Path-Q Solar

Should a landlord ask tenants for electricity records before requesting solar quotes?

Answer

Yes, where the tenants can lawfully and practically provide them, electricity records make preliminary system sizing and savings analysis more useful. Request bills or interval data for a representative period, while recognizing that privacy, lease terms, account ownership, and consent may affect access.

Key points

  • Use enough history to capture seasonal consumption rather than relying on one bill.
  • Ask for usage units and interval data when available, not only dollar totals.
  • Separate tenant-controlled usage from common-area or landlord-controlled loads.
  • Tell installers which loads are expected to remain after a tenancy change.

What it depends on

  • Who holds the utility account
  • Tenant consent and applicable privacy or lease requirements
  • Seasonal and occupancy variation
  • Whether the system will serve tenant loads, common areas, or both
  • The utility's data format and availability

Risks and trade-offs

  • Historical tenant usage may not represent future occupants or operating patterns.
  • Dollar bills can be misleading when rates, fees, or billing periods change.
  • Obtaining data without appropriate authorization can create privacy or relationship problems.

Information you may need

  • At least several representative utility bills or usage records
  • Account ownership and tenant consent status
  • Occupancy and operating schedules
  • Common-area and separately metered loads
  • Expected changes to the property or tenancy

Your next step

What to do next

Request authorized usage records and prepare a load summary distinguishing tenant, common-area, and landlord-controlled consumption before seeking quotes.

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