Plug in.Point up.Power on

Across Ontario, apartment and condo balconies catch sunshine that could help power the homes behind them. A small solar kit would give more households a way to make some electricity of their own. How much it could help with the hydro bill would depend on the kit, the balcony and when the electricity is used.

A plug-in solar kit uses small panels to make electricity for your home. A device called a microinverter converts that power for use in your home's wiring. Kits can mount on a balcony, a wall or a railing and connect through a regular wall outlet. Germany has more than a million of them. We're working to make certified kits an option here.

Toronto's city hall has asked Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority to make room for plug-in solar. Work on an equipment safety standard is also underway. The next steps need to connect those pieces, so certified kits have a clear approval process and households know what they can install.

We're asking the province and the Electrical Safety Authority to adopt the safety standard and create a clear route for certified plug-in solar. That would give more households the option to make some electricity at home. Add your name to support that request.