Why You Should Verify ESA Certification Before Hiring a Solar Installer in Ontario

Published: April 9, 2026 · By the Solar Calculator Canada editorial team

Key Takeaway: Under Ontario law, every grid-connected solar installation must be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) with a valid ECRA/ESA licence. Before signing any contract, verify your installer's licence status for free using the ESA Contractor Locator Tool. As of April 8, 2026, several Ontario solar companies, including CMI Solar (Unlicenced), Polaron (not found in ESA database), Solify (Expired), and Xolar Inc. (Closed), did not show valid licences. Without a valid licence, your installer cannot file ESA notifications, coordinate inspections, or provide a Certificate of Acceptance.

Solar energy is one of the smartest investments an Ontario homeowner can make in 2026. Between the Home Renovation Savings Program (up to $10,000 in rebates), the federal 30% Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit, and hydro rates that jumped roughly 30% in late 2025, the math works better than ever.

But there's a gap in Ontario's booming solar market that doesn't get enough attention, and it's putting homeowners at risk.

Not every company advertising solar installation services in Ontario holds a valid licence to do the electrical work. Some never had one. Others had one but let it lapse. A few have licences that are now expired or closed entirely. And under Ontario law, every grid-connected solar installation is electrical work that must be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) holding a valid ECRA/ESA licence from the Electrical Safety Authority.

This article isn't about naming bad companies. It's about giving you the tools to protect yourself, and sharing what we found when we actually checked.

For our recent guide to ESA-certified residential solar installers in Ontario, we ran dozens of Ontario solar companies through the official ESA Contractor Locator Tool, the same tool ESA recommends homeowners use before hiring any electrical contractor.

The results were eye-opening.

Several companies that actively market themselves as "ESA certified," "ESA compliant," or "ESA-licensed" on their websites did not show up with valid, active licences in the ESA database. To help Ontario homeowners make informed decisions, we're sharing specific cases where the ESA Contractor Locator Tool returned a non-valid result as of April 8, 2026:

To be clear, this does not necessarily mean these companies are doing anything wrong today. An expired licence may be in the process of renewal. A closed licence may reflect a business that has wound down operations. A company listed as unlicenced or not found in the ESA database may operate under a different legal entity name or may subcontract their electrical work to a separate Licensed Electrical Contractor who does hold a valid licence.

CMI Solar's website states they are "in compliance with the ESA" for Ontario installations, however, compliance with safety codes is not the same as holding an ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence, and when we searched for CMI Solar in the ESA Contractor Locator Tool, the result returned was "Licence: Unlicenced." Polaron markets itself as Canada's largest residential solar installation company and actively sells solar installations in Ontario, however, we were unable to locate any ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence under the name "Polaron" or "Polaron Solartech" in the ESA database. This does not mean Polaron is operating unlawfully, they may subcontract their licensed electrical work to a third-party LEC, but homeowners should ask Polaron directly to identify the Licensed Electrical Contractor responsible for the electrical portion of their installation and verify that entity's licence independently.

But here's what it does mean for you as a homeowner: if a company's own ECRA/ESA licence is expired, closed, shows as unlicenced, or doesn't appear in the ESA database at all, they cannot directly file an ESA notification of work, coordinate your ESA inspection, or provide you with a Certificate of Acceptance under their own credentials. You need to know who is actually performing the licensed electrical work on your home, and verify that entity's licence independently.

We encourage homeowners to verify licence status themselves before signing any contract, as statuses can change at any time. The ESA Contractor Locator Tool is free and takes 60 seconds.

When you search for a contractor on the ESA Contractor Locator Tool, the result will show one of several licence statuses. Here's what each one means for you as a homeowner:

Valid, The company holds an active, current ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence. They are legally authorized to perform electrical work in Ontario, including solar panel installation. This is the only status you should accept.

Expired, The company previously held a valid licence, but it has not been renewed. An expired licence means the company cannot legally perform electrical work in Ontario. Any solar installation they perform while their licence is expired is unlicensed work, which means no ESA notification of work, no ESA inspection, no Certificate of Acceptance, and potential consequences for your home insurance and utility interconnection.

