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Energy Answers · A solar proposal on my desk

Before you sign the solar proposal, check what the savings depend on.

Work through the proposal, your bill, and the assumptions connecting them. Use the available resources now; dedicated solar guides are being developed.

You will leave withA list of assumptions your proposal must support, and the missing information to request.

Or go straight to the Blueprint

  1. 01

    Get the assumptions out of the sales deck.

    Start with what is included, what is assumed, and who owns each risk.

    Ask at your facility
    Can the developer provide the production model, scope, exclusions, and contract assumptions?
    You should end up with
    A proposal inventory: capacity, production, location, ownership, exclusions, and claimed savings.

    Guide coming soonHow to read a commercial solar proposal before you sign

  2. 02

    Check which parts of your bill solar could change.

    A production estimate is not a bill-savings estimate. The timing of production and demand matters.

    Ask at your facility
    Are energy savings and demand savings modeled separately against our actual tariff and interval data?
    You should end up with
    A request for an interval-based before-and-after bill model.
    Read the written decision The part you want is Vendor Pitches, Red Flags, and Questions That Smoke Out Bad Math.
    Other ways to take this step
  3. 03

    Put the utility rules into the model.

    When this appliesThis resource explains standby costs. It is not a complete solar export or interconnection guide.

    The project must account for the utility charges and connection requirements that actually apply.

    Ask at your facility
    Has the utility confirmed the applicable standby, supplemental, export, and interconnection terms?
    You should end up with
    Written tariff and interconnection assumptions to verify.
    Read the written decision The part you want is How Utility Standby Charges Show Up on Your Bill.
    Other ways to take this step
  4. 04

    If storage is included, make it earn its place.

    When this appliesOnly if your proposal includes a battery. Otherwise skip to step 5.

    Separate battery savings and resilience value from the solar production case.

    Ask at your facility
    Does the battery case still work without optimistic program revenue or double-counted benefits?
    You should end up with
    A separate storage case with duration, dispatch, costs, and justified benefits.
    Watch the episode The part you want is Vendor Pitches, Red Flags, and Questions That Smoke Out BS.
    Other ways to take this step
  5. 05

    Stress-test the contract and lifetime costs.

    A credible decision needs downside scenarios and clear ownership of performance, maintenance, and end-of-life costs.

    Ask at your facility
    What happens if production is lower, costs rise, the roof needs work, or incentives differ from the model?
    You should end up with
    A list of unresolved contract and financial assumptions.

    Guide coming soonSolar economics beyond the headline payback

Bring this to your team

What you should be holding at the end of the five steps.

  1. 01A proposal inventory: capacity, production, location, ownership, exclusions, and claimed savings.
  2. 02A request for an interval-based before-and-after bill model.
  3. 03Written tariff and interconnection assumptions to verify.
  4. 04A separate storage case with duration, dispatch, costs, and justified benefits.
  5. 05A list of unresolved contract and financial assumptions.

Let’s check the proposal against your facility.

The Energy Decision Blueprint

You have the questions. The Energy Decision Blueprint brings your proposal, bills, and available interval data into the same review.

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