Path-Q Solar
What information should I gather before asking an installer to size a solar system?
Answer
Gather at least a year of utility bills if available, the property address and roof information, ownership details, major electrical equipment, desired savings or backup goals, and planned changes in electricity use. Also note shading, roof age and condition, and any access or structural concerns.
Key points
- Interval or monthly consumption data is more useful than an annual total alone.
- Identify electric vehicles, heat pumps, electric water heating, additions, pools, workshops, or other future loads.
- State whether the goal is offsetting consumption, reducing bills, backup power, or a defined system size.
What it depends on
- Completeness and quality of consumption data
- Roof and site conditions
- Future load plans
- Backup and ownership objectives
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing from unusually high or low usage can produce an unsuitable design.
- A larger system is not automatically better if roof constraints, export arrangements, budget, or consumption do not support it.
Information you may need
- Utility bills and rate information
- Roof and shade details
- Electrical service and major loads
- Ownership, financing, and backup preferences
Your next step
What to do next
Prepare a short property and energy-use summary and send the same information to multiple installers for comparable designs.
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