About the Platform
Who is MyHEAT?
MyHEAT is an Albertan company known for empowering urban energy efficiency™ by helping to address one of the biggest hurdles faced when engaging homeowners about energy efficiency – its invisibility. We’ve helped millions of home and business owners visualize and compare heat loss across entire cities.
Now, we’ve expanded our offerings to promote the adoption of renewable energy generation through our rooftop solar potential platform! We are working with cities in Canada to help residents with their first step on their journey to go solar.
How do I contact MyHEAT about bringing this technology to my community?
If you are interested in bringing MyHEAT to your community, send us an email at solutions@myheat.ca to request a demo.
Why is this platform being offered in London?
The City of London has partnered with MyHEAT to offer this map and help you understand your home or residential property's solar potential. It can be used as a starting point on your climate action journey and help you with what steps and improvements you might make to use solar power.
How much solar power has been installed in London already?
As of December 2024, there was almost 23 megawatts of solar power generation capacity installed in London — enough to power over 3,500 homes in London!
Solar Potential Calculations
How is MyHEAT providing this information?
MyHEAT is using the Solar API available through the Google Maps Platform to offer this platform for communities.
Google Maps Platform: Solar API
When will this data be updated?
The Solar API provides solar data for hundreds of millions of buildings across the world. New data are added all the time, but the Google Maps Platform team doesn't have a specific refresh rate for specific regions. Some regions use imagery that is several years old. The Google Maps Platform team is constantly working to improve coverage for their API services.
What size of panels are you considering in this calculation?
Panels are generally 1.65 m by 0.992 m but this can vary by location.
A solar installer provided a different estimate than this tool. Why?
Solar energy production estimates depend on many factors and sources of information may have different estimates as a result of shading, typical weather in your area and equipment used. Additionally, the Google Maps Platform Solar API mapping data may be from a different period in time than other estimates and may not show recent growth or removal of trees.
How should I use the estimated information for my home?
These estimates are provided solely for informational purposes. It is recommended that residents contact a qualified solar installer to complete a site analysis that provides a detailed and personalized assessment of the solar potential specific to the building’s needs.
In using the solar potential map, you expressly agree that you use it solely at your own risk and that the MyHEAT and its partners are not liable to you for any damages whatsoever including any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or other damages resulting from your use of the solar potential map.
My London Hydro bill has both electricity and water costs. Where can I find out how much I spend just on electricity every month?
On your London Hydro bill, look for the section that says "Your Electricity Costs". It includes costs for electricity supplied, delivery, and HST. Use the "Electric Charges" (#10) for the MyHEAT Solar calculator. For more information about your bill, please visit London Hydro's website.
Why does Ontario's Home Renovations Savings only offer incentives for load displacement solar power?
Ontario's Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) considers the existing net metering initiative, where you can contribute excess power to the grid and then get credit for your contributions that can be banked to offset annual electricity use, as a good incentive since the credit received is higher than the retail price for electricity.
With Ontario's Home Renovations Savings, the incentives offered for load displacement solar power are paired with the program's incentives for battery energy storage systems that can be used to power your home during peak demand periods when electricity prices are higher as well as back-up emergency power during power outages. For more information, please visit the Ontario Home Renovation Savings program website.
How does net metering work?
Ontario's net metering initiative enables you to send surplus electricity from your solar panels to London Hydro's distribution system for a credit towards your electricity bill. Excess generation credits can be carried forward up to 12 months, to offset future electricity bills. For more information on net metering, please visit London Hydro's website.
The estimated payback times for solar PV and batteries are longer than net-metering — how come?
As mentioned earlier, Ontario's Home Renovations Savings, the incentives offered for load displacement solar power are paired with the program's incentives for battery energy storage systems to provide your home with back-up emergency power if needed. This takes the place of a back-up generator, which in Ontario typically ranges from $6,500 to $15,000.
Data Coverage and Availability
I’ve searched for a building, but no solar potential data is available. Why?
The Google Maps Platform Solar API data is missing for some buildings. The rooftop that you've searched may be:
- Located outside of the current coverage area.
- Be missing as a result of a gap in the available data. Examples of this may include garages or buildings that were under construction at the time that the data was collected.
The Google Maps Platform Solar API data is always being reviewed to address existing issues. While solar potential data may not currently be available for the rooftop that you are interested in exploring, it may still have great solar potential. We recommend that you access the local resources and rebates included on this site to learn more about options available to you.
To learn more about the details of the MyHEAT solar potential map, please contact us at hello@myheat.ca
Where is the data for my garage?
Google Maps Platform Solar API data is missing for some buildings. While solar potential data may not currently be available for the rooftop that you are interested in exploring, it may still have great solar potential. MyHEAT recommends that you contact a qualified solar installer to complete a detailed site assessment.
Adding solar panels to a detached garage roof may be an excellent option. If you add solar panels to your garage, you will not have to modify your home's roof. Solar panels could be installed in addition to a system on your house or be installed when adding solar panels to your home's roof is not optimal.
The Google Maps Platform Solar API data is always being reviewed to address existing issues.
Why is the platform only applicable to single-family homes and not other, larger buildings?
