Dealing with Toronto Hydro

Local Electrical Hoop Jumping 101

So I filed our application in the IESO portal and then waited.  Fortunately I monitored the portal, as I  received a message 10 days later that the name on the parcel registration didn't exactly coincide.  I fixed the minor glitch, and the application was resubmitted and approved within the hour.

Next I received the message "Pending LDC Offer to Connect".  This meant I had to make application to the local electrical authority (in my case Toronto Hydro).  

Toronto Hydro and most electrical utilities have their own set of rules to jump through.  Toronto Hydro's are outlined here.  The first step is relatively easy - I sent them an email to determine whether they had capacity to tie me into the grid.

After that Toronto Hydro makes you jump hoops.  You need to complete the Toronto Hydro Microfit application.  With a little thought you can figure out most of what they are actually asking on the application.  When they ask number of solar panels, just make it up..  It was one of the dumber things for them to ask since configurations change (including mine), but they really just want that total capacity number which should be 10KW (ie. 40 panels x 250W each).  

Toronto Hydro annoyed me not just with that question, but they suddenly forced me to get an HST number far earlier than I would have liked to.  Why?  Because they want a $500 deposit plus HST, and I wanted that HST back.  Toronto Hydro is absolutely wrong to require HST on a deposit, and I would highly recommend that they take a look at the Excise Tax Act.  I have, but time was running out and I wasn't going to waste it arguing with Toronto Hydro bureaucrats.

So off I went to apply for an HST number (you'll want it anyway, to recover HST paid for the rest of the solar system).  You don't technically require an HST number if revenues are under $30,000 a year but it makes no sense not to get one, when you are going to be spending a lot on HST.  

Toronto Hydro also wanted an electrical diagram.  I created one (although I left out the disconnect switch) but it was basically a diagram showing solar panels, hooked to an inverter, which was hooked to a disconnect switch, meter and to the grid.  

With that, we received an offer to connect - YAY!!