Path-Q Solar
Would installing electric water heating in a rental property change whether the landlord should size solar for tenant loads or common-area loads?
Answer
It can change the appropriate design, but the answer depends on who pays for the water-heating electricity, when the load occurs, and whether the landlord can control or allocate that load. Size solar against the loads the owner is legally and economically responsible for, while separately evaluating whether a shared or submetered arrangement is permitted and practical.
Key points
- Determine whether water heating is in tenant meters, common-area service, or a landlord-controlled master meter.
- Model the timing, duty cycle, and controllability of the new load against solar production.
- Include service-capacity, wiring, equipment, maintenance, and hot-water operating costs.
- Do not assume tenant load increases landlord savings if tenants pay the electricity or if billing rules prevent allocation.
What it depends on
- Metering and lease allocation of electricity
- Water-heating equipment and operating schedule
- Tenant and common-area load profiles
- Solar export and billing treatment
- Applicable rental, utility, and building requirements
Risks and trade-offs
- Electrification can improve solar self-consumption but increase peak demand and equipment cost.
- Sizing for tenant loads may create split incentives if the landlord funds solar while tenants receive the bill savings.
- Changing water heating may require electrical upgrades, permits, or tenant coordination.
Information you may need
- Current and projected interval load by meter
- Lease and utility-cost allocation terms
- Water-heating specifications and schedule
- Service capacity and electrical design
- Applicable metering and billing rules
Your next step
What to do next
Model owner-paid, tenant-paid, and shared-load cases using the planned water-heating profile, then confirm the permitted billing and metering structure before sizing the system.
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