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Utility selections are defaulted automatically based on the address. You'll use this section to confirm the utility rate selections relevant to the project.
Utility information the includes following key inputs:
- Utility: the utility selection is based on the address entered. Depending on the territory, there may only be one utility.
- Rate schedule: the most common rate schedule is selected based on the address entered. It's important to confirm the rate schedule actually used by the homeowner to get accurate savings information.
- Post-project rate schedule: if applicable for the utility, a post-project rate schedule can be selected. For example, if the utility requires a different rate schedule after solar is installed, this will be selected as the post-project rate schedule by default. This may or may not be applicable in your area.
"More Rate Options" shows the following additional input options:
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Annual usage
This section shows the energy usage and utility bill costs for each month of the year . You'll use this section to enter project-specific usage information based on what you have available from a utility bill or homeowner estimate. You can also use the typical usage, which is defaulted based on the address entered.
Usage profile
Annual usage shows the following key information and inputs:
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typical
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Editing usage
To edit usage, you can modify the values shown below the chart. The "Edit usage by" dropdown allows you to select the way you want to enter usage information: as usage (kWh) or a bill cost (4) and as monthly values or a single annual value. Monthly values allow you to input 1 to 12 months of values depending on how much information you have available.
You have the following usage input/edit options:
- Monthly usage
- Monthly bill
- Annual usage
- Annual bill
- Full input
The chart shows a typical usage profile based on the address entered. A utility bill or estimate from the homeowner is often used at some point during the sales process to update this section.
Usage estimation
If less than twelve months of values are entered, the rest of the usage values are estimated (extrapolated) by comparing the one or more entered values to the typical values for those month, and adjusting the rest of the monthly values accordingly.
Extrapolation is always based on usage values rather than cost, e.g. if you enter a bill, the rate schedule is used to calculate usage, and this usage value is used to extrapolate the rest of the monthly usage values. More on usage information.
Daily usage
Daily usage shows a representative 24-hour day usage profile . The based on a typical usage profile shown is given the average annual (medianmonthly) usage out of the 365 days of the year.
Any updates to the annual usage profile values will be reflected in the daily profile. Any proposed usage additions that are added will also be displayed.
Editing daily usage
The daily usage profile can be updated by changing the profile selection under the "Edit Profile by:" option. This can be found above the daily usage chart on the right. The options are:
- Typical: the typical usage profile for a representative day. This is based on the median usage out of 365 days of the year.
- Persona: each account can create and customize a number of pre-set homeowner personas. For example: "Day Job" for a typical 9-to-5 worker or "Stay at Home" for a home where one or more people are in the home during the day. Any personas created for your account will be available for selection in the dropdown.
- Custom: create a custom daily profile by entering the usage % for each hour of the day.
Creating personas is one of the most important ways you can take advantage of the daily profile in your projects and savings analysis! To create personas, go to Settings > Usage Settings and add a persona.
If you change the profile, click Apply below the chart to save this selectionamounts. You can also use a persona or custom daily profile to set the daily profile. More on daily usage here.
Proposed usage additions
Proposed usage additions can be added to the project to reflect anticipated post-project changes to usage needs, like the special addition of an electric vehicle (EV) or pool. Proposed usage additions can also be added as an annual percentage increase (%) or kWh addition.
Use the "Add Proposed Usage by" drop-down to specify how you would like to include usage changes (Special Additions, Percent Increase, kWh Addition).
If you add a usage change, click Apply to save the selection. Any proposed usage additions that are added will appear in the annual usage and daily usage charts.
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| title | Usage Changes |
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For special addition usage changes, Electric Vehicles and Pool additions are modeled using the following assumptions:
Pools: based on a single speed pump running 24/7.
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