10 kw vs 18 kw

[Paul Howard]

How much harder and more expensive is it to install 18 kw vs 10 kw, my roof is big enough to support 18 kw.
I am wondering about the Hydro one costs and permits

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Paul,

From your mention of Hydro-One I gather you're in Ontario?
Currently anything over 10kW (this goes by inverter size, not solar PV) requires "plan review" and "Connection Impact Assessment" (CIA). The plan review part is not too bad, mostly a bit of money but not too much. CIA is very expensive though! It requires stamped engineered drawings (ca$hing!) and a hefty fee levied by Hydro-One, with no guarantee they will approve it.

There is talk about increasing that 10kW limit before the nasty stuff kicks in. However, to the best of my knowledge that has not happened yet.

-RoB-