All commercial system and installation are unique. The size of your commercial system will be determined by the available roof, canopy, or land space suitable for panels, your electricity requirements, and your financial objectives. Due to these variations in design and installation, there may be a variety of components involved. For instance, the equipment used for a pitched roof installation differs from that used for a ballasted installation on a flat roof. Carport and ground installations require additional structures and cabling for connection to the meter.

The components necessary for a commercial solar system typically include panels, an inverter power station, individual systems for cable management, mechanical mounting, and energy monitoring. The cost of the system will vary based on the manufacturer, type, and quality of these components. At Solar by EnFin, we prioritize your goals and consult with you to provide recommendations for the best combinations.

We assist you in identifying the optimal location for the panels. Solar panels can be installed on your roof, over parking lots, or on vacant land.

 

 

 

Explanation of Net Energy Metering/Demand Charges

 

Without solar, a business purchases every kilowatt-hour of electricity from the utility company. The utility company bills its commercial customers under three categories:

Bucket 1: A fixed monthly fee, the amount of which depends on the rate tariff.

Bucket 2: Time-of-use charges, where rates vary based on the time of year and day.

Bucket 3: Demand charges, calculated based on the highest peak usage within a given period.

 

Adding solar involves entering into a “Net Energy Meter” agreement with the utility company. Under this agreement, the utility credits the customer for a given kWh. For example, if a business operates only on weekdays and its solar system generates excess power on weekends, that power is fed back into the grid, and the customer receives credits.

When the business resumes operations on Monday, any credits accumulated over the weekend are utilized before new electricity charges apply. This constant exchange between kWh used and generated occurs hourly, daily, and monthly.