Proposals That Are Never Perplexing
The terms surrounding the solar process can seem like a whole new language. Wouldn’t it be great if you could understand these terms before you see them in a proposal?
Our Goal With Every Proposal is Clarity
Owned and operated by Dominion Energy, we pride ourselves on transparent and easily understood solar proposals. Over the years, we’ve tried to simplify the jargon so you understand your investment. There are four key terms you need to know:
1. System Size
System size is the total power output a solar panel system can produce in an ideal hour. And by ideal hour, we mean a blazing hot summer day when the panels are clean and the skies are clear. So… ideal conditions. This number will be shown in kilowatts or kW, and it includes the total power of all the panels planned for your home.
2. Production
The second key figure is how much solar energy your system will produce over a whole year, including cloudy, rainy, long summer, and short winter days. We call this solar “production,” and it’s measured in kilowatt-hours or kWh.
3. Offset
Offset answers whether the electricity your solar system produces will cover your annual usage. It’s expressed as a percentage, with 100% offset meaning full coverage of your needs.
Is having an offset below 100% bad? Not at all. You can add more panels to your proposal to get to 100%, but roof layouts vary, and it may not be worth it if those extra panels face away from the sun, reducing your savings.
Is having an offset above 100% bad? No, but there is not much financial incentive to produce more electricity than your home needs.
4. Solar Yield
Solar yield is calculated by dividing the system’s Production (in kWh) by System Size (in kW). A solar yield of around 1,000 kWh per kW is often used as a baseline for evaluating system efficiency.
Based on your yield, we can make recommendations for your custom design to improve system efficiency.
Ready to Book a Proposal Call?
We’ll go over all the variables above and collaborate with you to create a solar system that’s the right size for you and your home. We’re always here to answer any other questions you may have about your proposal. Remember, since we don’t work on commission, we can take an unbiased approach at balancing the math and customizing your quote.