Read This Before You Sign That Solar Contract in Canada

You’ve seen the ads and heard the buzz. Slashing your hydro bill by installing solar panels sounds fantastic. And it is. But between that exciting sales pitch and a smoothly running system, there can be a minefield of unexpected costs. My name is Vitaliy Lano, and for 12 years, I’ve been on the ground in the home improvement world, focusing on sustainability through my work at SolarEnergies.ca. I’ve seen homeowners thrilled with their solar investment, but I’ve also seen folks blindsided by a surprise $4,000 bill they never saw coming.

The truth is, a great solar experience comes down to asking the right questions before you sign anything. This isn’t about finding the cheapest deal; it’s about finding the most transparent one. Let’s break down exactly where hidden costs hide and how you can protect your investment.

The “All-Inclusive” Quote Isn’t Always What It Seems

The first number you see is the total system cost, often presented as a price per watt. This figure is your starting point, but it’s rarely the end of the story.

Deconstructing the Price Per Watt

In Canada, you can expect to see quotes ranging from $2.50 to $3.50 per watt for a residential solar installation. For a typical 7-kilowatt (kW) system, the complete solar system price for a home is roughly $17,500 to $24,500 before any government incentives.

A proper quote should clearly state that this price includes the core components:

• The best solar panels for residential use
• Inverters (the box that converts solar energy to usable power)
• Racking and mounting hardware
• All associated installation labour
• Project management and design

If these items aren’t explicitly listed, that’s your first red flag. You need to know that the foundational hardware and work are covered.

Surprise! Fees for Permits and Grid Connection

Here’s where the first “gotcha” often appears. Installing a solar system requires official paperwork. Your installer should handle this, but they shouldn’t bury the cost. This is one of the key areas where solar panel scams in Canada can trip people up.

• Permits: You’ll need building and electrical permits. These aren’t free. Depending on your municipality, these fees can run anywhere from $100 to over $500.
• Interconnection Fees: Your utility company needs to approve connecting your system to the grid. Some charge an application or engineering review fee to do this.

I recently spoke with a homeowner in Ontario who was shocked by a $400 charge added to his final invoice. The installer just said it was “for the utility” and shrugged it off. This fee should have been identified and included in the original quote. It’s not a surprise to the installer, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to you.

Tip for Quotes: Ask your potential installer for a line-item breakdown that specifically lists all anticipated permit and utility fees. Ask them to put in writing that they will cover any overages if their estimate is wrong.

That 25-Year Warranty Might Have Holes

“Don’t worry, it has a 25-year warranty!” is one of the most common things salespeople say. What they don’t always explain is that there are usually two different warranties, and they cover very different things.

Product vs. Performance: Know the Difference

Think of it like buying a car. There’s a warranty for the engine (the product) and a separate fuel efficiency rating (the performance). Solar panels are similar.

1. Product (or Equipment) Warranty: This covers physical defects in the panel itself—things like faulty wiring, corrosion, or a cracked frame. This warranty typically lasts for 10 to 25 years. If a panel fails completely, this is the warranty that gets it replaced.
2. Performance Warranty: Solar panels slowly lose efficiency over time. This warranty guarantees that the solar panels’ performance after 25 years will still be a certain percentage of their original output, usually around 80-87%.

The problem isn’t the warranties themselves—it’s assuming the “25-year” number covers everything. It doesn’t.

Who Pays for Labour and Shipping?

This is the single biggest hidden cost in a warranty claim. Let’s say a panel fails in year 8. The manufacturer agrees to send you a new one under the product warranty. Great. But who pays for:

• The crew to come to your house and diagnose the problem?
• The labour to climb on your roof and remove the faulty panel?
• Shipping the old panel back to the manufacturer?
• The labour to install the new panel?

In many cases, the manufacturer’s warranty does not cover this. You could be on the hook for hundreds of dollars in labour costs for a “free” replacement panel. A reputable installer bridges this gap with their own workmanship warranty. This warranty should cover their labour for at least 5 to 10 years, ensuring that if a part fails due to a manufacturer defect, they’ll handle the replacement without billing you.

