Monthly Electric Usage
Choosing the right solar power system for your home requires understanding your energy consumption. Every home and its occupants are unique, so the more information we have about your usage, the better we can recommend a system that fits your needs.
It is helpful to compare your usage during summer and winter months, but even an average month can be sufficient. Without this information, we can still provide an estimate of solar performance without comparing it to your usage.
To get the most accurate idea of how a solar power system will perform, we recommend reviewing your monthly electric usage. Utility bills are the most convenient way to gather this information, but if you are a new homeowner or if the building is new construction, we can still provide a good estimate based on the size and age of the home, major appliances, and occupancy.
When we offer a solar power system recommendation, the following details are helpful:
Power company name
Type of rate (i.e. regular, all-electric, demand charge, heat meter)
Monthly energy use (kilowatt-hours kWh)
Peak (demand) power (kilowatts kW)
Time-of-use profile (when you use electricity most / time of occupancy)
Major appliance types: i.e. electric heat, air-conditioner, well pump, hot tub, electric vehicle, and other 240V appliances.
A copy of a recent power bill (both pages)
Keep in mind that sizing a solar power system does not have to be an exact science. Knowing your power and energy usage helps us better serve you when you want to know more about how solar power and battery systems can change your utility bill. Without your billing information, however, we can still provide a recommendation and reasonable expectations for system performance.
Example time-of-use profiles:
