Path-Q Solar

How should a landlord size solar when tenants pay their own electricity bills?

Answer

The landlord should size from verified tenant and common-area load data, not from the landlord's bills alone. The design and economics depend on whether solar can serve tenant meters, only common loads, or a permitted shared-credit arrangement.

Key points

  • Collect tenant usage by unit and common-area consumption over representative seasons.
  • Account for turnover, vacancy, lease changes, and whether tenants will provide data or consent to a shared arrangement.
  • A system serving only common loads may be much smaller than one intended to offset tenant consumption.
  • The financial model should identify who pays for the system and who receives energy or bill benefits.

What it depends on

  • Tenant meter configuration and data access
  • Common-area loads
  • Utility crediting and metering arrangements
  • Lease, ownership, and tenant-benefit structure

Risks and trade-offs

  • Using only common-load data can understate a system intended to serve tenant meters.
  • Tenant usage may vary widely by unit type and occupancy.
  • Shared billing or credit allocation can create regulatory and administrative obligations.

Information you may need

  • Tenant and common-area bills or interval data
  • Metering diagram
  • Occupancy and turnover history
  • Utility rules and proposed ownership or billing model

Your next step

What to do next

Build a unit-by-unit and common-area load profile, then ask an installer and the utility whether the intended meters can legally and technically receive the solar benefits.

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Some details may depend on your location, installer, utility, incentives, regulations, or specific property.

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