Path-Q Solar
Should a home buyer use the previous owner's electricity history when sizing solar?
Answer
Use it as a reference, not as a direct prediction. The prior owner's history is useful for understanding the home's baseline and seasonal characteristics, but sizing should be adjusted for the buyer's occupancy, appliances, heating and cooling, electric vehicles, work patterns, and planned changes.
Key points
- Obtain as much prior history as possible and check for missing or abnormal periods.
- Compare the prior household's size, occupancy, equipment, and schedules with the intended household.
- Build a range or scenarios when the buyer's future use is uncertain.
What it depends on
- Differences in household size and occupancy
- Heating, cooling, water heating, and appliance systems
- Electric vehicle or other planned loads
- Prior owner's behavior and vacancy periods
- Future renovations or electrification
Risks and trade-offs
- Copying prior use can oversize the system for a lower-use household.
- Relying on low prior use can undersize it after electrification or increased occupancy.
- A single year's history may not represent unusual weather or changing equipment.
Information you may need
- Prior bills and available interval data
- Home equipment inventory
- Expected occupancy and schedules
- Planned appliance or vehicle changes
Your next step
What to do next
Compare the prior owner's load profile with a documented estimate of the buyer's intended future use before selecting a system size.
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