Closed, The licence has been permanently terminated. This is more definitive than an expiry, it indicates the company is no longer operating as a licensed electrical contractor. A company with a closed licence cannot legally install solar in Ontario.

Suspended, The licence has been temporarily suspended by ESA, typically due to compliance issues. The company cannot perform electrical work while suspended.

Unlicenced, The company appears in the ESA database but does not hold a valid ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence. This means the entity is known to ESA but is not authorized to perform electrical work in Ontario.

No contractors found, The company does not appear in the ESA database at all. This means either they never held an ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence, or they're registered under a completely different legal entity name that you'd have no way of knowing without asking them directly.

Ontario's solar industry has a low barrier to entry for marketing and sales. A company can build a professional website, run Google Ads for "solar installation Ontario," collect deposits, and begin work, all without holding an ESA licence. There's no provincial requirement to prove licensing before advertising solar services. The licensing requirement applies to the actual electrical work, not the marketing of it.

This creates a situation where homeowners assume the company they found online is properly licensed simply because they appear professional, have reviews, and offer competitive pricing. The reality is that the only way to know is to check the ESA database yourself.

Here's what's at stake when your installer doesn't hold a valid ESA licence:

Your system can't be legally commissioned. Every grid-connected solar system in Ontario requires an ESA inspection before your local utility (Toronto Hydro, Hydro One, Alectra, etc.) will approve interconnection. Without a valid LEC filing the ESA notification of work, no inspection can occur, and your system cannot legally connect to the grid. Your panels sit on the roof generating nothing.

Your home insurance may be affected. Insurance providers expect electrical work to be performed by licensed contractors and inspected by ESA. If an incident occurs, fire, electrical fault, property damage, and the work was done by an unlicensed contractor without an ESA Certificate of Acceptance, your claim could be complicated or denied.

Your HRSP rebate application will fail. The Home Renovation Savings Program requires ESA inspection approval as part of the post-installation documentation. If your installer can't file the ESA notification because they don't hold a valid licence, the inspection can't happen, and your rebate application stalls.

You lose recourse if something goes wrong. ESA maintains oversight of licensed contractors. If your LEC does substandard work, you can file a complaint with ESA and they will investigate. With an unlicensed contractor, ESA has no jurisdiction over them, your only options are civil court or a Consumer Protection complaint with the province.

The work itself may be unsafe. ESA's own data indicates that unlicensed electrical work is up to four times more likely to be faulty compared to work performed by licensed contractors. Solar installations involve high-voltage DC wiring, inverter connections, panel service upgrades, and grid interconnection, all of which carry genuine safety risks when done improperly.

Ontario homeowners should also be aware of a broader industry trend. Between 2024 and 2025, over 100 solar companies across North America filed for bankruptcy, shut down, or ceased operations, including major names like SunPower, Titan Solar Power, Sunnova, and Solar Mosaic. While many of these were U.S.-based, the same market dynamics, rising interest rates, financing challenges, and aggressive competition, affect Canadian installers too.

When a solar company closes, homeowners are often left with systems that have no workmanship warranty coverage, no ongoing monitoring or maintenance support, and in some cases, incomplete installations that can't pass inspection. Your equipment warranties (panels, inverters, batteries) are manufacturer-backed and typically survive the installer, but the labour warranty and ongoing service relationship disappear entirely.

This is another reason ESA certification matters. When your system is installed by a valid LEC and passes ESA inspection, you receive a Certificate of Acceptance, a permanent government record that the electrical work meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. If your installer closes their doors five years from now, that certificate remains. Any other ESA-licensed contractor can service your system because it was installed to code and documented in ESA's records.

Without that certificate, a future service contractor is essentially walking into a system with no verified history, and may require a full inspection or remediation before they're willing to work on it. This is exactly the scenario where ESA-certified installers offering system audits and remediations become essential, bringing non-compliant or undocumented installations up to current Ontario Electrical Safety Code standards.

