FIT and microFIT Programs

Feed-In Tariff Program

What is a feed-in-tariff?

Ontario’s feed-in tariff (FIT) program is North America’s first comprehensive pricing structure for renewable electricity production.  It offers stable prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources, including:

  • Biomass
  • Biogas
  • Landfill gas
  • On-shore and off-shore wind
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV)
  • Waterpower

By encouraging the development of renewable energy in Ontario, the FIT program will help Ontario phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2014 – the largest climate change initiative in North America.

The FIT Program was enabled by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 which was passed into law on May 14, 2009. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) is responsible for implementing the program.   It is responsible for the program rules, contracts, registration, application and contracting processes and ongoing contract management activities.

The program is divided into two streams - FIT and MicroFIT. The FIT Program is designed for renewable energy projects that can generate more than 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. Very small projects, at a home or small business that can generate 10 kW or less qualify under the MicroFIT Program.

What is the role of Enersource Hydro Mississauga?

Enersource Hydro Mississauga (EHM) and other Ontario local distribution companies are accountable for delivering electricity from the high-voltage transmission system to more than four million Ontario homes, businesses and public institutions.  In the FIT program, EHM is responsible for connecting both FIT and MicroFit projects to the distribution system.  EHM will assess and approve the connection of renewable energy projects to the low-voltage distribution system.  We will also help projects complete their system connection.

How to apply?

Participants must register with the OPA, find the right equipment supplier to install the project and then connect their project through EHM if based in Mississauga.  To get more information on how to connect your project to EHM's distribution system, click at one of the links below.

 

FIT (greater than 10 kW)

The FIT program is designed for renewable projects that can generate more than 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity.  Listed below are steps that need to be carried out to ensure timely connection of renewable generation projects to EHM’s distribution system.

Process for connecting Embedded Generation facilities

Initial Contact

Customer submits Form A - Initial Feasibility Assessment application and single line diagram (SLD) to fit@enersource.com. 

Provision of Information

The customer must ensure compliance with the OPA rules and with Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) guidelines.   EHM reviews the single line diagram to ensure compliance with EHM safe utility practices and provides connection details to the customer. 

Generator Develops Plan

Customer reviews information obtained from OPA, ESA and EHM and develops an installation plan.

Initial Consultation

Preliminary meeting with customer to discuss project feasibility, connection details and broad time and cost estimates.

FIT Contract

Customer must apply with the OPA for a FIT contract.

Application for Connection Impact Assessment

Upon FIT contract award from the OPA, customer will ensure that it applies with EHM for CIA using Form B – Connection Impact Assessment Application.   

Complete CIA application consists of the following:

  • Completed & signed Form B
  • Payment in full by cheque or money order payable to "Enersource Hydro Mississauga" for $4,850.
  • Separate payment in full by cheque or money order payable to "Enersource Hydro Mississauga" for Hydro One's impact assessment.  View Hydro One's CIA Fee Schedule 
  • Single line diagram (signed and sealed by P.Eng.) 

Offer to Connect

CIA will typically be completed within 60 days (with no system modification or expansion) and 90 days (with modification and expansion).   Customer will be notified of both CIA results.  Upon successful completion of both CIA's, customer will be allocated capacity.

Decision to Proceed and Install

If modification to EHM's distribution system is required, the customer signs an Offer to Connect Cost Recovery Agreement (CCRA)

Implementation

Customer proceeds with generation facility design and the detailed engineering drawings and plans will be submitted by the customer to ESA for plan approval.
Customer also submits information to EHM for design review (SLD, metering details, protection etc.).

Authorization to Connect

Customer is responsible for arranging and receiving Authorization to Connect from ESA.

Connection Agreement

Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a EHM Connection Agreement will need to be signed by the customer and EHM prior to energization.

Commissioning & Verification

EHM may inspect the generation facility at any time.

Completion

Once the ESA's Authorization of Connection is received, EHM will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to EHM’s system.

 

Initial Consultation

EHM will typically meet with the customer within 15 days of receiving a completed Form A – Initial Feasibility Assessment Application.  Please email the completed form to fit@enersource.com using “Initial Consultation – Project Address (project size)” in subject line.

During the initial consultation, EHM will discuss with the customer the project feasibility, connection details and broad project estimates in order to complete an OPA FIT application. 

Connection Impact Assessment (CIA) 

Under the Distribution System Code, all local distribution companies (LDC) are required to complete impact assessment of generation facilities prior to connecting to the distribution grid.  The customer must apply for the FIT contract, before applying for a EHM CIA.

