On October 5, the Independent Electricity System Operator began accepting applications for feed-in tariff projects with a proposed capacity of more than 10 kilowatts and generally up to 500 kW.
The IESO will award a minimum of 241.438 MW, which includes the 150 MW initial 2015 FIT procurement target, the 50 MW rollover from the 2014 FIT procurement target, and a 41.438 MW rollover from the remaining unallocated 2014 microFIT procurement target. In addition, any unallocated capacity from the 2015 microFIT procurement target will be added to the FIT 4 procurement target.
Feed-in-Tariff Program pricing
| Renewable Fuel | Project Size Tranche | Current Pricing (¢/kWh) (Sept. 30. 2014/Jan. 1, 2015) | Jan, 1, 2016 Pricing (¢/kWh) | Percentage Change | Percentage Escalated* |
| Solar (PV) Roofttop | < 10 kW | 38.4 | 29.4 | -23.4% | 0 |
| > kW < 100 kW | 34.3 | 24.2 | -29.4% | 0 | |
| > 100 kW < 500 kW | 31.6 | 22.5 | -28.8 | 0 | |
| Solar (PV) (Non-Rooftop) | < 10 kW | 28.9 | 21.4 | -26.0% | 0 |
| > 10 kW < 500 kW | 27.5 | 20.9 | -24.0% | 0 | |
| On-Shore Wind | < 500 kW | 12.8 | 12.8 | 0.0% | 20% |
| Waterpower | < 500 kW | 24.6 | 24.6 | 0.0% | 20% |
| Renewable Biomass | < 500 kW | 17.5 | 17.5 | 0.0% | 50% |
| On-Farm Biogas | < 100 kW | 26.3 | 26.3 | 0.0% | 50% |
| > 100 kW < 250 kW | 20.4 | 20.4 | 0.0% | 50% | |
| Biogas | < 500 kW | 16.8 | 16.8 | 0.0% | 50% |
| Landfill Gas | < 500 kW | 17.1 | 17.1 | 0.0% | 50% |
*The Percentage Escalated is the percentage of the Contract Price (indicated in this chart and to be reflected, as applicable, on the FIT Contract Cover Page) that escalates on the basis of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Percentage Escalated will be applied to eligible Renewable Fuels as calculated in the FIT Contract. Per the Exhibit B in the FIT Contract, the CPI (CPICOD) used in those calculations will be that which is applicable to the month of January in the calendar year in which the Project achieves Commercial Operation, unless the Project achieves Commercial Operation in October, November, or December, in which case the CPI will be that which is applicable to the month of January in the following calendar year.
On September 17, the IESO also posted the price schedule for contracts awarded under the province’s Feed-in Tariff or microFIT program after January 1.
As calculated by Thomas Timmins and Adam Cepler at Gowlings LLP, the energy prices for rooftop and non-rooftop solar projects in all project tranche sizes have decreased by between 23.4% and 29.5% (fifth column above). Prices for all other renewable energy fuels stayed the same. The IESO explains that the reduced prices for solar are in response to reductions in international solar PV costs and the fact that there has been continued high interest in solar PV in the FIT Program at previous price levels, greatly exceeding procurement target levels.
FIT price adders
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| Aboriginal Participation Project | Community Participation Project | Municipal or Public Sector Entity Participation Project | |||
| Participation Level (Economic Interest) | > 50% | ≥ 15% ≤ 50% | > 50% | ≥ 15% ≤ 50% | > 50% | ≥ 15% ≤ 50% |
| Price Adder (¢/kWh) | 1.5 | 0.75 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
Note: FIT Price Adders are available in respect of all FIT Project sizes and all Renewable Fuels except Solar (PV) (Rooftop).