The Google Maps Platform Solar API calculates solar potential for the roof of every building. However, the system size and financial estimates found on the platform are tailored to residential buildings and do not consider units within the buildings. The economics for commercial and industrial buildings are often different from residential buildings due to different regulations, electricity prices, and solar installation costs.
Solar and Your Home
What's the first step to installing solar panels on my home?
It is important to remember that the estimates on this platform are provided for informational purposes only. If you are considering adding solar panels to your home, MyHEAT recommends that you contact a qualified solar installer to complete a detailed site assessment and visit the links included on this website to learn more about local resources and incentive programs.
How does my utility provider measure the energy that my solar panels are producing?
When you install solar panels, your utility provider will also install a bi-directional meter at your home. This allows them to track the energy flowing into and out of your house through a process called net metering.
With net metering, you only pay for the electricity that you use beyond what your solar panels can generate. It also allows your utility to provide a credit for any excess electricity produced that you do not use within your home. Any credit you receive will be based on an agreement with your utility provider.
It is important to remember that your utility provider can’t see what is happening on your side of the meter. In most cases, your financial benefits will be the result of the money you save by reducing the amount of electricity that you need your utility to provide.
What else should I consider in deciding if solar is right for my home?
This platform helps you understand the benefits of installing solar panels on your roof based on its solar potential and average costs in your region. There are other things to consider before you decide to go solar:
- Does your roof need replacing? Solar panels can last 25 to 40 years, so if your roof may need replacing, it is important to do it before having them installed. However, if your roof is in good condition prior to the installation, a solar array will shield and help protect the roof.
- Is your roof material suitable for solar panels? Many roof materials are suitable for solar, but some may be more suitable than others. For example, wood shake shingles or clay, slate and terra cotta tile roofs are generally not suitable so installers may recommend removing the tiles or shingles directly under the array which can lead to increased costs.
- Do you own a multi-family home? You may still be able to install solar panels on your home. However, the platform does not always know which portion of the roof belongs to which address or homeowner.
If you would like to learn more about whether or not your home is right for solar, we recommend contacting a qualified service provider to get a detailed site assessment for your property.
Who do I contact if I have further questions about this platform?
To learn more about the details of the MyHEAT solar potential maps, please contact us at hello@myheat.ca
I have heard that some people in London have not been able to connect solar power to the grid — is this true?
Yes, that is true. Additional capacity has been added recently so more households in London are now able to connect to the grid. Depending on your location though, your application may still get rejected if in an area with grid capacity restrictions. However, a solar + battery system equipped with an automatic transfer switch to disconnect from the grid and connect to the solar + battery system could be accommodated in this situation.
Capacity constraints are evaluated through the Generation Connection approval process and capacity is allocated on a first-come first-served basis. To confirm whether or not you can connect generation at your location and/or whether your solar + battery system would need an automatic transfer switch, please contact London Hydro Generation at generation@londonhydro.com or by phone at 519-661-5800 ext. 5723
Where in London are these grid constraints?
These grid constraints are all dependent upon which transformer station your home is connected to rather than where you live. Your house may be connected to a transformer station that has a lot of capacity, while your neighbour across the street may be connected to part of the distribution system that has no capacity. The only way to find out for sure is to contact London Hydro's Generation Team by email at generation@londonhydro.com or by phone at 519-661-5800 ext. 5723
Does the installer need a building permit from the City of London to install solar panels?
Yes — there is a flat fee of $213.18 to obtain a building permit from the City of London. For more information on building permits, please visit The City of London's website.
Will rooftop solar panels increase my property taxes?
No — according to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, rooftop solar power systems up to 10 kilowatts will not increase the assessed value of your home for property tax calculation purposes.
What questions should I ask to potential solar panel installers?
- Do you have experience installing small renewable energy projects in Ontario? Can you provide a list of past customers who would be willing to provide references?
- Are your installers qualified to install the project? Do they meet all necessary safety regulations, licensing and certification requirements?
- Are you registered with the Better Business Bureau?
- Do you provide any warranties on your labour and products?
- Do you have general liability insurance to cover property damage or injury?
- Will you assess my property to ensure that the system is installed at an optimal location? For example, will you ensure that my solar PV system is not in a shaded area?
- Will you order all the required equipment for the project? What is the full cost of the total installation?
- What are the ongoing operating and maintenance activities and costs I can expect?
- Will you help me understand the benefits and drawbacks of the Home Renovation Savings incentives versus the Net Metering program incentive?
- Will you arrange for all necessary approvals and permits? This includes:
- building permits; and,
- authorization to connect from the Electrical Safety Authority.
- Will you help me prepare my program application for the Home Renovation Savings program or the Net Metering program?
- preparing the connection configuration diagrams;
- arranging for payment of the connection costs; and,
- helping prepare the connection agreement.
- Will you explain to me in full my rights and responsibilities to London Hydro before my signing of their connection agreement?
- What happens if I need to re-roof my property?
What questions should I ask to my insurance company?
- Should I report the solar panels installed on my property to my insurance company? What about battery energy storage systems?
- Will solar panels and battery energy storage systems help to reduce my insurance fees since my home will now have back-up power?
- Will my insurance go up if I allow solar panels to be installed on my roof?
- How much will my insurance go up if I install solar panels on my roof?
- What would happen if I did not report the solar panels on my roof? Would that affect any future claims?