The EHM CIA will define the impact of the proposed embedded generation facility to the EHM system, which includes and is not limited to:

  • Any voltage impacts, impacts on current loading settings and impacts on fault currents;
  • The connection feasibility
  • The need for any line or equipment upgrades
  • The need for system protection modifications
  • Any metering requirements

The customer will apply to EHM for CIA's using Form B – Connection Impact Assessment Application.  Please email the completed form to fit@enersource.com using “CIA Application – Project Address (project size)” in subject line.

All technical submissions (Form B, single line diagram etc) must be sealed and signed by a licensed Ontario Professional Engineer.

The CIA will be completed within 60 days of receiving the completed  CIA Package.

Complete CIA package consists of the following:

  • Completed and signed Form B.
  • Payment in full by cheque or money order payable to "Enersource Hydro Mississauga" for $4,850.
  • Separate payment in full by cheque or money order payable to "Enersource Hydro Mississauga" for Hydro One's imact assessment.  View Hydro One's CIA schedule.
  • Single line diagram (signed and sealed by P.Eng.)

Important:

Hydro One, the transmission company that owns the transformation stations to which EHM subtransmission system is connected, requires that any generation projects greater than 10kW must also have a separate CIA completed with Hydro One as well.  Click here to navigate to Hydro One’s website for CIA details.

 

Connection to EHM’s distribution grid

The customer must ensure that detailed engineering drawings and plans are submitted to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) for plan approval.  In addition, the customer will submit detailed information to EHM for design review (single line diagram, metering details, protection etc).

The customer must ensure that the generation facility is inspected by the ESA. 

Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a EHM Connection Agreement will be signed by the customer and EHM.

Upon successful inspection of the generation facility, EHM will receive a connection authorization notice from the ESA.  EHM will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to EHM’s system typically within five (5) business days. 

Inquiries

For an overview of the OPA’s FIT program, please click here.

For additional inquiries please e-mail us at: fit@enersource.com.

You can also call us at: 905-803-6467 for general inquiries about the FIT program.

 

MicroFIT (10 kW or less)

The MicroFIT program is designed for renewable projects that can generate 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity or less.

If you are a homeowner or small business owner, you have the opportunity to develop a very small or "micro" renewable electricity generation project (10 kilowatts or less in size) on your property.  Under the MicroFIT program, you will be paid a guaranteed, premium price for all the electricity your project produces for at least 20 years.

Once you've selected a renewable energy technology and developed a project plan, signing up for the MicroFIT program is straightforward.  You apply online, there's minimal paperwork - and there's no application fee.

Listed below are the steps that need to be carried out to ensure timely connection of renewable micro-generation projects to EHM's distribution system.

 

Process for connecting Embedded Generation facilities

Initial Contact

Customer submits Form A - Initial Feasibility Assessment application and single line diagram. 

Provision of Information

The customer must ensure compliance with the OPA rules and with Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) guidelines.   EHM reviews the single line diagram to ensure compliance with EHM safe utility practices and provides connection details to the customer. 

Generator Develops Plan

Customer reviews information obtained from EHM and ESA and develops an installation plan.

MicroFIT Contract

Customer must apply with the OPA for a MicroFIT contract.

Offer to Connect

Once EHM reviews and approves a single line diagram, the customer will be given an offer to connect.

Implementation

Customer proceeds with project implementation.

Authorization to Connect

Customer is responsible for arranging and receiving Authorization to Connect from ESA.

Connection Agreement

Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a microFIT Connection Agreement will be signed by the customer and EHM.

Commissioning and Verification

EHM may inspect generation facility at any time.

Completion

Once the ESA's Authorization of Connection is received, EHM will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to EHM's distribution system.

 

Initial Contact

The customer completes and submits Form A - Initial Feasability Assessment Application.  Please email the completed form to microfit@enersource.com using "Initial Assessment - Project Address (project size)" in subject line.

During the initial consultation, EHM will discuss with the customer the project feasibility, connection details and broad project estimates in order to complete an OPA MicroFIT application.

 

Connection to EHM's Distribution Grid

The customer must ensure that detailed engineering drawings and plans are submitted to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) for plan approval.  In addition, the customer will submit detailed information to EHM for design review (single line diagram, metering details, protection etc.)

The customer must ensure that the generation facility is inspected by the ESA.

Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a microFIT Connection Agreement will be signed by the customer and emailed to microfit@enersource.com.

Upon successful inspection of the generation facility, EHM will receive a connection authorization notice from the ESA.  EHM will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to EHM's distribution system within five (5) business days.

 

Inquiries

For an overview of the OPA's MicroFIT program, please click here.

For additional inquiries please e-mail us at: microfit@enersource.com.

You can also call us at: 905-803-6467 for general inquiries about the MicroFIT program.