Path-Q Solar

What utility-account and electrical-service information should I gather before requesting solar quotes?

Answer

Gather recent bills, the utility account and service address, tariff details, interval usage if available, service voltage and main-service information, and records of unusual loads or planned changes. Remove or protect sensitive account credentials while providing enough information for a preliminary design.

Key points

  • Provide at least a year's usage history when available, including seasonal variation.
  • Record the utility, rate plan, meter type, and whether the property has time-based rates or export arrangements.
  • Note electric heating, cooling, water heating, vehicles, pools, workshops, and planned electrification.
  • Photographs or records of the main panel and service equipment can help, but should not replace an electrical assessment.
  • Tell installers about outages, generator equipment, batteries, or prior service limitations.

What it depends on

  • Utility and tariff
  • Historical and expected electricity consumption
  • Existing service and panel capacity
  • Planned solar, battery, and major-load changes

Risks and trade-offs

  • A quote based on incomplete usage can undersize or oversize the system.
  • Sharing account credentials unnecessarily creates privacy and security risk.
  • A bill may not reveal physical service constraints that require site inspection.

Information you may need

  • Recent electricity bills or interval data
  • Utility name, account service address, and tariff
  • Main service and panel information
  • Major current and planned electrical loads
  • Existing generation, storage, or backup equipment

Your next step

What to do next

Create a redacted usage and service-information packet and ask each installer to list any assumptions requiring site verification.

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