The usage sections allows you to update utility and usage information for your project. Each section automatically uses smart defaults that you can review and modify. Read on to learn about what you should know about each section.

Utility information

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:

Rate escalator: the rate escalator used to estimate how utility rates will escalate over time. Utility rates for a given state or utility can be edited as an account setting, but it's also possible to change this on a project-by-project basis using this option.
Closed rates: this toggle allows you to include or exclude closed (grandfathered) utility rates in the rate schedule dropdown options. Closed rates are not shown by default (the toggle is OFF). If a customer is on an old rate schedule that is not available in the rate schedule dropdown options, toggle closed rates ON to see these included for selection.
Commercial rates: this toggle allows you to include or exclude commercial utility rates in the rate schedule dropdown options. Commercial rates are not shown by default (the toggle is OFF). If a customer is on a commercial rate schedule, toggle commercial rates ON to see these included for selection.

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:

Usage profile chart: the annual usage profile chart shows typical usage based on the address entered and can be updated using any of the "Edit usage by" options. If you have updated values or added proposed post-project usage additions, the chart will show these values.
Usage profile values: the monthly values for historical usage (kWh) and historical cost ($). These match what is shown in the chart and can be updated using any of the "Edit usage by" options.

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.

Daily usage

Daily usage shows a representative 24-hour day usage profile. The typical usage profile shown is the average (median) 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. 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.

Proposed usage additions

Proposed usage additions can be added to the project to reflect anticipated post-project changes to usage needs, like the addition of an electric vehicle (EV) or pool. Proposed usage additions can also be added as an annual percentage increase (%) or kWh addition.

Any proposed usage additions that are added will appear in the annual usage and daily usage charts.

How do I enter utility and usage information?