Monthly Electric Usage

Sizing the right solar power system for your home starts with understanding your energy needs. Since every household’s energy use is unique, knowing your specific energy consumption helps us to recommend a system that best meets your requirements.

To get a detailed assessment of how a solar system will match up with your electricity use, we recommend reviewing your monthly energy consumption (kWh) through your utility's online account or on recent bills. This is a convenient way to gather this information.

We can also estimate the energy needs based on the size of the home, the major appliances, and expected occupancy.

For the best recommendation, please provide the following details or a copy of your utility bill:

• Power company name

• Rate type (e.g., regular, all-electric, demand charge, heat meter)

• Monthly energy use (in kilowatt-hours, kWh)

• Peak (demand) power if applicable (in kilowatts, kW)

• Major appliances (e.g., electric heating, air-conditioning, well pump, hot tub, electric vehicle, and other 240V appliances)

Sizing a solar power system doesn’t have to be complex. With a basic understanding of your electricity needs, we can make a recommendation and explain how solar and battery systems can impact your utility bill.

This convenient chart can be found on a Black Hills Energy bill or by logging into your utility account.

Example time-of-use profiles: