With the programme Ontario wants to encourage local power generation from renewables. Homeowners, landowners, farmers, co-operatives, schools, municipalities and others are allowed to install renewable energy projects and sell the power for fixed prices over a period of 20 years. The project size is limited to 10 MW. Ontario's Standard Offer Contract program also provides for simplified interconnection with the grid.

The tariffs will differ between technologies. The tariff of wind energy will be fixed at Can$0.11 per kWh. The biomass tariff will be fixed at Can$0.11 per kWh, the small hydro power tariff is Can$0.11 per kWh and the solar photovoltaic tariff will be Can$0.42 per kWh.

According to Melinda Zytaruk, General Manager of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, this step puts Ontario at the forefront of renewable energy development in North America: “No other jurisdiction in North America has crafted such a striking policy that allows everyone to participate in affecting a sustainable energy economy.”