Two businesses can pay similar annual electricity bills and still have very different prospects for solar. One uses most of its power while the sun is out. The other becomes busy after dark. A quote based only on the annual total misses that distinction.
For an owner or tenant considering a system, the first useful document is a record of when electricity is consumed. That gives the installer something more relevant than a single monthly dollar figure.
Match generation to the working day
EECA's solar guidance for businesses identifies daytime use, summer demand and a sufficiently long investment horizon as useful considerations. It also explains that most businesses with solar remain connected to the electricity grid.
Ask a prospective supplier to show the assumed pattern of generation and consumption. How much power is expected to be used on site? How much would be exported? What electricity prices, export rates and future operating hours are used in the calculation?
These are assumptions to test, not guaranteed outcomes. A change in tenancy, operating hours or equipment can alter the result. Compare proposals on the same basis and ask for the calculations to be explained in terms the person paying the bill understands.
Include the building in the decision
Roof condition, shading, structural suitability, access and electrical capacity all need appropriate assessment. For leased premises, clarify the landlord's consent, ownership of equipment and what happens when the lease ends before making a commitment.
Also ask what the proposed system will do during a power outage. EECA distinguishes ordinary grid-connected solar from arrangements designed to operate independently. Do not assume panels alone will keep the business running when the network is down.
The strongest proposal connects equipment, building and operating pattern. Once installed, keep an eye on actual generation and use, and know who will respond to a fault. A solar investment is easier to evaluate when the business has agreed how its performance will be measured from the outset.
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