Path-Q Solar
How should changing business hours affect a commercial solar quote?
Answer
The quote should use the expected future operating schedule, not simply the historical annual consumption. Changing hours can alter the timing of electricity use, demand peaks, direct solar consumption, storage value, and the appropriate system size.
Key points
- Provide separate current and future load profiles if the schedule change is not yet complete.
- Daytime operations may increase direct solar use; evening or overnight operations may increase imports or storage needs.
- Demand charges, if applicable, require analysis of when the highest power levels occur, not only total energy.
- Equipment, staffing, production volume, and seasonal schedules may change along with business hours.
What it depends on
- Expected operating schedule and transition date
- Hourly load profile and demand peaks
- Rate structure and demand charges
- Planned equipment or production changes
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing from historical hours can misrepresent future savings.
- A schedule change may increase energy use even if annual business hours fall.
- Forecast uncertainty can make a phased or expansion-ready design more prudent.
Information you may need
- Historical interval usage and bills
- Future hours by day and season
- Major equipment schedules
- Expected demand charges and rate terms
Your next step
What to do next
Give the designer documented current and future schedules and request a quote that shows energy, demand, and savings assumptions for each scenario.
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Some details may depend on your location, installer, utility, incentives, regulations, or specific property.
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