Path-Q Solar

Is whole-property electricity data sufficient to size solar when tenant usage is not separately metered?

Answer

Whole-property data can support an initial estimate, but it may not be sufficient for a reliable design when tenant and landlord loads are mixed. It is most useful when the solar system will serve the same meter and the owner is comfortable modeling occupancy and usage variability.

Key points

  • A whole-property bill shows combined consumption, not which occupants or loads caused it.
  • Separate submeters, interval data, tenant records, or equipment inventories can improve allocation.
  • If tenants pay their own electricity, the financial value to the owner may differ from the property's total energy use.
  • The design should distinguish common-area loads, vacant-period loads, and tenant-controlled loads.

What it depends on

  • Meter arrangement and who receives the solar credits or bill reduction
  • Availability and quality of historical whole-property data
  • Tenant turnover, lease terms, and expected occupancy
  • Whether tenant loads are included in the system's intended benefit

Risks and trade-offs

  • Sizing from an unusually high-occupancy period may overstate future use.
  • Sizing from vacancy or low-occupancy periods may understate demand.
  • Allocating solar benefits among tenants can create metering, accounting, or contractual issues.

Information you may need

  • Utility bills and interval data for the whole property
  • Meter diagrams and common-area versus tenant-load information
  • Lease provisions concerning electricity and solar benefits
  • Occupancy history and expected tenant changes

Your next step

What to do next

Use whole-property data for a preliminary range, then verify the meter arrangement and create separate occupancy and load scenarios before final sizing.

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SQ02660