If you own a business in Ontario, you’ve probably seen it already — the Ontario Hydro rate for businesses just jumped again. It took effect on November 1, 2025, and the difference is hard to miss.
Time-of-Use rates prices are now over 20¢, Ultra-Low Overnight rates have climbed close to 39¢, and Tiered rates hover around 14¢ per kWh.
Even small places — cafes, farms, and local offices — are feeling it. The rebate helps a little, but not enough to make up for how steep things have gotten. Every month, it’s more money going to the utility instead of staying in your business.
How This Impacts Ontario Businesses
For most companies, electricity isn’t something you can cut back on easily. You can dim the lights or delay a new piece of equipment, but you still need power to keep things running.
With the updated Ontario hydro rate, energy costs are now one of the biggest monthly expenses for local businesses. If you’re operating machinery, refrigeration units, or even just a bright retail space, this increase hits right where it hurts — your bottom line.
Many small businesses could see a few hundred dollars added to their monthly bill. Larger facilities might be facing several thousand. Over a year, that’s a big bite out of profits.
The hard truth? Once rates rise, they rarely come back down.
Solar: A Smarter Way to Handle Hydro Costs
That’s why more Ontario business owners are now taking a closer look at solar energy. It’s not just a “green” move anymore — it’s a financial strategy.
A solar system lets you produce your own power during the day, so you buy less from the grid. That means you’re not paying as much of the new Ontario hydro rate for businesses, especially during peak hours when rates spike.
And when you add a commercial energy storage(BESS), things get even better. Batteries store extra power your panels create in the daytime, letting you use it later — say at night or when grid prices jump. It’s basically your own mini power reserve.
This setup helps keep your bills predictable. Instead of worrying about the next hike, you’re generating steady power from a source that doesn’t send you a bigger power bill every month.
Ontario Rebate and Financing Options
Solar isn’t out of reach anymore. Across Ontario, more small and mid-sized businesses are realizing they can actually afford it — and the timing couldn’t be better with new programs rolling out.
The Ontario Save on Energy rebate can reach up to $860,000, depending on how big your system is and how much electricity you use. On top of that, Polaron has its own offer — a $0 net-cost battery energy storage system worth up to $48,000. It helps store daytime energy so you can use it later, when hydro costs climb. With the Save On Energy rebate expected to close soon, businesses are encouraged to take action while funds are still available.
And for those worried about big upfront payments, Polaron’s Sunline Financing makes it easier to start. It’s an in-house plan that runs 14 years at only 3.99%, giving businesses the room to spread out payments without feeling the pinch.
Once everything’s running, the benefits show up faster than most expect. Within 4-6 years, many businesses see the system paying for itself — and after that, it’s steady savings every month for the next few decades.
More Than Just Savings
Of course, the main reason to go solar is to cut costs, but there’s another angle that’s becoming just as important. Customers and partners are starting to notice which companies are serious about sustainability. Having solar on your property shows commitment — and that can make your brand stand out.
It can also raise your building’s market value and make it more appealing to buyers or tenants down the road. Plus, you’re protecting your business from future grid issues or blackouts. In a province where winters can get rough, that extra reliability goes a long way.
Why Acting Now Makes Sense
Here’s something a lot of people overlook — these rebate programs won’t stay around forever. The Ontario hydro rate is already going up, and as more people switch to solar, the incentives usually shrink. Acting sooner helps you lock in the best offers and the biggest savings.
Every month that passes under the new rate is money that could’ve gone toward your own power system. Waiting means paying more for electricity that keeps getting pricier, while missing out on an investment that could pay itself off.
It’s simple math, really — the sooner you start producing your own energy, the faster you get ahead.
Time to Take a Closer Look
If you haven’t looked into solar yet, now’s a good time to check. A quick assessment of your business’s power use and roof space can tell you how much solar could save you — no pushy sales calls, just real numbers.
The Ontario hydro rate for businesses might be going up again in the future, but that doesn’t mean your energy costs have to follow. Solar and battery systems are helping Ontario companies gain stability, lower expenses, and take back some control from rising utility rates.
Learn more about how solar energy and Battery energy storage help Ontario’s businesses.
