Path-Q Solar

Can a landlord size solar accurately when tenant electricity use is not separately metered?

Answer

A landlord can estimate system size, but accuracy is limited when tenant use is mixed with common-area or owner usage and no separate meter exists. The design should use the best available whole-property data, occupancy and equipment information, and a clear allocation method rather than assuming all consumption belongs to the tenant.

Key points

  • Whole-property bills can support sizing if the billed load is clearly defined and stable.
  • Submetering, interval data, temporary monitoring, or equipment-level measurements can improve attribution.
  • Lease terms and meter configuration may affect who benefits from generation and who bears costs.

What it depends on

  • Availability and quality of whole-property and interval consumption data
  • Tenant occupancy, operating schedule, and equipment
  • Common-area and owner loads
  • Lease, meter, billing, and solar-benefit allocation terms
  • Planned tenant or building changes

Risks and trade-offs

  • Sizing from mixed use can oversize or undersize the system for the intended beneficiary.
  • A larger system may produce value that cannot be allocated as expected under the lease or billing arrangement.
  • Submetering improves information but adds installation, administration, and privacy considerations.

Information you may need

  • Historical whole-property bills and interval data
  • Meter diagram and service configuration
  • Tenant, common-area, and owner load inventory
  • Lease provisions and planned occupancy changes
  • Potential submetering or monitoring options

Your next step

What to do next

Document the meter boundaries and load ownership, then obtain a design using measured whole-property data and a stated allocation assumption.

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