. In these circumstances, you will accumulate generation credits that can be used towards future consumption charges.
Under Ontario Regulation 541/05, Canadian Niagara Power cannot pay you for excess generation. Excess generation accumulates as generation credits to be used against future consumption charges only.
Some months you might consume more than you generate. During the winter months, most systems generate less electricity and you will likely draw more electricity from the grid than you produce. In these months, you will be able to use the generation credits that you have previously accumulated.
For more information, consult Ontario Regulation 541/05.
Generation credits do not carry forward indefinitely. If your generation is in a credit balance, it will be brought to zero at the end of the twelfth month. This policy is in compliance with provincial legislation. For additional details, review Ontario Regulation 541/05.
As of January 1, 2024, Net Metering customers can choose to switch between Time-of-Use (TOU), Tiered or Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) prices.
Regulated price plan pricing is set by the Ontario Energy Board on November 1. Please visit the Ontario Energy Board for more information.
Canada Revenue Agency considers the consumption of electricity and the generation of electricity to be two separate and distinct transactions, regardless of the fact that we "net" the two together. Therefore, we are required to charge you HST on all aspects of your consumption charges, the same as we do on all electric consumer bills. We will pay you HST on the generation charges if you are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency to collect HST. You must provide us with your HST number before we can include HST on your generation charges.
For more information, consult Ontario Regulation 541/05.
Your monthly bill will show electricity consumption charges in detail with the addition of two line items at the bottom denoting the following:
- Banked Net Generation $ amount indicating credits applied within the respective billing period
- Banked Net Generation Total: $ amount indicating credits accumulated in total
For more information, consult Ontario Regulation 541/05.
Please complete the election form to switch to either tiered, time of use or ultra low overnight.
After You Submit an Election Form
In most cases, if you choose to change today, the new pricing will apply to the next month's full billing period.