Tip for Warranties: Ask the installer: “If a panel fails in year seven, does your company cover the labour and travel costs to replace it, or do I have to pay?” Get the answer in writing in your contract.

Beyond the Panels: The “Extra” Hardware and Work

A solar installation isn’t just about bolting panels to your roof. The system has to integrate safely with your home’s existing infrastructure, and sometimes that infrastructure needs an update.

Is Your Roof Ready for Solar?

Solar panels are heavy, and they’ll be up there for over 25 years. If your roof is nearing the end of its life, you absolutely must replace it before the panels go on. Imagine having to pay thousands of dollars in labour to have a crew remove your entire solar array in 10 years just so you can re-shingle your roof, then pay them again to put it all back. A good installer will assess your roof’s condition and be honest about its viability.

The Main Panel Upgrade Shock

This is a big one. Many older Canadian homes have a 100-amp main electrical panel. Depending on the size of your solar system, this may not be sufficient to handle the power being fed back into it. You might be required to upgrade to a 200-amp service. This is a job for an electrician and can easily cost $2,000 to $4,000, because a 100-amp panel may not be able to safely handle both your home’s regular electrical load and the incoming solar power.

A thorough solar company will inspect your main electrical panel during the site assessment and tell you upfront if an upgrade is needed. A lazy one will ignore it, and you’ll only find out when the electrical inspector refuses to approve the system, leaving you with a massive, unexpected bill.

Critter Guards and Snow Guards: Small Costs, Big Savings

These are two small add-ons that can save you major headaches.

• Critter Guard: This is a wire mesh installed around the base of the solar panels. It stops squirrels and pigeons from nesting underneath, where they can chew on wires and cause serious damage. It’s a small upfront cost that prevents a very expensive future repair.
• Snow Guards: If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, these guards prevent the entire sheet of snow from sliding off your slippery panels at once—a huge safety hazard for anyone or anything below.

Ask if these are included or available as options.

Reading the Fine Print: Contracts and Financing Traps

Your contract is your ultimate protection. Don’t just scan it; read every single line, especially if you are leasing or financing. Now that the Canada Greener Homes Grant is gone, understanding your financing options is more important than ever.

The Escalator Clause in Leases

If you choose to lease panels instead of buying them, watch out for an “escalator clause.” This is often part of the “free solar panels” pitch. This clause creates an annual price increase, often around 2.9%, that’s built into your monthly payment. It might seem small, but over a 20-year term, it means your payments will be significantly higher at the end of the contract than at the start, eating away at your energy savings. It’s crucial to understand how to finance your panels properly.

System Removal and Buyout Clauses

Two final questions for your contract:

1. Roof Maintenance: What is the exact cost and procedure if I need the panels removed and reinstalled for roof repairs in the future?
2. Selling Your Home: How does this contract transfer to a new owner? Are there fees involved? Some buyers are wary of taking on a solar lease, which could complicate the sale of your home.

Tip for Contracts: Remember that in most Canadian provinces, you have a 10-day “cooling-off” period for door-to-door sales contracts. If you feel pressured and sign something you regret, you can cancel it within that window without penalty.

Your Final Pre-Signing Checklist

Going solar is a huge win for your wallet and the environment. But you have to go into it with your eyes open. Before you sign any solar contract, get clear, written answers to these questions:

Getting straight answers to these questions will weed out the companies that rely on hidden fees and confusing contracts. The right partner will be happy to provide this information because they want you to be a confident, satisfied customer for decades to come. Ultimately, you are in control of your solar project. By arming yourself with these questions, you’re not just buying solar panels; you’re investing in a transparent, predictable, and profitable energy future for your home. For more details, check out our guides for homeowners in provinces like Alberta and British Columbia.

Canada goes Solar, and you can too—smartly.