Path-Q Solar
Can solar savings be estimated without knowing my hourly electricity use?
Answer
Yes. Annual or monthly usage and billing data can support a preliminary estimate, but hourly or interval data is important when savings depend on time-of-use rates, changing prices, battery operation, or the value of exported electricity. Without it, the result should be treated as a range rather than a precise forecast.
Key points
- Annual consumption helps estimate the general system size and energy offset.
- Monthly bills can reveal seasonal patterns and demand changes better than an annual total alone.
- Interval data improves analysis of self-consumption, time-of-use pricing, battery dispatch, and exports.
- The estimate should state assumptions about production, rates, degradation, load growth, and export compensation.
What it depends on
- Available billing or interval data
- Rate structure and export treatment
- Solar production profile and system size
- Current and future household electricity use
- Whether storage is included
Risks and trade-offs
- Averages can overstate savings when much generation occurs while the home is unoccupied.
- Future rate changes and load growth can make a precise-looking forecast misleading.
- Using only annual usage may hide seasonal shortages or excess generation.
Information you may need
- Recent monthly bills and, if available, interval consumption data
- Current rate plan and export-credit terms
- Typical daytime occupancy and major electric loads
- Plans for electric vehicles, heating, cooling, or batteries
Your next step
What to do next
Request an initial range using monthly bills, then obtain interval data from the utility if available and ask for a revised scenario analysis.
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