Path-Q Solar

How can a small business compare solar proposals with different operating assumptions?

Answer

Normalize every proposal into the same assumptions, then compare delivered energy, load coverage, export treatment, total cost, financing, operating costs, and sensitivity to changes. Do not compare headline system size or projected savings unless the proposals use the same load data, production model, utility treatment, degradation, escalation, and financial horizon.

Key points

  • Use interval or representative historical load data and identify seasonal and operational changes.
  • Compare modeled production, self-consumption, exports, curtailment, battery dispatch, and outage assumptions.
  • Separate energy savings from demand-charge reductions, export credits, tax treatment, incentives, maintenance, insurance, and financing costs.
  • Request a base case plus sensitivity cases for lower production, lower load, different utility prices, equipment replacement, and business relocation.

What it depends on

  • The business's load profile and operating schedule
  • Utility tariff, demand charges, export rules, and interconnection treatment
  • System design, financing structure, incentives, taxes, and expected ownership period

Risks and trade-offs

  • A proposal can appear better because it assumes higher price escalation, production, export value, or business usage than is realistic.
  • Oversizing may increase cost or leave energy exported at a lower value, while undersizing may miss useful load coverage.
  • Long-term projections are sensitive to roof condition, equipment replacement, financing, and changes in business operations.

Information you may need

  • At least twelve months of bills and interval data if available
  • Each proposal's production, degradation, load, export, and financial assumptions
  • Tariff and demand-charge structure
  • Ownership, financing, tax, maintenance, and relocation assumptions

Your next step

What to do next

Create a side-by-side normalized comparison using the same load and tariff assumptions, then ask each provider to explain every material difference and provide sensitivity results.

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