Hydro Ottawa GridFlex and Tesla Powerwall in Kanata and Stittsville

Help the grid on hot summer afternoons, get paid for it, and keep the lights on when the power goes out.

• Tesla Certified installer in Ottawa
• HRSP-approved contractor
• ESA licensed
• Master Electrician on every install

What is a virtual power plant?

A virtual power plant, or VPP, links many small energy devices (home batteries, smart thermostats, EV chargers) so they work together like one power plant. When demand on the grid is high, the group is asked to use less power or send stored energy back, for a few hours. No new power station has to be built, the grid is under less strain, and the homeowners who take part are paid.

GridFlex works this way. Hydro Ottawa asks homes in the program to ease their use on peak days, and pays them for it. One home does little. Hundreds of homes doing a little add up to a real reduction in demand.

What is GridFlex?

GridFlex is a voluntary program run by Hydro Ottawa and funded by Natural Resources Canada. It is offered in select areas of Kanata and Stittsville. You choose one of two ways to take part, and you can use only one at a time:

• Automatic: connect a smart thermostat, an EV or a battery. Your device makes small, temporary adjustments during events.
• Manual: reduce your own use when you are notified.

Events are short and usually happen on hot summer weekdays between June 1 and September 30, typically between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. You normally get at least 24 hours of notice. Taking part in any event is optional.

Why a Powerwall?

At this time Hydro Ottawa lists Tesla Powerwall systems as the eligible home batteries for GridFlex, and says more systems may be added later. True Beacon is a Tesla Certified installer in Ottawa.

What GridFlex pays Powerwall owners (as of October 2026)

Reward amounts and rules are set by Hydro Ottawa and can change. Check the official GridFlex page for the latest. Hydro Ottawa GridFlex program

Are you eligible?

• Your home must be in a participating area of Kanata or Stittsville. Use the postal code checker on Hydro Ottawa's GridFlex page.
• You need a residential Hydro Ottawa account in good standing.
• Renters cannot enroll batteries.
• You enroll yourself online. Hydro Ottawa staff and installers cannot enroll you, and owning an eligible battery does not enroll you automatically.
• Hydro Ottawa can decline a registration for location, account details, or conflicts with another demand response program such as Peak Perks.

How we install your Powerwall

1. Design call with Nick, our Master Electrician, using your hourly Hydro Ottawa usage data.
2. We submit the connection request to Hydro Ottawa before the battery is installed. Hydro Ottawa requires grid approval for home batteries.
3. A licensed electrical contractor installs the Powerwall 3. The Electrical Safety Authority inspects and approves the work before it connects to the grid.
4. You enroll in GridFlex online and connect your Powerwall.

We work with Hydro Ottawa on every project, from net-metering and connection paperwork through to ESA inspection. We are an independent installer and are not part of Hydro Ottawa.

A recent Powerwall 3 install in Kanata

• 15.5 kW DC solar (31 LONGI 500 W modules)
• One Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh usable)
• Asphalt shingle roof
• Net-metered
• Installed in 2026
• 3 days with a full crew of 4

Questions

Do I need solar panels to join GridFlex?

Hydro Ottawa's program page lists the battery as the eligible device and does not list solar as a requirement. We can design a battery-only system or pair it with solar.

Will I still have backup power?

Events are short and optional. A Powerwall lets you set a backup reserve, and we go over how that works with GridFlex when we design your system.

When do events happen?

Usually non-holiday weekdays from June 1 to September 30, typically between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m., with notice by email or text, usually at least 24 hours ahead.

I already have a Powerwall. Can I join?

If your home is in an eligible area and your account is in good standing, you can enroll online. Hydro Ottawa lists $500 to enroll and $250 a year for existing batteries.

If I install a Powerwall now, do I get the same reward?

Hydro Ottawa lists incentives for new battery installations as "coming soon", so we cannot promise an amount. Check the GridFlex page for updates.

Can I be in GridFlex and Peak Perks?

One device cannot be in more than one demand response program, and Hydro Ottawa can decline registrations that conflict with another program. Check Hydro Ottawa's rules before you enroll.

How much does a Powerwall cost?

See our Ottawa pricing page for current installed Powerwall 3 prices, before rebates and HST.

Get a Powerwall design for your Kanata or Stittsville home

Send us your address and Hydro Ottawa usage, and Nick will design a Powerwall system for your home.

Program details are from Hydro Ottawa as of October 2026 and may change.