Before you sign any contract or pay any deposit for a solar installation in Ontario, take 60 seconds to verify the company's ESA licence:

Step 1: Visit the ESA Contractor Locator Tool

Step 2: Toggle the search to "Contractor" mode (not Location)

Step 3: Enter the company's name in the "Contractor Name" field

Step 4: Click Search

Step 5: Review the result. You're looking for the company name, a 7-digit licence number starting with 7, and the word "Valid" next to it.

If the result shows "Expired," "Closed," "Suspended," "Unlicenced," or "No contractors found", do not proceed until you've clarified the situation directly with ESA. Call 1-877-ESA-SAFE (372-7233), option 3, for Contractor Licensing verification.

Important note: Some companies operate under a legal entity name that differs from their trade name. For example, a company called "ABC Solar" might be registered with ESA under "1234567 Ontario Inc." If your search returns no results, ask the company directly for their ECRA/ESA licence number and search by that number instead. A legitimate LEC will have no hesitation providing this, it's required by Ontario law to appear on their vehicles, estimates, business cards, and website.

You don't always need to check the database to spot warning signs. These are common indicators that a solar company may not hold a valid ESA licence:

They can't produce their ECRA/ESA licence number immediately. Licensed contractors are required to display this 7-digit number on all correspondence, vehicles, and estimates. If they hesitate, deflect, or say they'll "get back to you," treat it as a red flag.

They ask you to file the ESA notification of work (permit) in your name. This is a significant red flag. Only the Licensed Electrical Contractor performing the work should file the ESA notification. If they ask you to do it, they may not hold a valid licence.

They describe themselves as "ESA compliant" rather than "ESA licensed." Compliance is not the same as holding a licence. "Compliant" may mean they follow safety codes in their work, but it doesn't mean they're legally authorized to perform that work in Ontario.

They subcontract the electrical work but can't name the LEC. Some solar companies operate as project managers and subcontract the actual electrical installation to a third-party LEC. This is legal, but you should know who the LEC is, verify their licence independently, and confirm they (not your project manager) will file the ESA notification and provide your Certificate of Acceptance.

Their pricing is dramatically lower than other quotes. Licensed contractors carry $2M+ insurance, WSIB coverage, and employ Master Electricians, all of which cost money. A quote that seems too good to be true may indicate that the company is cutting these costs by operating without a licence.

They pressure you to sign quickly, especially around rebate deadlines. Legitimate installers will encourage you to take the time to verify their credentials. Companies that push urgency may not want you looking too closely.

If you've already paid a deposit or begun work with a company whose ESA licence you haven't verified:

Check their licence status immediately using the steps above. If it comes back valid, you're fine, just keep the licence number for your records.

If the licence is expired, closed, unlicenced, or not found, contact the company and ask them directly for their ECRA/ESA number. There may be a reasonable explanation (operating under a different legal name, recent licence renewal in progress). Ask for proof of the active licence and verify it before any further work continues.

If they can't produce a valid licence, stop all work and document everything: contracts, deposit receipts, photos of any work completed, and all communications. File a complaint with ESA through their anonymous reporting tool or call 1-877-ESA-SAFE. You should also contact the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery for consumer protection concerns.

If work has already been completed without an ESA inspection, contact an ESA-licensed solar installer and request a system audit. They can assess whether the installation meets Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirements and, if necessary, bring it up to compliance so you can obtain the ESA Certificate of Acceptance you need for insurance, utility interconnection, and rebate eligibility. Our guide to ESA-certified residential installers in Ontario lists installers who specifically offer remediation services for non-compliant existing systems.

Ontario's solar market is full of qualified, honest installers doing excellent work. The majority of companies operate with valid ESA licences and genuine commitment to code-compliant installations. But the minority that don't, whether through expired licences, closed credentials, unlicenced status, or absence from the ESA database entirely, create real risks for homeowners who don't know to check.

The ESA Contractor Locator Tool exists specifically to help you verify before you sign. It takes 60 seconds. It costs nothing. And it's the single most effective thing you can do to protect your home, your investment, and your family's safety.

Go solar in Ontario, it's a great decision. Just make sure the company on your roof has the credentials to be there.